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Transfer Station FAQ

What is a transfer station?
A transfer station is a site where trash is collected and reloaded into trucks for transport to a landfill. Greensboro’s transfer station takes trash that is collected from homes and businesses by Transfer StationCity garbage trucks, private companies, and residents, and reloads it into tractor-trailers that transport it to the Uwharrie Regional Landfill in Mt. Gilead, NC.

Why don’t we use the White Street Landfill for our solid waste?
In July 2001, City Council voted not to permit any further expansion of the White Street Landfill and to actively pursue alternative options. This decision was in response to ongoing complaints from residents about the landfill’s appearance, odors, and truck traffic, as well as the fact that two wastewater treatment plants have been located in Greensboro’s northeast section. Council then looked at options for trash disposal and held public hearings to get resident input. After reviewing the costs and environmental impacts of the different options, Council voted in February 2003 to build a City-owned transfer station at 6310 Burnt Poplar Road. 

Tell me more about the transfer station.
Construction of the transfer station began in August 2005 and was finished in Inside the transfer stationSeptember 2006 at a cost of $8 million. It is located on a 9.4-acre site. The main building is about 36,000 square feet and the scale building is 400 square feet. Designed by HDR Engineering Inc. of the Carolinas and constructed by Laughlin-Sutton Construction Inc., the transfer station can process up to 1,200 tons of trash per day.

The transfer station is staffed by City employees who load collected trash into tractor-trailer trucks operated by Hilco Transport Inc. of Greensboro. Hilco transports the trash 73 miles and unloads it at the Uwharrie Landfill which is operated by Republic Services. Republic Services and Hilco Transport were chosen through a competitive bid process and selected as the lowest cost option for the transportation and disposal of the City’s waste. Both vendors have five-year contracts with the City.

Republic Services of North Carolina, LLC contract
Hilco Transport contract

What about the cost to Greensboro residents?
Residents will pay more for trash collection than they have in the past for a number of reasons:

  • Cost to construct the transfer station ($8 million)
  • The original hauling contract awared to Hilco, Inc. was $1.694 per road mile plus a fuel adjustment and annual CPI adjustment.
  • The original tipping fees for the disposal contract awarded to Republic Services of North Carolina was at a rate of $19.76 per ton of garbage for the City’s projected 160,000 tons annually.

The City’s 2006-07 budget included a 1.25 cent tax rate increase for the transfer station and the 2007-08 budget included a .75 cent increase. The .75 cent increase may be adjusted up or down based on actual costs to operate the transfer station. This means that the owner of a $200,000 home would pay $25 per year additional tax for the 1.25 cent rate and an additional $15 per year for the .75 cent increase for a total of $40 a year or about $3.34 per month.

What happened to the White Street Landfill?
The White Street Landfill no longer accepts municipal solid waste, which includes garbage from homes and businesses. All solid waste should be taken to the transfer station. The White Street Landfill still accepts construction debris and yard waste.