ba/oaks.pr                97-329                                Contact: Tom Kusterer, 301-840-2701


COUNTY CLOSES
OAKS LANDFILL                                      For Immediate Release: October 22, 1997

     An era ended today for the residents of Laytonsville when the County officially -- and
literally -- closed the Oaks landfill.
     The closing of the 550-acre facility became possible when the County, earlier this
year, signed a long-term contract with a Virginia firm to transport approximately 150,000 tons
per year of ash residue from the Resource Recovery Facility in Dickerson and other
noncombustible waste materials to a landfill in Brunswick County, Virginia.
     Under the $4.6 million contract with Brunswick Waste Management Facility, Inc.,
approximately 150,000 tons of material will be transported by rail from Dickerson to Virginia
each year.  
     Joining County Executive Douglas M. Duncan, County Council members, and
representatives form the County's Division of Solid Waste Services were Laytonsville Mayor
Charles T. White and members of the local community.
     Duncan said, "This is a memorable day for the people of Laytonsville.  We thank them
for their perseverance and patience over the past 15 years as well as during these final 
months when they knew the end was in sight.
     "We're here today to close not only the Oaks Landfill but a chapter in the history
                                  -more-

COUNTY CLOSES OAKS LANDFILL                                                          2-2-2-2

of Laytonsville."
     Since the Oaks opened in June 1982, approximately seven million tons of waste have
been disposed at the site.  Construction of the County-funded and -designed public water
extension to the vicinity of the landfill is underway by the WSSC.  Approximately 165
residences around the landfill will receive public water.
     Laytonsville Mayor Charles T. White said his town is "very pleased that this is the end
of trash being brought to the landfill.  This is a beginning toward the end, but we're still
concerned about our drinking water being contaminated.  We hope the County will continue
to monitor and be alert to what happens at the landfill."
     The agreement has also led the County to discontinue plans for developing the Site 2
landfill in Dickerson.  Duncan said, "Our out-of-county haul contract not only provides a cost-
effective option for disposing of our ash and non-combustible materials and allowed us to
close the Oaks, but has effectively enabled us to avoid constructing another landfill." 
      The service fee of approximately $35 per ton for hauling and disposing of the solid
waste will remain fixed for the first five-years of the 15-year contract.  After that, it may be
adjusted by up to 75 percent of the Consumer Price Index for the Washington Metropolitan 
Statistical Area.
     Brunswick Waste Management Facility, Inc. is a wholly owned subsidiary of Allied
Waste Industries.  Its landfill is located about 200 miles south of Montgomery County.
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