Times-Journal Writer

Selma and Dallas County are one step closer to ridding the streets of the mess left behind by Hurricane Ivan.

International Paper company loaned a wood chipper to the local emergency management team to help in the process of clearing out the leftover debris littering the streets in many neighborhoods.

Larry Friday, Director of Selma/Dallas County environmental services is overseeing the team using the chipper. According to Friday, the site, located just past the bypass off of Water Ave., is the only one that is “chipping” wood debris as opposed to having it burnt.

“It’s FEMA’s job to get rid of the hurricane debris in an environmentally safe manner,” said Friday. “We’re fortunate (that) International Paper is able to utilize the organic remains for RDF.”

The acronym RDF is short for Refuse Derived Fuel which is a fuel made by separating domestic waste, then processing the combustible remains into fuel pellets suitable for commercial or municipal use.

The other local disposal sites are burning debris in accordance with the Alabama Department of Environmental Management

and Alabama Forestry Commission guidelines according to Friday.

He said it would not be economically feasible to move the chipping machinery around to the various sites.

“We were fortunate enough to have a disposal site in close proximity to the waste and the end user (International Paper),” said Friday.

The chipping process began early this week and will be ongoing with no immediate deadline.

The machines run 10 hours per day and International Paper collects the chipped wood periodically.

FEMA agents came to Dallas County before Ivan struck in anticipation of the Hurricane. The workers had already been hauling debris for two weeks before the chipper arrived.

Friday expressed his gratitude on behalf of the City of Selma, Valley Grande, and Dallas County for the use of the chipper.

“International Paper did us a big favor,” said Friday. “I don’t suppose they’re breaking even on this one.”