INC NEWS - City of Durham Monitors Smoldering Yard Waste Pile

[RW Pickle]

>From the City PR Dept.

RWP
27 Beverly


City Crews Will Continue to Monitor Pile Over Next Few Days
 
Durham, N.C. – City of Durham personnel are closely monitoring sections of
a yard waste pile at the City’s Yard Waste Compost Facility that caught
fire over the weekend. The cause of the fire is believed to be spontaneous
combustion, which can naturally occur in large yard waste piles.   
 
A citizen noticed smoke from the Yard Waste facility on Sunday and
notified the City’s 911 Center accordingly.  Crews from the City’s Fire
Department and Department of Solid Waste Management responded immediately
to assess the situation.
 
According to Donald Long, director of the City’s Department of Solid Waste
Management, the public is in no danger.  “We basically have a smoldering
yard waste pile of tree limbs and leaves that is emitting smoke and no
ash,” Long said.  “We will continue to work closely with the Fire
Department to monitor the pile over the next few days to ensure that it
remains contained.  Once the heat in the pile diminishes, we will use
heavy equipment to spread out the pile, which will reduce internal heat
and smoke, while significantly diminishing the possibility of any future
flare ups.”
 
Spontaneous combustion occurs as a result of a breakdown of organic
materials.  This process not only occurs in the composting process, but
can also occur in a yard waste pile.  According to Long, this appears to
be the cause of this weekend’s event.  In compliance with state
regulations, City officials notified the North Carolina Department of
Environment and Natural Resources (NCDENR).
 
According to Long, the smoldering brush fire will not impact yard waste
services, either for curbside pick-up or citizen drop-off, since these
areas are separate from the yard waste fire location.  The City uses the
yard waste pile to produce single- and double-ground mulch that citizens
can purchase at the facility.  The Yard Waste Compost Facility is located
at the rear of the Waste Disposal and Recycling Center (Transfer Station),
at 2115 East Club Boulevard, Durham.  For more information about the
City’s Yard Waste Compost Facility, visit the City’s website at
http://www.durhamnc.gov/departments/solid/wr_compost_facility.cfm.  
 
Residents seeking additional information should contact Durham One Call,
the City’s centralized information and service center, at (919) 560-1200,
Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.
 
About the Department of Solid Waste Management
The City of Durham's Department of Solid Waste Management promotes and
supports a high quality of life for the citizens of Durham by providing
comprehensive, responsive, environmentally safe, efficient and
cost-effective solid waste collection, recycling and disposal programs. 
Department services include residential garbage collection, recycling
collection, cart delivery and repair, commercial dumpster collection, yard
waste collection and recycling, cardboard collection, bulky brush and
bulky item pickup, street cleaning and waste disposal.  For more
information about this department, visit the City’s website at
http://www.durhamnc.gov/departments/solid/