Here's how the Onslow landfill is using their $816,000 shredder
A new piece of equipment capable of shredding a Ford 250 truck is making major impacts that could prolong the lifespan of the current Onslow County landfill.
Onslow County Solid Waste, which is home to the Onslow County landfill at 415 Meadowview Road in Jacksonville, is open Monday-Saturday from 6:30 a.m. - 5 p.m. It is on the highest point in Onslow County at 200 feet.
The new piece of equipment is the Titan 950 shredder. The Onslow County Board of Commissioners approved the purchase and it was officially brought to the landfill in July.
The shredder cost $816,512 and Onslow County Solid Waste Director Randy Vanover said it will pay for itself within three years due to the previous cost of disposing the 11,000 plus tires that comes to Solid Waste each month.
“It’s made in Germany,” said Landfill Supervisor Michael Russell. “When we were looking for shredders, we think we basically went through six or seven different shredders. This was the best shredder we found both for economic and for the ability to what it does.”
The Titan 950 is used to shred everything from mattresses, pallets, couches, chairs, household bulk items, tires and vegetative debris.
The shredding of these materials will help to expand the lifespan of the landfill, as waste won’t take up near as much space. For example, a king-sized mattress can be shredded to fit into a single five-gallon bucket.
“Stuff that would basically go into the landfill and take up space, now we can shred it,” said Russell. “We wanted to give the citizens of Onslow County the best bang for their buck.”
According to a press release, the shredded tires also act as a waste barrier to help keep layers separate, control erosion, minimize odor and prevent the spread of litter. Additionally, it can shred concrete which is then turned into gravel to go back into the landfill and use on roads.
“We’re saving money, we’re saving air space, and we’re also reusing the products,” said Russell.
The shredder has other economic impacts as well, apart from what it’s doing for the landfill.
According to Russell, when the trash breaks down, it produces methane gas. That gas produces enough electricity to power 1,200 homes. Additionally, the shredder produces less pollution and carbon monoxide than a pickup truck.
“I have to credit the commissioners for allowing us to purchase this piece of equipment,” said Vanover.
Onslow is the only county in North Carolina, as well as on the East Coast, to have a shredder on the tipping deck, Vanover said. In fact, according to Vanover, other counties along the coast are interested in following the same path.
“We’re really excited and look forward to sharing our experience with the shredder with them to help them out also,” said Vanover.
The current landfill is expected to last until 2041.
“If we keep doing what we’re doing here with the shredder,” said Vanover, “if we could stretch that out, that’s money in the bank and more time for the citizens of Onslow County.”
Reporter Morgan Starling can be reached at mstarling@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on The Daily News: Onslow County landfill shredder making huge impacts
