TITLE
Consider a memorandum/resolution authorizing cumulative expenditures exceeding $50,000 for the disposal of leachate at the City’s MSW Transfer Station to Magna-Flow Environmental.
SUMMARY
AGENDA ITEM
Authorize Cumulative Expenditures Exceeding $50,000 for the Disposal of Leachate at the City’s MSW Transfer Station
ORIGINATING DEPARTMENT
Public Works/Solid Waste - Transfer Station
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
The City of Killeen Transfer Station Standard Operating Procedure and Texas Administrative Code (TAC) 330.243 require the collection and proper disposal of water that comes into contact with municipal solid waste or as the result of housekeeping, from required weekly wash down of the Transfer Station tipping floor. The City uses Magna-Flow Environmental, Inc. as its leachate (wastewater) collection provider.
TAC 330.243 provides the following regulations:
(a) At processing facilities, all working surfaces that come in contact with wastes shall be washed down on a weekly basis at the completion of processing. Processing facilities that operate on a continuous basis shall be swept daily and washed down at least two times per week.
(b) Wash waters shall not be allowed to accumulate on site without proper treatment to prevent the creation of odors or an attraction to vectors.
(c) All wash waters shall be collected and disposed of in an authorized manner.
As noted, Transfer Station personnel are required by Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) to wash down the tipping floor and tunnel area on a weekly basis. The wash down water is then collected from the tipping floor and tunnel area by a pipe system and pumped into the holding tank. Once the tank is full, it is emptied, and the contaminated water is hauled off by a TCEQ-licensed company and disposed of at a TCEQ-licensed facility.
DISCUSSION/CONCLUSION
The Solid Waste Division budgeted $50,000 for hauling and disposing of wastewater generated at the City’s Transfer Station for FY 15/16. Estimated funding for FY 15/16 was based upon disposal of a maximum of 99,543 tons of municipal solid waste (MSW). Current year-end projections for tonnage are 101,549. This increased tonnage is the direct result of increased rainfall, which is absorbed into MSW prior to unloading at the transfer station, growth of the City, and a healthy local economy. As a result, the originally estimated amount for leachate disposal will be insufficient. Specifically, thus far this fiscal year Magna-Flow Environmental has removed and disposed of 191,700 gallons of contaminated water at a cost of $47,925. From October 2015 to current, the Killeen area has had over 26” of rainfall as measured by the National Weather Service. With this amount of rainfall in the area, commercial dumpsters and residential containers are subject to collecting rainfall, then being dumped onto the tipping floor when vehicles unload. This water is considered contaminated and is collected in the pipe system and stored in the holding tank.
Texas Local Government Code Section 252.022 exempts solid waste operations from standard bidding requirements as proper disposal of MSW, and its byproducts (leachate) are necessary to preserve and protect public health and safety. Therefore, this procurement satisfies local and state procurement law.
FISCAL IMPACT
The fiscal impact of this action will increase the authorized expenditure by $20,000 to cover the cost of leachate disposal for the remainder of this fiscal year. Funds are available in account 540-3475-439-50.40.
RECOMMENDATION
Recommend that City Council authorize expenditures in excess of $50,000 for the disposal of leachate at the City’s MSW Transfer Station to Magna-Flow Environmental.