Turning trash to cash

Could the waste in Oconee’s construction and demolition landfill be used to generate power, potentially producing a revenue stream and prolonging its landfill life? One Oconeean thinks so and the County Council is interested. Matt Durham, of Mountain Rest, floated the idea yesterday to the Law Enforcement, Public Safety, Health and Welfare Committee, that much of the landfill’s waste intake might be sold to a company in Franklin County, Georgia, that uses such material in power generation. The company’s two 60 megawatt turbine units are not at full operation, Durham said, because of limited fuel supply. Durham brought the idea to the committee at the request of committee chairman District 2 Council member Wayne McCall. The committee voted unanimously to direct County Administrator Amanda Brock to reach out of the company for interest in the county’s C&D trash. It would, McCall said, look to solve a potential serious problem with the landfill before it actually developed. The committee also directed the administrator to look into the cost of equipment such as the Georgia site has with a view toward Oconee County having one of its own, likely in partnership with neighboring counties.