The South Central Solid Waste (SCSWA) sees a strong future for curbside pickup of solid waste and recyclables throughout Doña Ana County, and the Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) has now given the “go ahead” to allow the SCSWA to explore options. It’s a future where the SCSWA could help expand curbside waste pickup for more homes and businesses throughout the County with community disposal partners.
In the May 14th BOCC meeting, SCSWA Director Patrick Peck detailed the results of a multi-year investigation of what an expansion could look like. The presentation discussed an avenue for providing services with a handful of large solid waste and recycling Transfer Stations, much like the one recently built in Chaparral, phasing out small collection sites, and ending the coupon system to pay for waste disposal.
Chaparral’s two-year old Transfer Station could be the role model for County. When the need for a reliable location for waste disposal in and around Chaparral became great, the SCSWA initiated the creation of the station. An outside study by NewGen Consulting showed that over time the Chaparral facility was able to pay for its operation through waste disposal fees that are collected on site. In Chaparral, the Transfer Station is open 7 days a week, small and large solid waste haulers bring in trash, and residents also can drop off their own garbage by paying at the gate; recyclables are dropped off free.
As the SCSWA is a City/County agency, its work spans throughout the 3,814 square miles of Doña Ana County – from Hatch to Sunland Park. Currently, small County Collection Centers (CCC’s) are located for residents to bring in and drop off their own solid waste and recycling. The future may include phasing out these low-volume stations that face operational challenges.
Residents pay for waste disposal services at small CCC’s by purchasing coupons at various locations to pay for dropping off waste; overtime needs at these smaller facilities have been deemed inefficient and not particularly effective for customer needs. A larger system may be needed.
Tentative plans include creating up to three new larger Transfer Stations mirroring the one in Chaparral. A southern Mesilla Valley site would serve County residents in Vado, Berino, Chamberino, La Union and La Mesa; one on Highway 70 would provide services to Organ, Butterfield, Doña Ana and North Valley residents; and possibly one in the northernmost part of the County that would serve residents in and around Hatch.
In Anthony, the City is looking to update their solid waste plans and ordinances, while the SCSWA would construct a Transfer Station, and curbside pickup service would expand into the southern Mesilla Valley.
And, part of the plans for very rural County customers, waivers on curbside collections would be included in the development.
“Our community partners - the County and small disposal hauling companies - are incredibly valuable to the success and growth of our solid waste programs,” said Peck. “We want to have their input during the process where we come up with a plan that will take stock of our growing population’s trash and recycling needs now and in the future.”
Green Connections is submitted by the South Central Solid Waste Authority (SCSWA) managing solid waste, recyclables, and working to stop illegal dumping for residents and businesses throughout Doña Ana County. Contact the SCSWA at (575) 528-3800 or visit www.SCSWA.net.