Answer Woman: Relief for traffic congestion at Hominy Creek Road waste, recycling station?

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Question: We dropped off some trash and recycling yesterday (April 25) at the Buncombe County transfer station on Hominy Creek Road and it was a nightmare! The line was about 25 cars long causing a terrible traffic problem on that road as well as a very long wait to drop trash.

Answer: For those looking for a bit of relief in your trash and recycling drop-off routine and Hominy Creek Road commute, you’ll have to keep waiting.

I, too, have been caught up in the mayhem on Hominy Creek Road during peak drop-off time at the Buncombe County Transfer Station. It’s particularly a test of patience if merely wanting to pass the site to get to the French Broad River Greenway.

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The Buncombe County Transfer Station, at 190 Hominy Creek Road, is on a two-lane road. From 8 a.m.- 4 p.m. Monday-Friday and 8 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Saturday, county residents and businesses may drop off solid waste for disposal and/or recyclable materials for processing.

The waste is consolidated and transferred to the Buncombe County Landfill. The recyclables are consolidated and transferred to a local material recovery facility and then to various recycling markets. The disposal of residential sharps, such as needles and lancets, and food composting services are offered, too.

While it’s great that residents and businesses are using the county’s services, the long line of vehicles trailing out of the parking lot and down the road, plus the prolonged wait times to get to the point of drop-off can be taxing.

“The traffic congestion in this area is due to an increase in volume of commercial and residential users as well as people trying to access the Hominy Creek River Park area,” Buncombe County Solid Waste Director Dane Pedersen said via email.

There has been a steady increase in volume over the past several years, Pedersen said, and, typically, the peak time for drop-offs is 10 a.m.-3 p.m. during the weekdays. Monday, Tuesday, Friday and all-day Saturday are the busiest days.

Pedersen said there are measures being taken to resolve the traffic congestion issue, beginning with devising a faster and more efficient drop-off and processing system at the Transfer Station.

“Management is aware of this issue. Buncombe County Transfer Station is in the process of conducting a traffic and efficiency study through our Strategy and Innovation Department,” Pedersen said. “Promising options include equipping scalehouse staff with some automated features that will help to move the payment process along more quickly. While this could help to expedite the process, staff will still be required to screen incoming waste loads to ensure that they are appropriately sorted and do not contain hazardous materials which are not accepted at the Buncombe County Transfer Station.”

He continued, “Staff are exploring various configurations at the site that will separate commercial and residential users including a longer-term option to offer a separate residential drop off area which should result in shorter lines.”

In the meanwhile, commuters can expect to spend a few (or more) extra minutes waiting for the vehicles ahead to inch up to the drop-off point or clear the road to the greenway.

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Consider visiting the site or heading to the greenway during off-peak hours and days.

Another option is to drop off items at the Buncombe County Landfill, at 85 Panther Branch Road in Alexander, which Pedersen said offers the same services as the transfer station.

“As always, we ask that everyone practice the 3 R’s: reduce, reuse, and recycle,” he said.

Most importantly, avoid illegal passing and doing anything else that could put yourself, other drivers or pedestrians in danger.

“While the delays are unfortunate, we do ask for patience and safe vehicle movements in the area,” Pedersen said.

For more about Buncombe County's disposal and recycling services, visit buncombecounty.org.

Tiana Kennell is the food and dining reporter for the Asheville Citizen Times, part of the USA Today Network. Email her at tkennell@citizentimes.com or follow her on Twitter/Instagram @PrincessOfPage. Please support this type of journalism with a subscription to the Citizen Times.

This article originally appeared on Asheville Citizen Times: Hominy Creek Road traffic congestion issues addressed by county