3419_INSP_20170606

FACILITY COMPLIANCE INSPECTION REPORT
Division of Waste Management
Solid Waste Section

Page 1 of 3

UNIT TYPE:
Lined
MSWLF LCID YW Transfer Compost SLAS COUNTY: Forsyth
Closed
MSWLF HHW White
goods Incin T&P X FIRM PERMIT NO.: 34-19TP
CDLF Tire T&P /
Collection Tire
Monofill Industrial
Landfill DEMO SDTF FILE TYPE: COMPLIANCE

Date of Site Inspection: June 6, 2017 Date of Last Inspection: November 7, 2016

FACILITY NAME AND ADDRESS:
Lowder Recycling & Disposal Facility
2840 Griffith Road
Winston-Salem, NC 27103

GPS COORDINATES: N: 36.036906° W: -80.313346°

FACILITY CONTACT NAME AND PHONE NUMBER:
Name: Gene Lowder, Owner
Telephone: [phone] (office)
Email address: [e-mail]

FACILITY CONTACT ADDRESS:
Lowder Recycling & Disposal, LLC
2810 Griffith Road
Winston-Salem, NC 27103

PARTICIPANTS:
Michael Young, Yard Supervisor – Lowder Recycling & Disposal
Tammy Valentine, Administrative Assistant – Lowder Recycling & Disposal
Susan Heim, Environmental Senior Specialist – Solid Waste Section

STATUS OF PERMIT:
Permit to Construct and Operate Solid Waste Treatment and Processing Facility Issued: December 11, 2004
Permit Renewal, Operations Plan Modification: December 11, 2009
Permit Renewal, Operations Plan Modification: December 11, 2014
Permit expires December 11, 2019 – submit permit renewal request by June 10, 2019

PURPOSE OF SITE VISIT:
Comprehensive Inspection

STATUS OF PAST NOTED VIOLATIONS:
None

OBSERVED VIOLATIONS:
None

The item(s) listed above were observed by Section staff and require action on behalf of the facility in order to come into or maintain compliance
with the Statutes, Rules, and/or other regulatory requirements applicable to this facility. Be advised that pursuant to N.C.G.S. 130A-22, an
administrative penalty of up to $15,000 per day may be assessed for each violation of the Solid Waste Laws, Regulations, Conditions of a Permit,
or Order under Article 9 of Chapter 130A of the N.C. General Statutes. Further, the facility and/or all responsible parties may also be subject to
enforcement actions including penalties, injunction from operation of a solid waste management facility or a solid waste collection service and any
such further relief as may be necessary to achieve compliance with the North Carolina Solid Waste Management Act and Rules.
FACILITY COMPLIANCE INSPECTION REPORT
Division of Waste Management
Solid Waste Section
Page 2 of 4

