Page 150 - Materials Chemistry, Second Edition

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Municipal Solid Waste Collection 121
facility should be sufficiently flexible to be modified as needed. Equipment and building durability
are essential to minimize maintenance costs.
Site Location and Design
Establishment of a transfer station can be hindered by the NIMBY syndrome. Local residents are
more likely to accept a new transfer station if the site is carefully selected and the buildings are
designed appropriately for the site. Other factors to be addressed when considering a potential site
are discussed below.
Proximity to waste collection area. Proximity to the collection area helps to maximize savings
from reduced hauling time and distance. In some cases municipalities may consider the construc-
tion of more than one transfer station. For example, two transfer stations may be economically
preferable if travel time from one end of the city to the other are excessive.
Accessibility of haul routes to disposal facilities. Transfer trucks should be able to easily enter
major truck routes, which reduces haul time and potential impacts on nearby homes and businesses.
Planners may have to determine whether improvements to local roads are necessary. The availability
of rail lines and waterways may allow the use of rail cars or barges for transfer to disposal facilities.
Traffic. Transfer stations will generate additional amounts of traffic in its immediate area, which
can contribute to increased road congestion, air emissions, noise, and wear on roads. For this rea-
son, waste transfer stations are often located in industrial areas that have ready access to major road-
ways. Travel routes and resulting traffic impacts typically receive significant attention during
transfer station siting and design (U.S. EPA, 2001).
Site zoning and design requirements. Municipalities must be certain that the proposed use meets
site zoning requirements. In addition, the local site plan ordinance should be reviewed to identify
any restrictions that could affect design, such as building height and setback (U.S. EPA, 2003).
Availability of utilities. A typical municipal transfer station will probably require full electric-
ity and gas, water (for domestic use and fire fighting), telephones, and sanitary and storm sewers.
Transfer station designers should determine the cost of connecting to these utilities and the regular
service charges associated with them.
Visual impacts and aesthetics. The transfer station should be oriented so that transfer operations
and vehicle traffic are not visible to local residents. Visibility can be restricted if the site is suffi-
ciently large. Landscaping, installation of berms, and other site improvements will greatly improve
the aesthetic quality of the entire facility.
Informing the community. When initiating a siting process, education must be extended beyond
the siting committee and include a community-wide outreach initiative. Components of this type of
public outreach typically include (U.S. EPA, 2002):

• Public meetings
• Interviews with local newspapers, media editorial boards, and broadcast media
• News conferences and press releases
• Paid advertising
• Internet sites
• Informational literature and direct mail
• City council or county commission presentations
• Presentations to civic, environmental, religious, professional, and neighborhood groups
• Community education programs and workshops
• Files located in public libraries or community centers

Building Design
Whenever putrescible wastes are being handled, larger transfer stations should be enclosed.
Typically, transfer station buildings are constructed of concrete, masonry, or metal. Wood is not com-
monly used because it is difficult to clean, is less durable, and is more susceptible to fire damage.