Construction and demolition debris (CD&D) could soon return to the Daviess County Transfer Station as officials near completion of a series of infrastructure upgrades designed to improve safety and alleviate traffic congestion.
The changes come after a sharp rise in CD&D materials strained the capacity of the Transfer Station in mid-2023, prompting Daviess County Fiscal Court to temporarily reroute such materials directly to the landfill starting July 3, 2023.
“Looking at totals for CD&D by year at the Transfer Station and Landfill combined, the average from 2019-2022 was approximately 52,000 tons,” said Daviess County Treasurer Jordan Johnson. “In 2023, we received more than 90,000 tons — a 72% increase over the average of the prior four years.”
Johnson noted that increased staffing and equipment alone would not have addressed the issue due to the station’s layout. The month of May 2023 saw an 81% increase in CD&D tonnage compared to historical averages, leading to significant delays and congestion at the facility.
In response, Judge-Executive Charlie Castlen said that he and Commissioner Chris Castlen began evaluating long-term upgrades to reintroduce CD&D drop-off, while also improving overall flow and safety.
Projects currently underway at the site include:
- A large concrete pad designated specifically for CD&D materials
- A repoured and reconfigured retaining wall to improve semi-truck access
- Demolition of the old office and construction of a new office building in a relocated position to improve space for both commercial and residential traffic
The retaining wall has been completed, the new office is nearly finished, and the concrete pad is expected to be in place by March or April of 2026. Once the improvements are complete, CD&D drop-offs at the Transfer Station will resume.
Judge-Executive Castlen said the upgrades will be a major quality-of-life improvement for local contractors.
“For folks in the construction field, this is going to be huge,” Castlen said. “I watched siding crews working next door to my house, and I knew they were going to have to drive all the way to the landfill with that trailer. From my house, it’s a 4-minute drive to the Transfer Station. The landfill? That’s a 15-minute trip each way.”
Castlen said the time savings will be even more pronounced for people working farther out in the county.
Johnson added that separating CD&D and household waste into different drop-off locations within the Transfer Station will enhance safety and streamline traffic.
“Having more space opened in the operational and high-traffic areas of the Transfer Station will allow for safer disposal overall,” Johnson said.
