MIRA burns about a half million tons of trash each year. The trash that goes through the Torrington and Watertown transfer stations will be handled by Bridgeport-based Enviro Express, and will be trucked to a landfill in eastern Pennsylvania, Kirk said. It seems that JavaScript is not working in your browser. 170 Enterprise Drive We dont want to just be relying on other communities in faraway states to handle our garbage.. Hes calling on the governor, DEEP and the legislature to step up. First, the good news: Connecticut leads the nation in sustainable solid waste management practices, according to Columbia Universitys Earth Engineering Center. So, is there really a need for Wheelabrator Putnam to expand operation in CT when incinerators are closing? 2 endstream endobj 26 0 obj 85 endobj 8 0 obj << /Type /Page /Parent 3 0 R /Resources 9 0 R /Contents 15 0 R /MediaBox [ 0 0 612 792 ] /CropBox [ 0 0 612 792 ] /Rotate 0 >> endobj 9 0 obj << /ProcSet [ /PDF /Text /ImageC ] /Font << /TT2 11 0 R /TT4 13 0 R /TT6 16 0 R >> /XObject << /Im1 22 0 R /Im2 23 0 R >> /ExtGState << /GS1 24 0 R >> /ColorSpace << /Cs6 14 0 R >> >> endobj 10 0 obj << /Type /FontDescriptor /Ascent 855 /CapHeight 0 /Descent -232 /Flags 32 /FontBBox [ -207 -233 1217 917 ] /FontName /BFDGFL+TwCenMT-Bold /ItalicAngle 0 /StemV 138 /FontFile2 20 0 R >> endobj 11 0 obj << /Type /Font /Subtype /TrueType /FirstChar 32 /LastChar 150 /Widths [ 250 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 250 333 250 0 500 500 500 500 500 0 500 0 500 500 278 0 0 0 0 0 0 722 667 667 722 611 556 0 722 333 0 0 0 0 0 0 556 0 667 556 611 722 0 944 0 722 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 444 500 444 500 444 333 500 500 278 0 500 278 778 500 500 500 500 333 389 278 500 500 722 500 500 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 333 444 444 0 500 ] /Encoding /WinAnsiEncoding /BaseFont /BFDFMN+TimesNewRoman /FontDescriptor 12 0 R >> endobj 12 0 obj << /Type /FontDescriptor /Ascent 891 /CapHeight 656 /Descent -216 /Flags 34 /FontBBox [ -568 -307 2000 1007 ] /FontName /BFDFMN+TimesNewRoman /ItalicAngle 0 /StemV 94 /XHeight 0 /FontFile2 19 0 R >> endobj 13 0 obj << /Type /Font /Subtype /TrueType /FirstChar 32 /LastChar 117 /Widths [ 266 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 313 313 0 0 260 313 260 0 531 531 0 0 0 531 531 531 531 0 260 0 0 0 0 0 975 688 530 583 635 479 479 688 0 260 0 635 0 0 688 740 531 0 583 0 0 635 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 528 0 404 0 479 313 529 531 260 0 0 260 792 531 531 531 0 313 0 260 531 ] /Encoding /WinAnsiEncoding /BaseFont /BFDGFL+TwCenMT-Bold /FontDescriptor 10 0 R >> endobj 14 0 obj [ /ICCBased 18 0 R ] endobj 15 0 obj << /Length 2555 /Filter /FlateDecode >> stream At least for now it appears that MIRA is on track to avoid any disruption to trash service for its members in 2022, Kirk still continued to question the wisdom of closing the plant. MIRA's board previously identified exporting to out-of-state landfills as the only near-term alternative, but DEEP is calling for new ideas beyond solely converting the site to a transfer station. MIRA President and CEO Tom Kirk said in a phone interview Wednesday that it was a confluence of events that led to this moment. UPDATE: Dec.10, 2020:The Materials Innovation and Recycling Authority (MIRA) recently announced plans to close its refuse-derived fuel facility by July 2022 at the latest, as reported in the last week by WNPRand the Hartford Courant. 12 Mill Brook Road All of that sounded good but we continue to generate more trash and waste-to-energy incinerators are neither efficient, nor clean, renewable sources of energy! HW]s|G % =E+E*e$bK7ozf HwU:\>[3e6/ae>Dq!(go>I]n5{Za;?\i.so0U;?3OcLz> 0ByZ)19*Z(hNa2; _ggt8J,xw 0000002870 00000 n Former partner Entsorgasees a path forward for its shuttered showcase plant. Any type of new facility, regardless of the technology, would require a longer construction and permitting timeframe. The solid waste system designed in the 70s probably had a 50-year life cycle, if we were honest, Wray said. Under Connecticut law, each electricity supplier must purchase a minimum number of Class II renewable energy credits (RECs). Permittees must monitor the site and report to the CT Department of Energy and Environmental Protection but concerns about leakage and contamination of soil, ground and surface water sources remain, particularly if flooding occurs. Out of this effort was born the Connecticut Resources Recovery Authority, now known as the Materials Innovation and Recycling Authority (MIRA). font size, Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, Regulating Waste Storage, Treatment, Transportation & Disposal. Theyve got all they need to continue to operate, and essentially substitute MIRA waste for someone