WEST FARGO — The city of West Fargo is on the lookout for a second inert landfill spot.
An inert landfill differs from a general landfill, such as the one in Fargo, where West Fargo dumps its residential and light commercial garbage loads. Inert landfills are dumping spots for city materials such as project demolition materials, tires, street asphalt and culverts.
"Basically it's things that won't break down," Public Works Director Matt Andvik said.
The city currently has one inert landfill near 12th Avenue Northwest, but Andvik said it will likely be filled in the next five to seven years.
"We would not have enough space if there was a natural disaster, such as a tornado," Andvik said. "Sending all inert waste to Fargo is not an option."
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If the city had additional space, it could be used to save money during Cleanup Week, when residents set out more types of items for curbside pickup. West Fargo would not have to pay the Fargo landfill $46 per ton for dropoff.
West Fargo could also save by depositing its own materials from street sweeping, residential tire collection and city projects such as the planned Bell Bank building demolition. Although contractors would perform the demolition, West Fargo could charge a rate for material deposits.
Andvik said the city could save roughly $120,000 per year by not having to pay for deposits to the Fargo landfill.
At a recent learning meeting of the City Commission, Andvik presented a number of options for a new landfill.
He said the city could choose to build up the current landfill another 20 feet, which could have an additional life span of 15 years.
If the city chose to build a new inert landfill, it could consider doing so on the former West Fargo stockyards site, which was recently bought by a developer.
"But with this site, there is extensive work that would need to be done to get it ready," Andvik said. "Permitting could be an issue, but this site would probably be about 20 to 30 years additional life."
The potential site, which is on the north end of the stockyards property, is also near to residential homes, Commissioner Mandy George said.
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Andvik suggested the city use one of the lagoon cells that the city plans to decommission and drain in the next few years, an option Andvik said he prefers.
However, Economic Development Director Lauren Orchard was weary of using the lagoon site as the city hopes to turn the full 10 lagoons — 600 acres — into developable property.
"Any time a site becomes a landfill, it's forever a landfill," Orchard said.
If the city opts to build a new landfill, it will have to pass a special ordinance to do so, said Planning Director Tim Solberg.
"The city ordinances currently do not allow for any landfills within the city limits," he said. The landfill ordinance could also lead to additional sites being requested privately.
"Once you allow one landfill, you have to allow other landfills," City Attorney Jon Shockley said.
Andvik said he would continue to research the prospect and locations of a potential new landfill and return to a regular City Commission meeting with options for commissioners to consider, which could be as soon as next week.
The West Fargo City Commission will meet at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 16. Its regular Monday meeting was rescheduled to Tuesday due to the Presidents Day holiday.
