Alleghany County prioritizes transfer‑station upgrade, pursues recycling grants
February 10, 2026 | Alleghany County, North Carolina
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Speaker 2, a county official, opened the budget cycle by saying the transfer station is the county’s top capital priority and that staff expect to draw about $1.5 million from the general fund for facility improvements.
The county’s finance staff described the transfer station as an enterprise fund that must generally cover its own costs. Speaker 7 explained primary revenues are a $75 per‑ton commercial tonnage fee and a $98 annual residential availability fee per improved property; additional income comes from state solid‑waste fees and scrap‑metal sales. Staff said the facility typically keeps a fund balance to absorb year‑end variances and that the $1.5 million allocation is being treated as a capital expenditure, not routine operating subsidy.
Board members raised rising disposal and transport costs. Speakers reported an expected increase to roughly $135 per ton for tires effective March 1 and cautioned that contaminated tire loads (dirt, mud) can double per‑ton processing costs. The board discussed limits on free tire disposal—five tires per vehicle under current state practice—with a $2 per‑tire charge beyond that allowance.
Recycling was presented as both cost‑saving and revenue‑generating. Speaker 4 described plans to expand local glass and shingle recycling, including turning crushed glass into “glass mulch” to sell. Staff said an application for a large recycling grant has been submitted (discussed in the meeting as approximately $5,000,000) that would cover startup equipment such as a tub grinder and a tumbler; Speaker 7 estimated the tumbler at about $41,000. County staff said they already have a glass crusher in place and have begun limited collection while pursuing grant funding.
Procurement steps were outlined: staff will review TRC (technical review committee) questions and return materials to county purchasing so the transfer‑station bid can be issued. The board will consider a Republic disposal/transport bid at a future meeting.
The meeting closed this topic with staff committing to return specific budget figures and procurement schedules for board review.
The county’s finance staff described the transfer station as an enterprise fund that must generally cover its own costs. Speaker 7 explained primary revenues are a $75 per‑ton commercial tonnage fee and a $98 annual residential availability fee per improved property; additional income comes from state solid‑waste fees and scrap‑metal sales. Staff said the facility typically keeps a fund balance to absorb year‑end variances and that the $1.5 million allocation is being treated as a capital expenditure, not routine operating subsidy.
Board members raised rising disposal and transport costs. Speakers reported an expected increase to roughly $135 per ton for tires effective March 1 and cautioned that contaminated tire loads (dirt, mud) can double per‑ton processing costs. The board discussed limits on free tire disposal—five tires per vehicle under current state practice—with a $2 per‑tire charge beyond that allowance.
Recycling was presented as both cost‑saving and revenue‑generating. Speaker 4 described plans to expand local glass and shingle recycling, including turning crushed glass into “glass mulch” to sell. Staff said an application for a large recycling grant has been submitted (discussed in the meeting as approximately $5,000,000) that would cover startup equipment such as a tub grinder and a tumbler; Speaker 7 estimated the tumbler at about $41,000. County staff said they already have a glass crusher in place and have begun limited collection while pursuing grant funding.
Procurement steps were outlined: staff will review TRC (technical review committee) questions and return materials to county purchasing so the transfer‑station bid can be issued. The board will consider a Republic disposal/transport bid at a future meeting.
The meeting closed this topic with staff committing to return specific budget figures and procurement schedules for board review.
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