INC NEWS - Is the new solid waste plan based on solid ground?

[Mike - Hotmail]

All,

If my memory serves correctly,  working out the contract to ship trash out of state was one of Lamont's first major decisions after becoming city manager.

At the time,  the decision was held with very high accolades.   But for many, it was a very short sighted answer to a much larger growing problem.

What are we going to do with our trash?

For me,  it was and continues to remain patently dangerous and eventual financially ruinous for us, as a municipality, to haul our waste out of state.

It's both environmentally and morally wrong.

But before we start moving forward on any 'new' plan we need to answer the questions posed earlier and find alternatives for bulky items (they weight more) to be picked up and trucked out of town!

WE SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR OUR OWN TRASH!!!!!

As a community we must look at what options there are available first, before we continue to make it worse.   The plan presented by Solid Waste at this point in time only adds more weight and money to its cost(s).

I'd suggest we look at what other cities have done.   What the latest technology regarding steam generation/incineration plants,  massive recycling of building materials, scrap metals and larger household items that could cut back (or hopefully eliminate) the need to sent it to Virginia.

Wouldn't it make sense to have a system in place that could reuse and/or co-generate something positive out of our waste stream rather than pay millions of dollars to haul it up I-85? 

No where in the plan that's being currently passed around is a financially stable and physically viable long term solution.

Incorporating ideas other cities have been successful with and implementing ways to drastically reduce the truckload after truckload leaving Durham seems to me to be a better way to go about it.

If this new Director is even worth half the weight (no pun intended) of what we're going to pay him,  he ought to at least have some of these solutions in his tool box.

Why not take advantage of what he can bring to the table.

Maybe we could make some changes that everyone could agree upon and make sense?

Now that would be a 'plan' a lot more people could get behind!

mike shiflett





  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Anne Guyton 
  To: Mike - Hotmail ; RW Pickle 
  Cc: inc-list at durhaminc.org 
  Sent: Tuesday, April 18, 2006 12:46 PM
  Subject: Re: can we afford to take the risks given the history and uncertain future with this new Solid Waste Plan?


  Mike,

  You make some good points.  

  Piece of history on the trash hauling which I thought went by rail and not truck, anyway the city resorted to the transfer station under city manager Lamont Ewell because they were unsuccessful after years and years of trying to find a site within the county that was environmental sound and did not meet with overwhelming public disapproval.  I don't think its realistic to expect that could be accomplished now either so I believe we're stuck with the transfer station.  

  Several times in the past the sanitation employees have defeated plans to reduce crew size because they felt it was unsafe to have less men on each crew.  Past efforts were from the Department and then went to the Council for approval.  On this issue I think it needs to be done the opposite way to ensure success, from the top down with the Council setting the overall policy first and then backing the departments plans fully.  

  Anne

  Mike - Hotmail <mwshiflett at hotmail.com> wrote:
    Thanks Anne,

    You're correct. We were not asked to pay for the green carts, my error.

    I guess my point is that we've (the residents of Durham) have been promised 
    time after time with each new 'program' implemented over the past 15-20 
    years that Solid Waste would become more efficient and provide a better 
    service.

    What we've seen is factually the opposite.

    How much are we spending on the current system? Shouldn't the new Director 
    be guiding the department rather than following it?

    How much are we spending on personnel? on overtime? on broken down 
    equipment?

    What other options are out there? What are other cities our size doing?

    These are very essential questions that needed to be answered BEFORE this 
    new 'plan' goes before City Council.

    At this point in time, we're facing catastrophe if/when Virginia decides 
    that they no longer will accept our trash.

    An even worse scenario would be that they hold us hostage to increase the 
    fees to continue to do so.

    Amongst all this, just how expensive do you think it is to transport ton 
    after ton of our trash up 85 in semi's given the current price of fuel?

    Do you think these expenses or scenarios are going to change to OUR benefit 
    anytime soon?

    A lot of people are questioning the leadership of Solid Waste who are coming 
    up with this new plan.

    At risk is the future cost for the city providing this basic service (read 
    property tax increase) when there are so many other needs that are pressing 
    us right now (emergency services/code enforcement/deteriorating 
    infrastructure, etc).

    Of all times, this should be the moment we are asking these questions 
    before moving forward with spending millions more and adding personnel!

    mike






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