Plans to expand the county landfill on 133 acres south and west
of the current John Smith Road site include a resource recovery
park that officials hope will attract energy-producing and
manufacturing businesses to the area.
Plans to expand the county landfill on 133 acres south and west of the current John Smith Road site include a resource recovery park that officials hope will attract energy-producing and manufacturing businesses to the area.
The 30-acre recovery park would feature a recycling drop-off area, green and wood waste collection and processing areas, a reusable items center as well as hazardous waste and e-waste recycling. Plans also call for the county to devote up to 15 acres of the park to businesses that can use landfill gas or other energy produced on-site.
“From alternative energy to alternative waste disposal, we’re hoping to be uniquely positioned to take advantage of those kinds of processes,” said Mandy Rose, the county’s Integrated Waste Management director. “If someone comes to us and says, ‘We can take the organic portion of your waste treatment and create energy,’ we want to be ready to jump on those opportunities.”
The county Board of Supervisors last week authorized staff to start the application process – including an environmental impact report – for a new solid waste facility at the county-owned land near the current landfill, which has operated since 1968. Supervisors also authorized research into any zoning changes or General Plan amendments that the Planning Department deems necessary for the Resource Recovery Park.
Rose said the next step is for her to interview consultants who could perform the EIR and begin discussions about a design for the resource recovery area.
For the full story, see the Pinnacle on Friday.
The following is the latest installment of the News and You with Marty Richman. This edition focuses on the future of information technology in the county.
Editor’ note: There is a clarification on the overall costs for the projects. Ray Espinosa noted the county is looking at outside funding opportunities for some of the projects. The county so far has received about $300,000 to get some of the projects started. San Benito also is pursuing stimulus funds for backup infrastructure projects. One thing he left out was that the county is earmarking capital funds for these projects, but the quote numbers aren’t final.
