Mixed views on future of ECSWC

By Danielle Strenke
The East Central Solid Waste Commission (ECSWC) five county members have voiced different views on the future of both the Mora landfill facility and the Commission itself.
At its regular meeting Monday, the commission received an updated on the strategic business planning process from Phil Kowalski of Envirogen.
Kowalski said his firm had met with more than 25 groups and individually with more than 60 individuals during the planning process since April 2002.
In meetings with each of the five counties ñ Kanabec, Chisago, Pine, Mille Lacs and Isanti ñ Kowalski said each county board discussed priorities and the future of the ECSWC.
Chisago County did not specifically support or disapprove of the commission continuing past its 2007 charter at the meeting. The board wanted to see more options explored regarding the use of the Mora facility beyond landfilling and develop more recycling options.
Isanti and Mille Lacs counties both supported continuing the commission beyond 2007 and expressed concerns to safeguard the financial interests of the five counties.
The Pine County board felt it was important to expand the landfill to increase the economic benefits at the Mora landfill, and to deter local haulers from exporting waste to Wisconsin landfills.
At the stakeholders meeting with Kanabec County, Kowalski said the county board decided the most viable alternative would probably be to close the landfill when it reached capacity and convert the Mora site into a transfer station only.
Kowalski said the board was split whether the commission should continue beyond 2007; Kanabec County representative Dennis McNally who sits on the ECSWC said the vote was a little different. ìI think we were all in favor of not continuing the commission,î McNally said.
If the Mora site continues as a transfer station only after 2007, Kanabec County board members would like to see each of the remaining four counties take turns in hosting the landfill for 15 years.
ECSWC chair George Larson of Isanti County said it was important to discuss the future of the landfill if Kanabec County wants it closed after current cells are filled.
ìThat is a discussion point to have during this whole process, if Kanabec County doesnít want to continue the landfill,î he said.
McNally said the view of the Kanabec County board could change during the process, as two new board members take office in January.
Envirogen also held meetings with many of the commercial haulers bringing waste to Mora. Kowalski said the haulers were in favor of the commission continuing beyond 2007, as it is important to their bottom line. ìIt helps them compete because the disposal costs are the same to each hauler,î he said.
Meetings with competitive landfill operators were also held. Kowalski said at least one operator expressed interest in purchasing the commissionís assets, and another in operating the commissionís assets. ìThese were unsolicited offers, it wasnít a question we asked,î Kowalski said.
Owners of land surrounding the landfill said they did not want to see an expansion of the landfill. ìItís important to note that many of the neighboring residents are recent purchasers of the property, with knowledge that the landfill was there,î Kowalski said.
Kowalski presented demographics and projections for population figures in the five counties and a history of waste disposal rates in the five counties.
In the 2000 census, the total population of the five counties totalled 136,000. That number is projected to grow to 205,000 by 2030, with Chisago County outpacing the rest of the five counties with a projected 50,000 residents by 2010. ìAll five counties grew faster than the statewide average in 2000,î Kowalski said.
Reported waste disposal rates were highest from Pine County in 2001, with 3.4 pounds/day per person average. This includes all waste generated in the five counties, whether it is taken to the Mora facility, another landfill or either burned or buried on-site by residents.
Kowalski said it was surprising to see the Mille Lacs County number so low. Mille Lacs County reported waste disposal rates of 1.54 pounds per day ñ considerably less than what is being generated by Kanabec County at 2.57 pounds per day, despite Mille Lacs County having a higher population.
ìIíve asked the state to check into that. Something is not being reported,î ECSWC Executive Director Allen Bonini said.
Kowalski updated the commission on market competition for hauling and waste disposal. Haulers coming from North Branch, for instance, would pay $47/ton at the commissionís Cambridge transfer station, compared to $42/ton at the NRG landfill in southern Washington County, $45-50/ton at the Elk River landfill and $41-43/ton at a transfer station in Osceola, Wisc.
Bonini said the commission stays competitive because of a state processing credit which is given back to the haulers in the form of a $5/ton rebate.
He has learned that one of the items that may be on the chopping block this legislative session is the processing credit as part of OEAís budget. Bonini said it would add up to about $5 million in savings, and the state will be looking at cutting it on the road to solving deficit woes. ìItís very unlikely the program will continue beyond June 30,î Bonini said.
Envirogen will complete the analysis phase of the strategic planning process and present a report back to the commission in the spring. Bonini said meetings will be held during that time with all of the stakeholders once again, as well as one five-county meeting.

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