elses.. Unfortunately, a regional commercial ash disposal facility in Putnam, CT is planning to expand which will harm acres of wetlands and a local tributary that feeds the Quinebaug River. The companies MIRA is negotiating with have mentioned delays in procuring trucks, train cars and drivers they need to do the work, Kirk said part of the widespread supply chain and worker availability questions businesses across the U.S. have been grappling with. For more information on facility performance click here. Materials Innovation and Recycling Authority, Proudly powered by Newspack by Automattic. Unfortunately, there is a glut of Class II renewable energy credits for sale in New England, and their price has never exceeded the pricing floor. If something doesnt change, it could be residents and businesses who bear the cost. 0000002831 00000 n -gB48hQ aI9q"L\O?]c7{},+?yEVEQ bQY0]|Y=Nr`]/)t8mX[3`BD`d)i4eA[|?SE\*9,8>24Wpe"He"^W-.;%. It could be because it is not supported, or that JavaScript is intentionally disabled. MIRA will have more detailed numbers for towns before they have to decide whether to opt in next February, Kirk said. And a year ago, there were concerns the authority wouldnt even be able to find private companies willing to take on the enormous load of trash from 48 Connecticut municipalities, Kirk said. Our trash has to go somewhere and our current system of out of sight, out of mind hasnt helped and recycling rates of quality materials remains low, around 35 percent. 0000002158 00000 n Good news! This effectively ends a final push by MIRA and the Sacyr Rooney Recovery Team (SRRT)to secure financial buy-in for a project initiated by a 2015 request for proposals from DEEP. Commissioner Katie Dykes called it "a false choice, and a bad deal" in a. Its cost to taxpayers could have been as high as $330 million. Preston, CT 06365 Senate passes CHIPS bill, sparking hope microchip production will help waste equipment supply chain issues, Oregon's EPR for packaging law committee begins detailed implementation process, Connecticut's Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP). For Wheelabrator to give us the resources to take on environmental problems in our community, its so unique. I dont think anyone is leading right now, state Rep. Mary Mushinsky (D-Wallingford) told Dykes during a recent legislative meeting. Wastewater generated by the site is collected and treated at the Town of Putnam Water Pollution Control Facility. The state legislature is not currently expected to weigh in during a special summer session. But MIRA officials warn the decades-old facility could break down any day. MIRA ships the ash to a disposal area in Putnam, CT, another economically distressed community. MIRA, like many incinerators around the country, is located in Hartford, an environmental justice community, with a majority of people of color and low income overburdened by numerous sources of pollution. 0000001048 00000 n If everything holds while contracts are finalized in the coming months, the 48 municipalities that have their trash managed by the quasi-public Materials Innovation and Recycling Authority, or MIRA, will see an increase in the cost of that service but there shouldnt be any of the disruptions to service that were feared a year ago, MIRA President Tom Kirk told CT Examiner on Monday. The sale of energy paid for about 40 to 50% of the operation of the plant and when that happened, the tipping fees for member towns increased. Click here for more NENC stories on waste and trash issues in New England, The Gulf of Maine has the most marine mammal diversity on the east coast, study finds, Want to smell in virtual reality? trailer << /Size 27 /Info 4 0 R /Root 7 0 R /Prev 102629 /ID[] >> startxref 0 %%EOF 7 0 obj << /Type /Catalog /Pages 3 0 R /Metadata 5 0 R /PageLabels 2 0 R >> endobj 25 0 obj << /S 36 /L 97 /Filter /FlateDecode /Length 26 0 R >> stream 0000100619 00000 n What's Next for Waste and Recycling in 2022? The site is owned by the town and Wheelabrator and managed by Wheelabrator Putnam, a regional commercial facility that has been operating since 1999. Support authentic, locally owned and operated public service journalism! 0000002386 00000 n He said theres not a lot of pressure on state officials to regain a more progressive and sound focus on solid waste because other states are currently accepting Connecticuts trash. 