July 23, 2014 at 2:10 p.m.

Officials mull disposal details (1/11/05)

Limbs, debris piling up quickly

By By Mike [email protected]

What will happen to the tons of tree debris being collected by county residents and workers from cities and towns?

At least some of it is likely to be run through a grinder or chipper, then dumped in the Jay County Landfill.

A lifting of a yard waste ban by Jay County Commissioners (see related story on page 5) wouldn’t affect the ground-up debris, which is already permitted to be disposed of in Indiana landfills.

Officials from Portland and Dunkirk said this morning that while plans for final disposal of the debris are still being formulated, one option will be likely be to use a chipper or grinder that would allow easier hauling.

Dunkirk Mayor Sam Hubbard said the city is hauling away limbs and branches from key areas, but plans to contract with a tree service that will chip debris at the curbside around the city in residential areas.

“Eventual disposal of that, it probably will have to go to the landfill,” Hubbard said this morning. “The debris pick up (for residences) it looks like it’s six to eight days down the pike.”

Hubbard said city workers have been dumping debris at an old dump site near the wastewater treatment plant on the northwest side of Dunkirk, but that room at that site is dwindling.

Jeff Harker, superintendent of the Portland Street Department, said this morning he is also making plans to rent a large chipper or grinder that would reduce the mountains of debris being dumped by city workers along the west side of North Morton Street near the Jay County Fairgrounds.

“I would rather grind. We need to get away from burning (to take care of) the environment,” Harker said.

Harker said some of Portland’s decision on final disposal will likely be at least partially based on what federal disaster funds, if approved, will allow.

Harker said a portion of the chopped debris would be kept for mulch, but that some if it likely would be hauled to the landfill.

The advantage of grinding the debris first, he said, is to allow each truck to carry a larger volume.

“It’ll probably be, if it’s fair weather, a winter and summer-long project,” Jay County Highway Department superintendent Ken Wellman said.

Wellman said his county highway workers haven’t even begun collecting debris; they’ve been kept busy pushing it off to the side of county roads.

Wellman said the highway department has a chipper, which could be either used at a central location or be pulled around the county to various locations.

Wellman said that land around the highway garage northeast of Portland could be used as a central collection site if the county commissioners decide to rent a large grinder or chipper.[[In-content Ad]]
PORTLAND WEATHER

Events

November

SU
MO
TU
WE
TH
FR
SA
27
28
29
30
31
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
SUN
MON
TUE
WED
THU
FRI
SAT
SUN MON TUE WED THU FRI SAT
27 28 29 30 31 1 2
3 4 5 6 7 8 9
10 11 12 13 14 15 16
17 18 19 20 21 22 23
24 25 26 27 28 29 30

To Submit an Event Sign in first

Today's Events

No calendar events have been scheduled for today.

250 X 250 AD