Rivanna Solid Waste Authority: Difference between revisions

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(added financial struggles of RSWA)
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The '''Rivanna Solid Waste Authority''' ('''RSWA''') was formed in 1990<ref>{{Minutes-boardofsupervisors|url=http://www.albemarle.org/weblink8/0/doc/1299/Page1.aspx|when=October 31, 1990|documentid=1229|accessdate=June 29, 2011}}</ref> as a political subdivision of the Commonwealth of Virginia to handle solid waste disposal and recycling activities in the City of [[Charlottesville]] and the [[Albemarle County]]. In June 2010, the [[City of Charlottesville]] terminated its agreement with the RSWA, choosing to award a contract to [[Van der Linde Recycling]].<ref>{{cite-hook|title=Timely disposal: City dumps RSWA for Van der Linde|url=http://www.readthehook.com/67233/timely-disposal-city-dumps-rswa-van-der-linde|author=David McNair|pageno=|printno=|printdate=|publishdate=30 June 2010|accessdate=22 July 2013}}</ref>
The '''Rivanna Solid Waste Authority''' ('''RSWA''') was formed in 1990<ref>{{Minutes-boardofsupervisors|url=http://www.albemarle.org/weblink8/0/doc/1299/Page1.aspx|when=October 31, 1990|documentid=1229|accessdate=June 29, 2011}}</ref> as a political subdivision of the Commonwealth of Virginia to handle solid waste disposal and recycling activities in the City of [[Charlottesville]] and the [[Albemarle County]]. In June 2010, the [[City of Charlottesville]] terminated its agreement with the RSWA, choosing to award a contract to [[Van der Linde Recycling]].<ref name="disposal">{{cite-hook|title=Timely disposal: City dumps RSWA for Van der Linde|url=http://www.readthehook.com/67233/timely-disposal-city-dumps-rswa-van-der-linde|author=David McNair|pageno=|printno=|printdate=|publishdate=30 June 2010|accessdate=22 July 2013}}</ref>


