20080408 A workshop on the future of Carroll County Maryland’s solid waste options

A workshop on the future of Carroll County Maryland’s solid waste options

7 PM, Tuesday, April 8, 2008

(I attempted to “live blog” this event as I watched it on cable TV. If anyone who attended the event has any corrections, amendments, additions or edits – please be in touch and I’ll be more than happy to make the appropriate changes.) See also: 20080331 Future of Solid Waste Public Hearing Dates Released and 20080408 Links to related materials on Carroll County Maryland’s future solid waste management decisions

This evening, the Carroll County Commissioners, the Carroll County Environmental Advisory Council, and the Carroll County Department of Public Works held a workshop on the future of Carroll County Maryland’s solid waste options.

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At 7 PM Cindy Parr, Carroll County's director of administrative services introduced the panel members and welcomed everyone to the workshop.

Some of the panel members she introduced included:

Carroll County Maryland Board of Commissioners Michael Zimmer, Julia Gouge, and Dean Minnich.

Robin B. Davidov, the Northeast Maryland Waste Disposal Authority’s executive director

Penn Township’s environmental director Gene Hejmanowski, Penn Township, Pa.

Neil Seldman, Washington-based Institute for Local Self-Reliance, a nonprofit research group that advocates for resource conservation

Members of the Carroll County Environmental Advisory Council

Michael Evans, county public works director.

Representatives from Covanta Energy and Wheelabrator Technologies of Houston, Texas.

And others…

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7:06 PM The first question:

Nancy Dunn: The question I would have … whether the county staff has the will to operate a comprehensive recycling in the county?

Mike Evans answers yes.

Vince DiPietro: Why aren’t we taxing people who do not recycle? The proposed tax would be referred to as a “recycle tax and it would appear on the homeowner’s property tax…

Mike Evans: Approx. 50 percent of the waste that comes to the landfills is generated by households.

Dean Minnich: reiterated that there is an emphasis by the current board to increase recycling.

EAC member Sher Horosko discussed having a bar code on each household’s trash container so that the government may keep track of the disposition of each homeowner’s trash.

Mr. DiPietro wants to go after the house of anyone who does not recycle.

Penn Township representative Hejmanowski discussed his constitutional right to go through a person’s trash. In Penn Township - 1990 took 4,000 tons of trash. 17 years later. 3,039 tons. [see: “Pay as you throw” By Carrie Ann Knauer, Times Staff Writer Sunday, August 12, 2007 and 20071010 Carroll County Environmental Advisory Council recommends “Pay as You Throw” program to reduce waste, by Carrie Ann Knauer, Times Staff Writer]

Rebekah Orenstein: “Thank you for the meeting… It cheers my soul that the EAC is here.” She encouraged folks to go to the EAC web site to see their recommendations. [see: Environmental Advisory Council Recommendations on Addressing Solid Waste in Carroll County and 20070912 Carroll County EAC votes to promote recycling by Carrie Ann Knauer] We don’t want an incinerator. We do not want the airport to be expanded. We don’t want a police force.

Gentleman from Finksburg is in favor of an incinerator. Suggests that we bring in more trash and build a larger incinerator.

Mr. Evans discussed rail options that have been explored in the past.

(Another question – I did not understand who asked it): Has mandatory recycling been explored?

Mike Evans responded that it has been explored. It is a decision that the commissioners must make. Recent court decisions seem to support the ability of local government to implement mandatory recycling.

Robin Davidov said that Montgomery County is the only county in Maryland that has mandatory recycling.

(A discussion ensued of various recycling rates in various jurisdictions. I wish I had recorded the various numbers…)

Penn Township representative Hejmanowski described his process of checking the town residents’ trash.

EAC member and Mount Airy town council president Dave Pyatt discussed Mount Airy’s recycling efforts under the leadership of Wendi Peters. Mount Airy’s recycling rate has currently leveled-out at around 31 percent. He discussed some of market challenges with recycling.

A long and complicated question was asked about the particulars of the efficiency of the proposed waste-to-energy plant and specific business aspects of the operation.

Dean Minnich remarked that he views generating electricity as part of recycling trash. The bottom line for Commissioner Minnich is it safe?

Mike Zimmer cited an Environmental Matters report (I did get the name of the report) which has determined the Montgomery waste-to-energy facility to be safe… He was curious as to whether or not there is a report available that refutes the aforementioned report.

