Four public informational meetings have shown that Colonie residents seem to have a generally favorable view of the town entering a private partnership with Waste Connections, Inc. to run the landfill, but there have been some questions about how it will affect prices for dumping.
The final third and fourth meetings took place July 22 and 25, with a public hearing scheduled for Thursday, July 28.
The Wednesday, July 22, public informational meeting was the third round for the Town of Colonie in explaining its findings from the Landfill Exploratory Committee, but it was the first time the public was able to hear from representatives of Waste Connections, Inc. Many raised objections to the landfill expanding, although Colonie Department of Public Works Commissioner Jack Cunningham assured them there was no permit to do so. Waste Connections, Inc. CEO Ron Mittelstaedt confirmed that his company was not contemplating expansion and that was the decision of the town.
The issue of dumping and pickup rates took the main stage Wednesday. Many feared they would jump, but Cunningham said they have been capped at the Consumer Price Index or at 3.5 percent. He added that the gate rate for residents will stay the same until April 2012, and then there may possibly be a rate increase but no greater than 5 percent.
Waste Connection’s desire to stay competitive in the solid waste business was the reason it was so aggressive in obtaining a contract with Colonie, said Mittelstaedt, and the town used that to its advantage.
The town used that leverage to make sure for residential customers that a cap was placed on pickup, he said.
Waste Connections Vice President Scott Schreiber expanded on the explanation and said that the company doesn’t have its own disposal locations in this region. His company has trouble competing with other companies that have landfills and transfer stations in New York and Pennsylvania.
`We need some stability so we can continue to offer low prices,` he said at the informational meeting on Monday, July 25.
Resident Bob Ryan asked whether the imminent closure of the City of Albany landfill might bring waste to Colonie. Cunningham could not give a definite answer and said that all he knows is the lifespan of the landfill.
`The City of Albany landfill has about a 7-year permitted life left to it,` he said. `How it is operated after that point, there are different ideas floating around, but it’s a question I can’t answer.`
It was confirmed, though, that the company will not be taking waste from major cities such as New York City, as per an agreement with the town. Mittelstaedt said that while there is nothing wrong with accepting waste from those areas, the town wanted to make sure there would be air space would serve as `an asset for the Town of Colonie and surrounding communities.`
Waste Connections, Inc., is considered to be the third largest solid waste company in the United States, according to Mittelstaedt. It mainly focuses on suburban areas and the average population of the municipalities it generally serves is 80,000 people. It currently operates 44 landfills, 57 waste transfer stations and 39 recycling facilities.
The company has $3 billion in assets, $1.2 million line of credit and $5 billion in enterprise. Mittelstaedt said this was important for the public to know because of the many variables that can occur in the solid waste industry. Being as large as it is, he said a company such as Waste Connections, Inc., would be able to `shoulder the brunt of it.`
The company also has Standards and Poor’s invest grade credit rating of BBB, which is the highest in the industry, said Mittelstaedt, which he said allows the company to have access to enough capital to operate the landfill.
`Other companies involved in the RFP process probably didn’t have enough money to be involved in this kind of process,` he said.
An aspect of the company Mittelstaedt said was different from most others was the amount of community involvement. Waste Connections, Inc., will sponsor the arts, sports clubs, will make in-kind contributions and participates in various other community activities.
`I think the town heard quite clearly from some communities on what we do to give back,` he said.
One resident asked if the employees currently working at the landfill would keep their jobs at the landfill or would be offered new ones in the town. Cunningham said there are jobs being created for the 16 landfill employees within the Department of Public Works, with what he said will be similar pay. Mittelstaedt said Waste Connections, Inc., will also be interviewing employees at the landfill after the contract is agreed upon and the transition phase has begun. If an employee is hired, Mittelstaedt said they will be put under his company’s benefit plan.
`It will be a major medical, dental and major liability plan,` he said. `They are some differences between our plan and the town’s.`
Albany County Comptroller Mike Conners was at the July 25 session and asked why the town wouldn’t want to sell the landfill to the county. He said the town gets $600 million worth of waste through the facility and felt the current deal being negotiated didn’t accurately portray the value of the landfill. He also said it is merely just a quick fix to the town’s financial problems.
`It solves the problem quickly,` he said. `But that won’t work for the county.`
Cunningham said the town didn’t necessarily have the county in mind.
`We didn’t look for what was the best agreement for the county, we were looking for the best agreement for the residents of Colonie,` he said.
There will be a public hearing on Thursday, July 28, at 7 p.m., regarding the contract during the town’s regularly scheduled board meeting. Supervisor Paula Mahan said the plan may come to a vote if board members feel comfortable enough in doing so.
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