==Facilities==
==Facilities==
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===2009 Van der Linde lawsuit===
===2009 Van der Linde lawsuit===
In 2009, RSWA sued [[Peter van der Linde]] in a $20 million RICO suit. Van der Linde now runs [[Van der Linde Recycling]], an $11 million Materials Recovery Facility that competes with the RSWA to offer waste management services in Charlottesville and Albemarle.<ref name=hookvdl>{{cite web|url=http://www.readthehook.com/blog/index.php/2009/09/28/flow-blow-wasteworks-may-seek-waste-monopoly|title=Flow blow: Wasteworks may seek trash monopoly|author=Dave McNair|work=[[The Hook]]|publishdate=9/28/09}}</ref> The RWSA accused Van der Linde of defrauding them of over $1 million dollars between 2006 and 2007, when he operated a container rental business that brought its waste to the trash transfer station operated by Browning-Ferris Industries (BFI) in Ivy. The authority claims that Van der Linde's truck drivers failed to tell the BFI that the waste came from the RWSA service area, thereby avoiding a $16 per ton "service contribution fee" that helps fund the RWSA.<ref>{{cite-hook|title=Don Van der Linde? Wasteworks whacks recycler with RICO|url=http://www.readthehook.com/70540/don-van-der-linde-wasteworks-whacks-recycler-rico|author=David McNair|pageno=|printno=|printdate=|publishdate=17 Aug 2009|accessdate=22 July 2013}}</ref> But Van der Linde argued that his drivers did not tell the BFI about the source of the waste because BFI failed to ask. He claimed that BFI had an incentive not to ask so that it could charge its own higher service fees.<ref name="trash">{{cite-hook|title=Trash talking: RSWA breaks silence on lawsuit|url=http://www.readthehook.com/69751/trash-talking-rswa-breaks-silence-lawsuit|author=David McNair|pageno=|printno=|printdate=|publishdate=24 Oct 2009|accessdate=22 July 2013}}</ref> In December 2009, the key material witness in the case - Richard Wade Kendrick - was convicted of extortion.<ref>{{cite-cville|title=Revenues slide for RSWA, which contends $1M in unpaid fines from private trash hauler|url=http://www.c-ville.com/Revenues_slide_for_RSWA_which_contends_1M_in_unpaid_fines_from_private_trash_hauler/#.Ue1nM5XSGWc|author=Brian Chidester|pageno=|printno=|printdate=|publishdate=12 Jan 2010|accessdate=22 July 2013}}</ref> The RWSA's suit was dropped when Van der Linde agreed to pay $600,000 in a January 2010 settlement. BFI separately agreed to pay RSWA $300,000 and gave up a 3-year agreement with the authority.<ref>{{cite-hook|title=Freed Van der Linde: Govt drops suit against recycler|url=http://www.readthehook.com/68972/freed-van-der-linde-govt-drops-suit-against-recycler|author=Hawes Spencer|pageno=|printno=|printdate=|publishdate=20 Jan 2010|accessdate=22 July 2013}}</ref> There has been speculation that the RSWA sued Van der Linde because it feared the competition from Van der Linde's MRF, located next to the BFI's transfer station at Zion Crossroads.<ref name="trash"/> The RSWA had been struggling financially.<ref name="trash"/>
In 2009, RSWA spent almost $400,000 suing [[Peter van der Linde]] in a $20 million RICO suit. Van der Linde now runs [[Van der Linde Recycling]], an $11 million Materials Recovery Facility that competes with the RSWA to offer waste management services in Charlottesville and Albemarle.<ref name=hookvdl>{{cite web|url=http://www.readthehook.com/blog/index.php/2009/09/28/flow-blow-wasteworks-may-seek-waste-monopoly|title=Flow blow: Wasteworks may seek trash monopoly|author=Dave McNair|work=[[The Hook]]|publishdate=9/28/09}}</ref> <ref name="disposal"/> The RWSA accused Van der Linde of defrauding them of over $1 million dollars between 2006 and 2007, when he operated a container rental business that brought its waste to the trash transfer station operated by Browning-Ferris Industries (BFI) in Ivy. The authority claims that Van der Linde's truck drivers failed to tell the BFI that the waste came from the RWSA service area, thereby avoiding a $16 per ton "service contribution fee" that helps fund the RWSA.<ref>{{cite-hook|title=Don Van der Linde? Wasteworks whacks recycler with RICO|url=http://www.readthehook.com/70540/don-van-der-linde-wasteworks-whacks-recycler-rico|author=David McNair|pageno=|printno=|printdate=|publishdate=17 Aug 2009|accessdate=22 July 2013}}</ref> But Van der Linde argued that his drivers did not tell the BFI about the source of the waste because BFI failed to ask. He claimed that BFI had an incentive not to ask so that it could charge its own higher service fees.<ref name="trash">{{cite-hook|title=Trash talking: RSWA breaks silence on lawsuit|url=http://www.readthehook.com/69751/trash-talking-rswa-breaks-silence-lawsuit|author=David McNair|pageno=|printno=|printdate=|publishdate=24 Oct 2009|accessdate=22 July 2013}}</ref> In December 2009, the key material witness in the case - Richard Wade Kendrick - was convicted of extortion.<ref>{{cite-cville|title=Revenues slide for RSWA, which contends $1M in unpaid fines from private trash hauler|url=http://www.c-ville.com/Revenues_slide_for_RSWA_which_contends_1M_in_unpaid_fines_from_private_trash_hauler/#.Ue1nM5XSGWc|author=Brian Chidester|pageno=|printno=|printdate=|publishdate=12 Jan 2010|accessdate=22 July 2013}}</ref> The RWSA's suit was dropped when Van der Linde agreed to pay $600,000 in a January 2010 settlement. BFI separately agreed to pay RSWA $300,000 and gave up a 3-year agreement with the authority.<ref>{{cite-hook|title=Freed Van der Linde: Govt drops suit against recycler|url=http://www.readthehook.com/68972/freed-van-der-linde-govt-drops-suit-against-recycler|author=Hawes Spencer|pageno=|printno=|printdate=|publishdate=20 Jan 2010|accessdate=22 July 2013}}</ref> There has been speculation that the RSWA sued Van der Linde because it feared the competition from Van der Linde's MRF, located next to the BFI's transfer station at Zion Crossroads.<ref name="trash"/>  


==Developments==
==Developments==
In January 2010, Mayor [[Dave Norris]] raised the possibility of Charlottesville ending its relationship with the RWSA when its current agreement expired in June 2010.<ref name=dpcitymayend>{{cite-progress|title=City may end RSWA partnership|author=Rachana Dixit|publishdate=January 13, 2010|url=http://www2.dailyprogress.com/cdp/news/local/article/city_may_end_rswa_partnership/50878/}}</ref> The city did so, choosing to award a contract to private RWSA competitor [[Van der Linde Recycling]].<ref>{{cite-hook|title=Timely disposal: City dumps RSWA for Van der Linde|url=http://www.readthehook.com/67233/timely-disposal-city-dumps-rswa-van-der-linde|author=David McNair|pageno=|printno=|printdate=|publishdate=30 June 2010|accessdate=22 July 2013}}</ref>
The RSWA was meant to pay for itself, but has been struggling financially.<ref name="curtail">{{cite-progress|title=Albemarle trash program could be curtailed
|url=http://www.dailyprogress.com/news/local/albemarle-trash-program-could-be-curtailed/article_d3a6c1b0-3c2f-11e2-a393-0019bb30f31a.html|author=Aaron Richardson|pageno=|printdate=|publishdate=1 Dec 2012|accessdate=22 July 2013}}</ref>


