Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, September 11, 1993 TAG: 9309110212
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: B5 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: JOEL TURNER STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Short
Officials had hoped to open the landfill in October, but construction is behind schedule, partly because of drainage problems at the Smith Gap site.
Despite the delay, localities apparently will have a place to dump their garbage.
The timing of the opening is important because the current landfill in Southeast Roanoke County is almost full. It had appeared earlier that the landfill would be full by next month.
But Jeff Cromer, landfill manager, said Wednesday there should be enough space to last until December.
"I think we might have enough to last until the end of the year," Cromer said. "We've still got a little capacity."
Cromer said the Roanoke Valley Resource Authority will decide when the move will be made. The landfill will serve Roanoke, Vinton and Roanoke County.
About 700 tons of garbage are buried daily at the landfill off the Blue Ridge Parkway.
The new landfill is in western Roanoke County, near the Montgomery County boundary.
Trash will be loaded onto railroad cars at the transfer station in Roanoke and taken by a special train nightly to the Smith Gap landfill. Construction is progressing on the transfer station on Hollins Road near Orange Avenue.
Norfolk Southern Corp., which will haul the garbage under a long-term contract, is building a rail spur to the landfill.
by CNB