1444 I Street NW, Suite 400, Washington, DC 20005P (202) 895-0420F (202) 895-0438, 1444 I Street NW, Suite 400, Washington, DC 20005. Sawyer noted DEEP could be open to a scenario in which MIRA proposes transfer operations for a fixed timeframe,along with waste diversion or reduction strategies, but awaits further discussion. Whether through MIRA or another entity, the result is the same tipping fees are offset by electricity sales. Under the new arrangement, all the trash that now goes to the incinerator in the South Meadows of Hartford will now be split up in three directions: a landfill in Pennsylvania, one in Ohio, and an incinerator in eastern Connecticut. The Department of Energy and Environmental Protection has said it is working to reduce the amount of state trash that will be sent to out-of-state landfills as a result of MIRAs closure. While this outcome was not entirely unexpected by stakeholders, the state's rejection of MIRA's operational plan did come as a surprise to some and reframes discussions about next steps. Telephone: 860-885-3512, Thats like taking 44,000 passenger vehicles off the road for one year. Although several states have better recycling or composting rates, Connecticut garners the top spot by having the highest waste-to-energy conversion rate. It means with no more landfill capacity in the state most, if not all, of Connecticuts trash will be shipped to states like Pennsylvania, Ohio, New Jersey and Virginia. The move follows years of debate around the plant's future, but was largely expected after Connecticut's Department of Energy and Environmental Protection rejected refurbishment plans earlier this year,among other events. Dykes said its still too early to tell if state taxpayers will have to foot more of the bill to build out more in-state disposal capacity. In a recent interview with Connecticut Public Radio, Dykes said she stands by that decision. MIRA is shutting down which means CT should have less ash but Wheelabrator Putnam is likely to get approval to expand to accommodate more ashpermanently impacting local wetlands, waterways and perhaps be a source of future pollution, including PFAS. Bristol, CT 06010 That means hundreds of thousands of tons of garbage could suddenly have no place to go. Get the free daily newsletter read by industry experts. )g:)~cDp_7FUqhG4#;0d~}S^G$i8iF f'0b`]$J0A'JfTpJ}+Fd5Rl>$u1"g?tF' OLiszDMFWQ(ou*1?z!m=oJrLhg$\n!). The agency said it is partnering with dozens of towns to explore alternative disposal options, including food waste recycling and composting. DEEP is calling on the entity to also explore private sector options first. To learn more and get involved in this campaign, join our email list or contact ahulick@cleanwater.org. The remainder what is now trucked directly to the South Meadows trash-burning plant will now be trucked into the nearby Murphy Road Recycling Center, then shipped by truck or rail to the Tunnel Hill Landfill in Ohio. 0000041754 00000 n Connecticut News from your locally owned & operated news source at the state Capitol since 2005. Now that system is falling apart. Covanta Bristol Resource Recovery Facility The fate of this facility that handles approximately one-third of Connecticut's waste has been debated for years, with disruptive equipment outages and numerous delays along the way. The letter is not saying that a MIRA transfer station could never be part of the solution, were saying that it cant be the only solution,"Lee Sawyer, chief of staff to Commissioner Dykes, told Waste Dive. 2022 Your trusted, authentic, locally owned and operated news source at the state Capitol since 2005. Bridgeport, CT 06605 The real deal is that we need state leadership to refresh the solid waste system in the state.. NYC sanitation department is considering changing trash set-out hours, in part to curb rat problem. Less waste in landfills reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 225,000 tons of CO2. Municipalities rely on MIRA to dispose of their waste in waste-to-energy plants. 6 0 obj << /Linearized 1 /O 8 /H [ 853 195 ] /L 102875 /E 100727 /N 1 /T 102638 >> endobj xref 6 21 0000000016 00000 n Cities across the country and the globe are adopting Zero Waste resolutions and policies to significantly reduce waste. And that, today, is putting it on a truck or train and sending it west, Kirk said. The reason we need that opt out is if things change, if the price of fuel changes and all of a sudden trucks are spending a lot more money to get to Pennsylvania and the tipping fee has to go up by a lot, then the towns would have the option to unilaterally leave the agreement, Kirk said. We have a problem with life cycles, said Lyle Wray, with the Capitol Region Council of Governments, a coalition of town leaders from about 40 municipalities in Greater Hartford. Its a giant step backwards. Kirk said the MIRA towns remaining under contract will send about 65,000 tons of trash to transfer stations in Torrington and Essex, but that will also push those facilities to send an equal amount out-of-state. But it is encouraging to see that it appears the private sector was able to step up and handle the waste.. Initial plans included a range of ideas such as mechanical biological treatment and anaerobic digestion. The announcement follows debate over whether the state should help repair the facility, which was the last publicly owned trash-to-energy plant in the state and falling energy prices. 