In late November 2012, Albemarle County is {{as of|2012|alt=considering}} closing the facility or converting it to a convenience center. <ref>{{cite-progress|title=Albemarle trash program could be curtailed|url=http://www.dailyprogress.com/news/local/article_d3a6c1b0-3c2f-11e2-a393-0019bb30f31a.html|author=Aaron Richardson|pageno=|printdate=December 1, 2012|publishdate=December 1, 2012|accessdate=December 3, 2012|cturl=}}</ref>
In January 2010, Mayor [[Dave Norris]] raised the possibility of Charlottesville ending its relationship with the RWSA when its current agreement expired in June 2010.<ref name=dpcitymayend>{{cite-progress|title=City may end RSWA partnership|author=Rachana Dixit|publishdate=January 13, 2010|url=http://www2.dailyprogress.com/cdp/news/local/article/city_may_end_rswa_partnership/50878/}}</ref> The city did so, choosing to award a contract to private RWSA competitor [[Van der Linde Recycling]].<ref name="disposal"/>
 
In late November 2012, Albemarle County was considering closing the Ivy transfer station or converting it to a convenience center, as the expense of operating it rose. The county contributed $116,000 to operate the facility in 2012, but the cost was projected to rise to as much as $350,000 in 2013 as the $600,000 settlement from a lawsuit against [[Peter van der Linde]] ran out (see above).<ref name="curtail"/>


==External links==
==External links==

Revision as of 13:43, 22 July 2013

The Rivanna Solid Waste Authority (RSWA) was formed in 1990[1] as a political subdivision of the Commonwealth of Virginia to handle solid waste disposal and recycling activities in the City of Charlottesville and the Albemarle County. In June 2010, the City of Charlottesville terminated its agreement with the RSWA, choosing to award a contract to Van der Linde Recycling.[2]

Facilities

The RWSA operates three facilities in addition to its main office.

Governance

Board of Directors

RSWA is governed by a seven-member Board of Directors, which consists of the City Manager and the Director of Public Works for the City of Charlottesville, the County Executive and the Director of Engineering and Public Works for Albemarle County, and a Chairperson selected jointly by the City Council and County Board of Supervisors. In 2009, the RSWA charter was changed to add one City Councilor and one member of the Albemarle County Board of Supervisors[citation needed].

The current board consists of:

RSWA Citizens Advisory Committee

The Board is supported by a Citizens Advisory Committee of three representatives from the city, three from the county, two from the University of Virginia, and a Chairperson selected jointly by the City Council and Board of Supervisors.

  • Jeff Greer, Joint City of Charlottesville / Albemarle County Representative, Chairman
  • Kim Blatz, City of Charlottesville Representative, Vice Chairman
  • Kevin O. Martin, City of Charlottesville Representative
  • Vacant, City of Charlottesville Representative
  • Stephen Kirkup, Albemarle County Representative
  • Reed Muehlman, Albemarle County Representative
  • Teri Kent, Albemarle County Representative
  • Elizabeth Bowling, University of Virginia Representative
  • Todd Marshall, University of Virginia Representative

Staff

  • Thomas L. Frederick, Jr. P.E. - Executive Director
  • Lonnie E. Wood - Director of Finance and Administration
  • Mark Brownlee - Manager, Ivy Site Operations
  • Bruce J. Edmonds - Recycling Operations Manager
  • David Atkins - Environmental & Safety Manager

Employee Safety Committee

The Employee Safety Committee administers health and safety, develops policies and recommendations made to management. The committee is a joint program between the Rivanna Solid Waste Authority and the Rivanna Water & Sewer Authority. Members serve two-year terms and are approved by the Executive Director. The committee is charged with maintaining and improving safety consciousness and improving the safety rules and safety education.

