The main issue of the trash disposal plant
I've done several posts on the town's discussions regarding the future of our trash disposal (not trash hauling) services. And I've fallen into the trap of feeling a bit overwhelmed by all the information and moving parts. But I've been thinking it through and have concluded the whole thing is fairly simple at its most basic level.
Simply put, our need is trash disposal services. And the cost is the tipping fee. Keeping that in mind, I recognize there are many moving parts here... but the main concern is maintaining a service provider... at the best cost.
On a budgetary note... for those of you who are interested... Cheshire generates about 20,000 tons of garbage annually. That consists of 8200 residential tons with the balance primarily representing commercial garbage. The tip fee for the 8200 tons of residential garbage is about $60/ton... for an annual tipping fee budget of $490,000. And the annual budget for curbside solid waste collection & recycling is $850,000.
The $60/ton tip fee is offset by the electricity generated at the Waste to Energy (W2E) plant. So as the Town moves to a new contract, there's an unusual component to consider... our waste has a valuable byproduct. So in that way... there are people who actually want our garbage.
Tim White
6 comments:
The main issue of the very old trash disposal plant is why CRRA wants local towns to buy it for millions. Towns like Cheshire which can’t even replace a 50 year old high school heating system in a timely fashion. If the towns don’t pay millions for this old plant the plant could be picked up by its current operator for nothing. Such is the CRRA plan.
CRRA, the quasi state agency which entered into one of the most brilliant fraudulent financial deals ENRON had ever seen - - Connecticut gave them a cool quarter of a billion dollars which ENRON lost - - just before ENRON showed even the dumbest of the dumb just what financial smoke and mirrors is really all about. Hope the Town of the bottomless pool pit has this one figured out before it acts.
In today's NHR, is an article on a counter offer by the trash plant operator.
Matt Hall says no matter which option, there is no "cost certainty".
I think it is a no brainer that if Covanta owns the plant, they will just keep raising the tipping costs to the town, that's what happens when there is no competition. The only way the towns can control the costs is to own the facility. The only thing that would limit Covanta's tipping fee would be the cost of transporting the trash to a landfill in Pennsylvania.
It would be interesting if Lou Turmelle did an article about how a contract was ever signed that would give the entire facility to the operator for just $1. It would be interesting to get the names of the people who came up with this giveaway, and to find out if any of them got something from Covanta.
In regards to owning a plant, the towns would be able to control the costs, however is the facility is so old, what would it cost for repairs? What would be the "cycle cost" of the facility? If it costs more to run and repair, then we would also have to raise the costs.
As for the heating system at the High School, what surprises me is how much money has been spent on the High School over the last few years. We approved additions and renovations to a new school, but this did not include a good roof. The windows were not included, the heating system was not included....We spend money on additions to an fire house, when we know we need to build a new one on the other side of town.....we are looking at the costs of the pool....a self sufficient item....
Bill said at 7:49...
Lack of leadership that is the problem. We have elected Town Councilors and a hired a Town Manager that works on the good old boy system. (deleted)
(deleted)
We have Town Manager that runs the organization like (deleted)
To make it worse the the Dem's allow the Town Manager to dictate policy, that is the wrong way to do it.
The Republican's can't develop a platform or caucus to present an intelligent opposition.
What is needed in this town is a true non-partisan slate of candidates to attempt to get elected. Problem with that is the die hard Dem's and Rep's can't see their past their biased political based allegance to vote for somebody outside their party that would make this town better.
"If it costs more to run and repair, then we would also have to raise the costs."
If the towns don't buy it and Covanta own it, they will make any repairs that are needed and that will give them the excuse to raise the rates and probably more than the repair warrant.
The towns would be foolish not to buy it. It's important for the towns to be in control of their own destiny and not victims of a monopoly. Also, if the towns owned it they would have much more incentives to search for new ideas and equipment to make the plant more efficient.
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