Transfer station to get new compactor

Published 6:11 pm Wednesday, July 13, 2016

The transfer station in Orrville is getting a new compactor.

The Dallas County Commission passed a resolution Tuesday to pay for the new compactor, which will replace one that quick working six months ago.  The compactor will hold 40 cubic yards of garbage and will cost $27,547.12. Plum Creek Technologies will perform the project after being the lowest bidder among three that submitted bids.

“It’s a win-win for us,” said commissioner Larry Nickles, who oversees District 4, which includes the Orrville transfer station. “It’s been needed because it’s a highly used facility over here.”

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Larry Friday, the Dallas County Director of Environmental Services, said the new compactor will pay for itself within three years.

“It’s going to save a lot of money because we are picking up four times a week at that particular station and normally it’s a three times a week when we have a compactor that is operational,” Friday said. “It’s going to save the county right at $200 a week.”

Plum Creek Technologies had representatives at the commission meeting and said it was approximately a four-week lead time for the new compactor. After that, setting up the new compactor is expected to take one to two weeks.

Friday said the old compactor turned 30 years old this year and was worn out. He said as part of the agreement, the old compactor will be removed.

“It will have some savage value I’m sure, but it’s a very heavy piece of equipment and we just wrote into our specifications to get rid of it for us,” Friday said.

Friday said the commission had looked at several alternatives into alleviating the problem at the transfer station, but determined replacing the compactor was the best option.

“It’s been down for several months and debris has scattered around and everything,” Nickles said. “Now, we will be able to keep it clean and take in a lot more inbetween pickups.”

The transfer station is located on County Road 3.