Current members are as follows:

  • David L. Atkins - Environmental & Safety Manager
  • Guy Maupin - Chairman - Water Department
  • Jim Heller - (co-chair) - Sold Waste Department
  • Debra Hoyt - Secretary - Laboratory
  • Michael Webb - Vehicle Safety - Water Department
  • Mike Ralston - Maintenance Department
  • Brian Haney - WWT Operator - Wastewater Department


Legal issues

2001 Ivy Landfill lawsuit

In 2001, the RSWA settled with 15 Albemarle County landowners that had filed a suit claiming the Ivy Landfill leaked, poisoning their water supply. As part of the terms of the settlement, the landowners were not allowed to publicly criticize new construction at the landfill. To protest, many of them attended a City Council meeting wearing gags.[4]

2009 Van der Linde lawsuit

In 2009, RSWA spent almost $400,000 suing Peter van der Linde in a $20 million RICO suit. Van der Linde now runs Van der Linde Recycling, an $11 million Materials Recovery Facility that competes with the RSWA to offer waste management services in Charlottesville and Albemarle.[5] [2] The RWSA accused Van der Linde of defrauding them of over $1 million dollars between 2006 and 2007, when he operated a container rental business that brought its waste to the trash transfer station operated by Browning-Ferris Industries (BFI) in Ivy. The authority claims that Van der Linde's truck drivers failed to tell the BFI that the waste came from the RWSA service area, thereby avoiding a $16 per ton "service contribution fee" that helps fund the RWSA.[6] But Van der Linde argued that his drivers did not tell the BFI about the source of the waste because BFI failed to ask. He claimed that BFI had an incentive not to ask so that it could charge its own higher service fees.[7] In December 2009, the key material witness in the case - Richard Wade Kendrick - was convicted of extortion.[8] The RWSA's suit was dropped when Van der Linde agreed to pay $600,000 in a January 2010 settlement. BFI separately agreed to pay RSWA $300,000 and gave up a 3-year agreement with the authority.[9] There has been speculation that the RSWA sued Van der Linde because it feared the competition from Van der Linde's MRF, located next to the BFI's transfer station at Zion Crossroads.[7]

Developments

The RSWA was meant to pay for itself, but has been struggling financially.[10]

In January 2010, Mayor Dave Norris raised the possibility of Charlottesville ending its relationship with the RWSA when its current agreement expired in June 2010.[11] The city did so, choosing to award a contract to private RWSA competitor Van der Linde Recycling.[2]

In late November 2012, Albemarle County was considering closing the Ivy transfer station or converting it to a convenience center, as the expense of operating it rose. The county contributed $116,000 to operate the facility in 2012, but the cost was projected to rise to as much as $350,000 in 2013 as the $600,000 settlement from a lawsuit against Peter van der Linde ran out (see above).[10]

External links

RSWA website

References

  1. Web. County of Albemarle, Albemarle County Board of Supervisors Minutes, Albemarle County Board of Supervisors, Albemarle County, October 31, 1990, retrieved June 29, 2011.
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 Web. Timely disposal: City dumps RSWA for Van der Linde, David McNair, The Hook, Better Publications LLC, 30 June 2010, retrieved 22 July 2013.
  3. Charlottesville City Council Meeting. City Hall, Charlottesville. 7 February 2011. Public Meeting.
  4. "Albemarle County Residents Protest Gag Order in Settlement." Daily Progress [Charlottesville] 3 Apr. 2001. George Loper's Archive. Web. 15 Aug. 2009. <http://george.loper.org/trends/2001/Apr/78.html>.
  5. Web. Flow blow: Wasteworks may seek trash monopoly, Dave McNair, The Hook, 9/28/09
  6. Web. Don Van der Linde? Wasteworks whacks recycler with RICO, David McNair, The Hook, Better Publications LLC, 17 Aug 2009, retrieved 22 July 2013.
  7. 7.0 7.1 Web. Trash talking: RSWA breaks silence on lawsuit, David McNair, The Hook, Better Publications LLC, 24 Oct 2009, retrieved 22 July 2013.
  8. Web. Revenues slide for RSWA, which contends $1M in unpaid fines from private trash hauler, Brian Chidester, C-VILLE Weekly, Portico Publications, 12 Jan 2010, retrieved 22 July 2013.
  9. Web. Freed Van der Linde: Govt drops suit against recycler, Hawes Spencer, The Hook, Better Publications LLC, 20 Jan 2010, retrieved 22 July 2013.
  10. 10.0 10.1 Web. Albemarle trash program could be curtailed, Aaron Richardson, Daily Progress, Lee Enterprises, 1 Dec 2012, retrieved 22 July 2013.
  11. Web. City may end RSWA partnership, Rachana Dixit, Daily Progress, Lee Enterprises, January 13, 2010