Alternatives

 There are several strategic alternative options—and a recent operational buffer—that could provide better outcomes for the county.

Engineering surveys completed at the Dunmore site determined that the existing landfill capacity will last 1.9 years longer than previously expected, pushing the forced closing date into 2028. This extension gives the Solid Waste Authority (PCSWA) a crucial window to reconsider options and solicit new requests for proposals (RFPs).

1. County-Owned Transfer Station (Direct Operations)

Instead of signing a 15-year third-party lease (Option 4) that obligates the county to $15,000–$16,000+ per month with a $1M+ final buyout, the county could build and directly own a simpler transfer station.

• How it works: The county applies for low-interest USDA Rural Development grants/loans, West Virginia Infrastructure Council funds, or utilizes federal PILT dollars to construct a basic transfer building and purchase two walking-floor trailers.

• Why it’s better: It eliminates the profit margin and structural interest built into private third-party lease-to-own models. The county retains full equity in the infrastructure from Day 1 rather than paying off a corporate lessor's financing costs.

2. Competitive Regional Bidding (Multi-County Haul Contracts)

Option 4 locks the county into a single haul route and facility in Greenbrier County. However, Pocahontas County sits in proximity to multiple regional disposal facilities in both West Virginia and Virginia.

• How it works: Put out a competitive bid for long-haul disposal across multiple potential destinations—such as the Tucker County Landfill, Mercer County Landfill, or regional facilities across the Virginia border (e.g., Augusta or Rockingham counties).

• Why it’s better: Regional landfills compete heavily for consistent bulk tonnage. Leveraging a 45-day open RFP window allows Pocahontas to negotiate a lower per-ton tipping rate, reducing the variable cost component of transporting the county's ~7,400 annual tons.

3. High-Volume Waste Diversion & Material Recovery Model

A major reason transfer station economics are expensive is that the county pays transport costs and tipping fees on heavy, high-volume materials like construction/demolition (C&D) debris, yard waste, and tires.

• How it works:

  1. C&D Separation Facility: Establish a mandatory wood/masonry sorting protocol at the Dunmore site. Clean lumber can be chipped or burned; concrete/masonry can be crushed for county road base.

  2. Organics & Yard Waste Composting: Divert all organic brush and yard waste into a county composting operation.

  3. Tire & E-Waste Program Expansion: Fully leverage the WV DEP free tire trailer and REAP recycling grants to eliminate heavy items from the municipal waste stream.

• Why it’s better: Every ton diverted from a transfer trailer saves both the long-haul fuel cost and the $50–$95/ton tipping fee at the destination landfill.

4. Public-Public Partnership (Inter-County Regional Authority)

Rather than operating as a solitary, low-volume county attempting to absorb huge capital costs alone, Pocahontas could form an inter-governmental agreement with adjacent rural counties (e.g., Randolph, Pendleton, or Webster).

• How it works: Create a joint regional solid waste authority under West Virginia Code §22C-4 to share the capital costs of shared hauling equipment, bulk fuel contracts, and transfer logistics.

• Why it’s better: Aggregating waste volume across multiple rural counties gives the regional authority significantly stronger bargaining power when negotiating disposal rates with commercial regional landfills.

Comparative Summary

Option	Upfront Risk	Financial Impact on Citizens	Control & Flexibility
Option 4 (Private 15-Yr Lease)	High (locked into long lease)	High (Drives Green Box fee to ~$310/yr)	Low (tied to vendor terms)
1. County-Owned Facility	Moderate (requires grant funding)	Moderate (No private lessor markup)	High (county owns the asset)
2. Competitive Multi-Facility Bidding	Low	Moderate-Low (market-driven rates)	Moderate (contract-dependent)
3. Aggressive Material Diversion	Low	Lowers per-ton haul volume	High (local operational control)
4. Regional Public Partnership	Low-Moderate	Lowest (shared overhead across counties)	High (shared governance)

The Recommended Path Forward

With the landfill's lifespan extended through 2028, the county should avoid rushing into Option 4. The most cost-effective move is to:

1. Use the new open RFP window to solicit competitive bids from multiple regional haulers and landfills.

2. Apply for USDA Rural Infrastructure Grants to build a county-owned transfer pad/station, using PILT funds to cover the local match.

3. Implement aggressive C&D and organic waste diversion at the Dunmore site immediately to reduce total tonnage before long-hauling begins.