Meeting Minutes

Florida SWANA Disposal Committee Conference Call

17 April 2012

Meeting attendees:

John Banks

John Ladner

Jim Nissen

Dominique Bramlett

Nathan Mayer

Tim Vinson

Ray Lotito

Rhonda Rogers-Bardsley

  1. ReviewCommittee Objectives:
  • To investigate topical issues related to solid waste disposal and landfill operations and share information with the Chapter membership.
  • It was agreed that the above statement accurately reflected the mission of the committee.
  1. Discussion of Issues for Possible Investigation
  • Statewide disposal capacity – Tim Vinson provided a review and status update on the Hinckley Center project established as a result of a previous Disposal Committee meeting. Mr. Vinson indicated that data has not been provided by a number of landfill facilities. The Hinkley Center is very grateful for hours of volunteer time donated for this project by Dr. Shrawan Singh and Gainesville engineer, Joe Dertien. The Center is looking for funding to help finish up this project. It was agreed that Mr. Vinson would provide the committee with a list of landfills for which data is needed. This list will be distributed to committee members, in accordance with geographic locations, for follow up contact and encouragement to submit their data. Action item: Tim to produce list of sites for which data is needed. Committee members to contact assigned landfills upon receipt of the list. We will review results of our efforts and status of the tool at the summer conference at the end of June.
  • Status of emerging technologies – John Banks provided a brief update on the status of the syngas-ethanol plant in Indian River County and the plasma arc MSW gasification system at Hurlburt Field. No action items identified.
  • Landfill economics – this issue was briefly discussed. No action items identified.
  • Privatization -this issue was briefly discussed. No action items identified.
  • Regionalization -this issue was briefly discussed. It was decided that the preceding three issues are all tied together and related to market factors. The role of the committee relative to these issues was discussed. The point was made that SWANA may be the only authoritative source of information for local governments to turn to during crucial decision points with respect to possible long-term implications of short–term economic decisions. It was agreed that the landfill capacity tool may provide insight to possible long-term shortfalls in disposal capacity, barring any new disposal technology developments. No action items identified.
  • Geophysical groundwater impacts-this issue was briefly discussed. Several on-going research projects were mentioned with some results expected in a few months. It was unknown what actions if any FDEP was considering in this regard. Action item: John Banks will contact FDEP and provide an update via email.
  • Other Issues – a status update for the Sinkhole TAG was requested. Action item: John Banks will provide an update via email.
  • Ray Lotito asked if one hour would be enough time for the committee meeting at the summer conference. It was agreed that should be sufficient.
  1. Action Items: See above.

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