Covanta and Wheelabrator representatives addressed some of efficiency questions such as: 650 KW hours per ton of trash. There was some discussion about a compare and contrast with the efficiency ratios of generating electricity with coal and or oil…

Mr. Evans then detailed the business considerations..

EAC Chair Karen Merkle explained that many of the studies have only had a short duration of perhaps 5 to 15 years and that her concern was the long term affects for as much as 50 years.

Robin Davidov explained that waste-to-energy plants have operated in Europe for 50 years and studies have concluded no hazardous ramification…

_____ 8 PM _____

There ensued a protracted discussion of epidemiological studies and the construct of the various studies…

Neil Seldman questioned why no environmental groups support waste-to-energy.

[See: “U.S. Cool Counties Climate Stabilization Declaration,” signed by the Carroll County Commissioners on August 30, 2007. It is a two page document… and an action item on page two reads:

WHEREAS, many counties throughout the nation, both large and small, are reducing global warming pollutants through programs that better provide economic and quality of life benefits such as reducing energy bills, preserving green space, implementing better land use policies, improving air quality, promoting waste-to-energy programs, expanding transportation and work choices to reduce traffic congestion, and fostering more economic development and job creation through energy conservation and new technologies.]

Mr. Seldman said that living next to waste-to-energy is dangerous. [See: Cumulative Health Risk Study for Dickerson Area Facilities]

That the only folks who are here supporting the waste-to-energy plant are the folks who have a vested interest... (Clapping – I missed some of his additional remarks…) He addressed a number of financial aspects of solid waste management. [See: 19880900 To Burn or Not to Burn an interview with Neil Seldman]

Robin Davidov addressed a previous question as to what if EPA standards are not met. She explained that has not happened in the history of the plants in which the Northeast Maryland Waste Disposal Authority has been involved.

Covanta representative: Covanta operates 34 WTE plants in North America. We process 15 million tons per year. Some of our facilities are steam generating. 24 facilities are on an EPA performance track which recognizes operations that have operated within the guidelines… We are the most highly regulated combustion utility in the nation…

All of the communities in which they operate a plant have aggressive recycling programs.

He cited an example of one facility that has increasingly improved their recycling program. He noted some of the improvements in the recycling markets.

Wheelabrator representative: Wheelabrator operates 16 plants. Wheelabrator is a wholly owned subsidiary of Waste Management - the largest recycling company in the country.

Dean Minnich: Wanted to know more about the difference in the East Coast recycling market with that of the West Coast. Paper is stronger on the West coast…

Robin Davidov remarked 70 percent of our recycled paper material goes to China.

Dean Minnich: asked if either Covanta or Wheelabrator have ever been sued for health impacts and their answer was no.

Sally Sorbello from Frederick Co. praised the CC EAC - - including the pay as you throw. She feels that we are getting premature. She said that there is no public support for a waste-to-energy facility in Frederick. She noted that the Frederick Tourism Council is against the waste-to-energy. She suggested that a recycling facility recovery park would be a tourist draw. She asked as to why a recovery park has not been more thoroughly pursued. She had questions about the disposition of the ash. [See: 20070305 “Better options than burning our trash” Carroll County Times letter to the editor by Sally Sorbello]

John D. Witiak, Union Bridge advocated recycling strategies and believes that a recycling center would be a better alternative than an incinerator. [See: 20080402 Recycling is better than incinerator by John Witiak or find it here - Recycling is better than incinerator]

Karen from Brunswick and that she is against the waste-to-energy facility and in favor of recycling.

Mr. Witiak wanted to know why the county hasn’t hired a consultant to help evaluate the options. [See: 20080306 Timeline to date on the Carroll County Maryland Integrated Waste Management Decision]

Mr. Evans explained that this process began with a consultant and the county has utilized various consultants throughout the process.

Ms. Davidov explained visiting countries in Europe and gathering information.

Dean Minnich discussed the challenges of 100 percent recycling and risk ratios associated with any decision we make.

A gentleman from Chesterfield Farms explained his operation of recycling and composting combined food waste, horse manure and yard waste.

The Wheelabrator representative gave an overview of gasification technologies.

Steve Cassis, Solid Waste Analysis Group in Frederick was concerned that the issued were being oversimplified and that the question is not recycling versus waste-to-energy…

The workshop ended at 9:03.