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It is my understanding the landfill could still be used for household waste in certain emergency situations, such as inclement weather, that would prevent trucks from traveling to the Uwharrie landfill. Please check this and find out if there are any other circumstances in which our landfill might be used fo household waste.

It seems to me that we should be happy that the REAL leaders of Greensboro had the forethought to know the prevailing weather patterns in Greensboro and go out to NE Greensboro and acquire enough land to sayisfy the citizens for years. Knowing land around a landfill if less desireable and that the landfill has been around for DECADES it seems a VERY SELFISH minority of people, who bought land in the area surrounding the landfill, want to penalize the rest of the community. If the current "leaders" had the testicles and backbone of their predecessors, there would be NO argument, the "leaders" need to do what is right and explore ALL options, analyze the cost benefit of each of the options, and do what is best for the overall community, not a vocal minority of the community.

I have a rather novel suggestion for Councilmembers Barber and Wade to explore: constructing "little landfills" in each of the city districts! And council members consider allowing emergency, overflow "district-households wastes" be dumped in council members' backyards!

Folks bought homes beside a landfill and then complained because there is a landfill near their house.

Reopen the landfill and let these people deal with it.

Seems a lot more fair than what they've done to people who bought homes in a certain school district only to have the districts changed and their home values plummet a year later.

truman - you're an idiot!
This is another case of the black community wanting more than their fair share. Of course, we had a few white folks speak at the council meeting, but most of them are carpetbaggers from up north who are down here to complain and stir up the blacks. They are the ones who have caused the decline of Greensboro. Folks used to be friendly and courteous - not any more, thanks to the carpetbaggers!
As is mentioned above, the White Street Landfill has been there for an awful long time. I haven't investigated it, but the landfill was probably there before most (if not all) of those houses were built. Folks went to that area because the land was cheap; they didn't seem to have a problem with it back then.
So, we have a few homeowners in that area who feel that their wishes are more important than the majority of the 250,000+ folks who live in this city. It's costing us BIG $$$$ to use the present method of disposal. But, they don't care!
And then we have the mayor, who shouldn't even be mayor of a car wash, Goldie, who is definitely a taco short of a combo plate and TDBS - BS says it all! We should all hope that those 3 individuals are no longer relevent after NOV. They have certainly played a major role in dragging this city down to the "dump."
We need new council persons who will act in the best interest of ALL the citizens of Greensboro - not just a few whiners!

Regardless of the outcome, the cost analysis should be public information. Mayor Johnson has no right to cherry-pick the information she wants published.

If the not closing the landfill costs us a 10 million a year it makes sense to use it. We could apply the savings to balance the budget. Once the crisis is over they could apply the savings to build an incinerator or another alternative. That way a bond would not have to used.

An extra 10 million a year will save the cuts to the library, fund some of the charities and help save jobs. Once the crisis is over with put the extra savings in a savings account and drawn interest on it. Once you have some money saved up use it to hire a firm that builds whatever alternative you want. After 5 years of savings you have 50 million plus whatever your compound interest collected. That should be a good start into funding a new alternative. Wouldn't cost the taxpayers any extra money and like the young lady from NJ mentioned might provide a source of income for our city.

I would think the bigger question would be why wasn't something like this done before? Once it was found out that we were losing money why wasn't the landfill re-opened and an alternative all ready saved for? We would have 60 million saved in the bank now. Chances are we would be close to building that alternative and have a little money saved to spare the library system and other things cut.

Any competent manager will have done, or will do a cost analysis of using the WSLF in light of the potential for $8 - $10 gal gas regardless of sentiments on the council.

This has to be used as a bargaining chip for the next hauling contract or temporary exit clause from it for fuel costs.

This will open the door to the costs of not using the WSLF. Then we can talk ?

What is truly laughable is the idea that the City solving this problem by building a municipal solid waste incinerator is going to be EASIER. As much as "landfill" is a hot-button word, "incinerator" is an even bigger hot-button. From a technological standpoint it would certainly do the job and it could be built and operated in an environmentally friendly manner. But the ash from the incinerator would still have to be landfilled and the City would still have to answer the question "Where exactly are we going to build this new MSW incinerator?"...then, of course, you would not only have the nearby residents being impacted and raising hell, but you'd also have everybody downwind from the incinerator raising hell as well. Then of course, it would only be a matter of time before organizations like the Blue Ridge Environmental Defense League getting involved. I say that not to knock the environmental groups...they serve an important function as environmental watchdogs. But there are no EASY answers. As a professional in the environmental engineering field, I think either operating the White Street Landfill, transferring the waste to Montogomery County, or building a MSW incinerator would certainly solve the MSW disposal problem and could be done in an environmentally friendly manner, but I can tell you for certain that none of those 3 options will come cheap. As my father used to say "there ain't no FREE..." And as much as folks are going nuts about reopening the White Street Landfill, just sit back and watch how nutty they go when they hear that an MSW incinerator is being built their neighborhood. It will make this rancor over the potential reopening of the landfill sound like a Quaker meeting.