County to help find homes for garbage transfer

Weary from battling agitated residents over proposed sites for garbage transfer stations, frustrated Silver State Disposal officials sought the help of Clark County commissioners Tuesday.

In turn, the commission agreed to help the Las Vegas garbage company find locations for transfer station and, in the future, designate land for such facilities in master plans.

Previous land designations, however, haven't helped Silver State.

Silver State President Stephen Kalish said a parcel near Flamingo Road and Buffalo Drive was reserved for a transfer station in 1990, when the closest development was a quarter-mile away.

When the Cheyenne station reached its capacity earlier this year, Silver State zeroed in on the site near Flamingo. The company was met by boisterous protesters, whose neighborhoods had crept up to the property line.

Silver State then turned to a 10-acre parcel near Blue Diamond Road. Neighbors, led by famous comedian/magician Teller, protested and finally forced the disposal company to pull its proposal.

"The last one was the third site as we've been bounced around the valley," Kalish said. "They want to put homes next to us, but they don't want to put us next to homes."

Commission Chairwoman Yvonne Atkinson Gates suggested signs be posted on property to inform potential developers and homebuyers that the land is zoned for transfer stations.

"That way, you buy something, and you know who your neighbors are going to be," Gates said.

Kalish said people who opposed the $5 million transfer station confused it with a dump. He reiterated that garbage is picked up from homes, taken to a transfer station and hauled to the Apex landfill the same day.

While the trash is at a transfer station, it is kept in an enclosed building.

By building transfer stations near neighborhoods, Silver State reduces the wear and tear on its more expensive vehicles. It also decreases the number of slower, clunky garbage trucks on the highways, Kalish said.

"The idea of a transfer station is it allows efficiency and cost savings," county Public Works Director Marty Manning said. "The cost savings are realized in the low rates."

Silver State is scouring the southwest and southeast sections of the valley for sites. Kalish said the company has identified a parcel in the county near Henderson, but he declined to say where until preliminary paperwork is completed.

Kalish said Silver State cannot keep up with growth without new facilities and could be forced to raise rates.

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