A proposed solid waste transfer station in Roanoke Rapids could come with a recycling package, city Public Works Director Richard Parnell told The Spin today. His comments came after the website asked about the state’s plastic bottle ban and how that could impact the proposed project. The Greensboro News & Record reported on Oct. 1 it will be illegal for plastic bottles to find their way into North Carolina landfills. The paper reported in theory, that ban will help more of the 288 million pounds of soda containers, milk jugs and detergent bottles Tar Heels toss out every year find their way to recycling centers. North Carolinians throw away roughly four of every five bottles. Because of the upcoming ban, Parnell said the city wants to explore the possibility of adding a drop-off recycling center to the transfer station proposal. “Richard will factor that (the ban) into the weight estimates,” City Manager Paul Sabiston said in an email correspondence with The Spin. “He may have to determine its impact after a few months of real experience following the start of that rule.” Parnell said he will be going through and revising numbers originally given city council and administrative staff on the proposed transfer station. “The numbers we gave them were for last year,” he said. “We also need to talk about financing options.” If the transfer station is built, Parnell said it would most likely require one fulltime and one parttime employee. The original proposal was made using existing personnel and equipment. “We’ve got to look at the logistics,” he said. City council has agreed to begin exploring possibilities of a transfer station to bring in more revenue, a measure that could possibly bring in anywhere from $80,000 to $130,000 a year. It could also have the potential to reduce the city’s annual solid waste fee, which is currently $188 a year. Getting to construction of one, however, is probably something which will take three to four months of study and possibly six months before a decision is made. Estimated cost of construction is $750,000 and the city would consider building close to its maintenance yard on Hinson Street. Before any decision is made the city needs to determine preliminary engineering and permitting costs, total engineering costs and estimated construction costs. It also needs to determine projected expenses and revenues as well as consider any legal issues with its operation and explore financing options.