0000001405 00000 n Kirk said bidders made it clear that they could offer a better price if they had more certainty of how much volume of trash they would be handing over the next five years ensuring theyll be able to recoup their costs after investing in new equipment like trucks to take on the MIRA waste. Lamont said that wastoo much. This new investment comes as renewable natural gas projects are increasingly popular. Waste to energy plants all operate at full capacity, Kirk said. 0000000853 00000 n In Kirk's view, the most viable near-term options are to refurbish the existing RDF facility or make transfer arrangements. And one big question has emerged: Who decides whats next for the states garbage? But if the states waste-to-energy plants become no longer economically viable, tipping fees could rise dramatically, and Connecticut will lose the ability to address waste generation inside its own borders. But shifting energy markets have hurt the economics of the plants, which may lead to higher disposal fees for businesses and residents. Its life-changing for our kids.- Stephen Brown, Teacher, Lisbon Central School, Special Waste Contact:specialwaste@wtienergy.com. This year, MIRA is asking the towns to agree not to leave for five years unless tipping fees reach a trigger price, set at a few dollars per ton over the expected fees, Kirk said.. Under their agreement with MIRA, 49 member towns and Hartford have the option to leave their contract each March. Connecticuts incinerator is shutting down - now is not the time to expand a polluting ash disposalfacility. Hb``f``e```lud8 B1:_aWp5)i\; DEEP and towns are also partnering to cut down trash through more recycling and getting food out of the trash bin. Contact:Tonya King or Kenneth Huebner This is incredible news for residents in Hartford and surrounding towns as theyve dealt with high rates of asthma and other diseases due to air pollution directly related to this plant burning 24 hours/day, 7 days per week. Absent a reversal of course, it appears MIRA will now be getting into the transfer business in some capacity via its own infrastructure or otherwise which will present a range of questions about long-term costs. 2016 CT.gov | Connecticut's Official State Website, regular Ned Lamont's administration inherited the process when it took office in 2019. Financing plans have also shifted along the way, leading to projected tip fees considered too high by some of MIRA's member municipalities and a potential need for state funding that has not been warmly received. When trash is burned, not only is air quality impacted but the ash from burning trash must be collected and stored. The legislature is considering setting up a task force on the issue. Because local landfills are no longer an option, the only choice remaining is waste-to-energy plants or shipping waste out of state. Connecticut has long touted its emphasis on waste-to-energy technologies over landfills, but MIRA's board previously voted to pursue transferring to out-of-state landfills if a deal wasn't reached by Aug. 31. But Tom Kirk, president of MIRA, said good policy needs to be in place to make sure that happens. Many waste-to-energy plants entered into long-term electricity supply contracts when wholesale prices were much higher than they are today. 0000005500 00000 n Contact:Mark Boucher,Greg Zis orDawn Cannon They claim that more area is needed to accommodate more ash. Connecticuts solid waste management and renewable energy policies are at a crossroads. Its official. 425 South Burnham Highway "Thats a hard and fast stubborn fact.". 0000001618 00000 n Combined with cheap RECs, the waste-to-energy industry is feeling strain. MIRA charges a tipping fee based on the tonnage disposed, and augments that fee with revenues from the production of electricity. In mid-2020, Gov. Wray said the current life cycle of Connecticuts waste infrastructure dates back to the 1970s, when planners decided to ditch landfills and, instead, burn trash to make power. Do we need to assure their profit as they import more ash from the region? Connecticuts leaders have been looking for a solution for the past several years, but one has not emerged. We also recover 9,400 tons of metal for recycling annually - enough to build 7,000 cars. For years, the state has relied on waste-to-energy plants to dispose of municipal waste, allowing it to shutter many of its landfills. Having 80 percent of towns opt in gives them that assurance, and could keep tipping fees about $15 per ton cheaper than they otherwise would be, Kirk