Lakeland officials took the first step toward building a solid waste transfer station on North Combee Road. The city commission voted unanimously to approve a nearly $600,000 contract with Geosyntec Consultants Inc. to design and permit a solid waste transfer station on 16.5 acres of land off North Combee Road, near the intersection of Bob Rawls Road.
Gene Ginn, Lakeland’s manager of solid waste and recycling, told commissioners a potential 12,000- to 20,000-square-foot facility would greatly help improve the efficiency of the city’s waste collection services. If built, Ginn said the site would be the first of its kind in Polk County.
“With waste hauling it’s all about efficiency, how fast can we get the trucks empty and how fast can get them to the next customer,” Ginn said. “This really helps especially when you don’ t have to run 15 miles to a landfill or disposal facility, you can only run 5 [miles].”