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS

1. The facility consists of wood waste treatment and processing (T&P) facility and is permitted to receive land
clearing debris, untreated and unpainted wood waste, uncontaminated pallets and uncontaminated soil.
2. The facility’s current Permit to Operate and current, approved Operations Plan (dated December 1, 2014) were
available and reviewed.
3. The facility appeared to be clean and well maintained in most areas. However, high weeds and saplings blocked
access to the sediment trap at the southern end of the property. Mr. Young directed facility staff to remove the
vegetation so that the area was available for inspection.
4. After excess vegetation was removed, the sediment trap was observed to be almost full of water. Mr. Young
explained that 2” of rain fell on the area during the previous evening and, as a result, both sediment traps were
full. He added that the site drains well and should be dry within a day or two.
5. Inspection of one of the check dams on the western side of the property revealed that the spillway had filled up
with rain water. Mr. Young stated that this is also normal for the site after a heavy rain event.
6. Please ensure that, following a measurable rainfall, facility staff inspect all drainage and erosion control
devices to confirm they are functioning properly.
7. Please ensure that drainage ditches, check dams, sediment traps and berms are maintained regularly so
that they conform to the design shown on the approved facility site plan (dated October 13, 2009).
8. Access roadways are of all-weather construction and adequately sized to allow customers and staff to maneuver
safely. Some ponding was observed on the access roadway where equipment use had left ruts in the mud. Mr.
Young indicated that, as the site drains he will add soil to level the roadway in these areas.
9. The facility has two points of entry. The entry at the southeastern end of the site is secured by a gate that is
locked when the facility is not in operation. The entry to the southwest has no gate; however, Mr. Young stated
that large concrete blocks are used to block that entrance when the facility is closed for business. He added that
a gate for the second entry is planned.
10. Proper signage was posted at the entry gate.
11. A review of the FY 15-16 Facility Annual Report for the T&P operation showed that 3,765 tons of wood waste
were accepted during the reporting period, all which was generated in Forsyth County. The amount of waste
received monthly fluctuates based on the time of year and the weather experienced.
12. The facility produces five products for sale. Sales records for the period July 1, 2015 through May 31, 2017
were reviewed and indicated the following material output: field dirt – 12,362 cu. yds.; mulch – 6,476 cu. yds.;
topsoil – 5,953 cu. yds.; soil amendment – 578 cu. yds.; biomix – 112 cu. yds.
13. A waste ticket is produced for every load that arrives at the facility. Tickets list each type of material accepted
in the load and the volume of each in cubic yards. Tonnage is calculated for incoming waste on an annual basis
from these tickets using an average weight per cubic yard of 0.5 tons/cu.yd. for land clearing waste and 0.2
tons/cu.yd. for yard waste. Section L of the approved Operations Plan states that both inflow and outflow
will be recorded in tons weekly. Please ensure that records are maintained as specified in the approved
Operations Plan.
14. Mr. Young stated that any trash found in loads is removed as trucks are unloaded and placed in a facility
vehicle, then taken to the Old Salisbury Road Landfill for proper disposal at the end of the day. He added that
very little unacceptable material is received, but that all residual waste is disposed of at this facility.
15. Orange plastic pipe was observed sticking up from a pile of unscreened dirt. Ensure that this orange plastic
pipe is removed and disposed of at a properly permitted facility. Please also ensure that the load
monitoring and inspection procedures specified in items 2 and 3 under Section C of the approved
Operations Plan are followed by all facility staff, and that trash and unacceptable material is removed
from each load as it is received at the facility.
16. Mr. Young stated that only vegetative waste is accepted at the facility, even though the permit allows untreated
and unpainted wood and wood pallets. He explained that the company feels nails from pallets and lumber would
be a danger to customers using their landscaping products.
17. Wood waste is screened daily when possible. A large Power Screen 620 trommel is situated near the middle of
the facility, with wood waste stockpiles close at hand. Screened material is then stored for grinding, which takes
place by contract approximately twice a year.
FACILITY COMPLIANCE INSPECTION REPORT
Division of Waste Management
Solid Waste Section
Page 3 of 4

18. Piles and windrows in the processed wood storage areas were well defined and appeared to meet the size
restrictions set forth in the approved Operations Plan (dated December 1, 2014) of 10’ high and 20’ wide at the
base. Windrows are placed parallel to each other in the southern portion of the facility with 8’ fire lanes, as
indicated in the Operations Plan, thus allowing easy access to all areas. Mr. Young explained that piles are
turned at a rate that ensures no composting takes place at the site. Upon inspection, no hot spots or steam were
observed in the piles.
19. A temperature log is maintained for each windrow and includes monthly temperature readings from the top and
bottom of each windrow. Temperature records for the period January 1, 2014 through May 31, 2017 were
reviewed. No instances of temperatures at or above 110° F were recorded during this time period.
20. Some ponded water was observed between the windrows and around the base of several of the processed and
unprocessed wood waste stockpiles. Mr. Young stated that the ponding water was the result of the 2” rain
received in the area during the previous night. Please monitor these areas and ensure that ponding is
eliminated by regrading or back-blading, as specified in Section F of the Operations Plan.
21. Stockpiles of soils were situated throughout the unprocessed material areas. Mr. Young explained that dirt is
received from grading projects, construction projects and DOT roadway projects. Soil is screened to remove
any vegetative material and rocks. The screened soil may be added to vegetative material to produce the soil
amendments that are sold by the facility. Topsoil is stockpiled separately as it arrives, and soil with undesirable
characteristics is frequently used to maintain grade in the operations areas of the facility.
22. The required buffers appeared to have been met in all areas of the facility. On the southern end of the property,
adjacent to Walnut Cove Road, a sign is posted marking the buffer line so that facility staff are always aware of
their proximity to it.
23. Concrete bins for the storage of mulch were originally placed along the buffer line adjacent to Walnut Cove
Road. Mr. Young explained that the bins had been removed in order to provide better traffic flow and space for
heavy equipment to maneuver around the mulch windrows.

Please contact me if you have any questions or concerns regarding this inspection report.

_______________________________________ Phone: [phone]

Susan Heim
Environmental Senior Specialist
Regional Representative

Sent on: June 14, 2017 to Gene
Lowder.
X Email Hand delivery US Mail Certified No. [ ]

Copies: Deb Aja, Western District Supervisor - Solid Waste Section
Jessica Montie, Compliance Officer – Solid Waste Section