Gilchrist County weighs new waste transfer station site

BELL, Fla. (WCJB) — Gilchrist County commissioners are considering a new location for the county’s waste transfer station as the existing Bell facility struggles to keep pace with a growing population.

When the current transfer station was built, approximately 10,000 people lived in Gilchrist County. Since then, the population has more than doubled, producing a 248% increase in trash volume that the existing facility can no longer handle.

Commissioner Bill Martin said there is no room for expansion at the current location. The commission is now searching for a roughly 20-acre property and has two sites under consideration. Martin said the commission is leaning toward a site on County Road 340 but remains open to other options.

“It does not matter where we put it, someone’s going to be upset with it — we’re just trying to do the best for the community and the people that live here and the best for Gilchrist County,” Martin said.

Residents packed the county commission meeting when the item appeared on the agenda. The commission is scheduled to meet again in two weeks to hear additional public comment and make a final determination.

Martin said an engineer will review both sites to determine whether each would be suitable for a transfer facility. If both sites are found to be viable, the final decision will rest with the commission.

The next commission meeting is scheduled for Aug. 17.

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