said. What happens when those states decide to stop accepting Connecticuts trash? Every year, our facility processes more than 257,000 tons of waste that would otherwise have ended up in landfills. The site is expected to take years to be decommissioned. The Wheelabrator Lisbon waste-to-energy facility provides dependable, environmentally safe disposal of up to 500 tons daily of everyday household and business waste, using it as a fuel to generate as much as 15 MW of clean, renewable electricity for sale to the local utility. In the perspective of both Kirk and Kirby,organics diversion is a worthwhile discussion but misses the broader issue of how to manage much of the waste that MIRA is contracted to handle through 2027. Sacyr noted an interest in staying involved with Connecticut's waste sector, but its own next steps are unclear. The agency is requesting MIRA submit a revised version of its FY21 operational plan by Sept. 15. We use waste to produce 17 megawatts of electricity 24/7 - enough to power 12,000 homes for a year. Telephone: 860-457-9307, Wheelabrator Bridgeport Resource Recovery Facility Coca-Cola is switching Sprite bottles from green to clear PET plastic in North America to boost recyclability. 6 Howard Avenue 0000006152 00000 n Instead ofexpandingour waste facilities and investing in further pollution, Connecticutshould refocus its efforst on Zero Waste policies which help toprevent waste before it starts and protect our communities, air and water from harm. Ash is trucked to the facility and stored in lined pits and covered when full. There will be an increase to tipping fees either way with Kirk giving a ballpark estimate where fees increase from the current $105 per ton to more than $110 a ton, even if more than 80 percent of towns opt in. Waste-to-Energy takes non-hazardous waste - otherwise destined for landfill - and combusts it to generate steam for electricity generation. Since then, Dykes said her agency has worked to streamline permitting and entice private developers to come to Connecticut. We care about our communities and operate well below emissions limits. Giant Food will bring reusable packaging program Loop to Washington, D.C. area stores this fall. %PDF-1.3 % The imminent closure of a major trash plant in Hartford has set off urgent debate about the future of Connecticuts waste. "We remain hopeful that reason will prevail, and that MIRA and DEEP will ultimately be able to put aside the differences between them to do what is right to develop and implement a comprehensive waste management plan for Connecticut that employs cutting edge diversionary technology and provides for the processing of the remainder within the states borders.". A Vermont-based startup has the technology , Episode 252: The Final Episode: How Boston Poet Laureate Porsha Olayiwola Reimagines History; Protesters Reflect On The Year That Changed Us, Episode 251: Reflecting On Surviving The White Gaze; Why Green Burials Are Surging In Popularity, Episode 250: Its Like Climbing Up A Mudslide: Pandemic Pushes Women Out Of The Workforce, Episode 249: Alison Bechdel On The Secret To Superhuman Strength; Advocates Push Colleges To Hire More Black-Owned Firms To Oversee Investments, Episode 248: The Happiness Lab Professor On Ways We Can Be Happier; How Jonny Sun Is Learning To Balance Work And Rest. MIRA has only reluctantly accepted the fate of the South Meadows trash to energy plan, criticized for spewing toxic fumes into south Hartford and contributing to pollution that disproportionately harms Black and Latino residents. Click here to learn more. While there might always be some waste, the goal is to recover, repurpose and reuse every material that is discarded. 0000000764 00000 n Contact: Tom Hochdorfer Topics covered: recycling, landfills, collections, organics diversion, waste-to-energy, and much more. The expansion will eliminate acres of wetlands and a local tributary that feeds the Quinebaug River. Its disappointing to me to see the state lose its self-sufficiency, to take this disappointing step backwards in our progressive waste management policy, Kirk said. Connecticutmade decisions years ago to move away from landfilling and shift to waste to energy incinerators that burn trash, creating some electricity. Beyond the industry, it has the potential to affect most of Connecticuts businesses and residents. All Rights Reserved |, Electronic Waste Recycling & Universal Waste. The 9 million cubic yard facility, originally conceived to accommodate and dispose of ash from all of Connecticut's energy-from-waste facilities, receives over 700,000 tons of ash per year from several in-state and out-of-state energy-from-waste plants. Even if notable progress could be made on reducing the waste that MIRA currently handles, some of that existing tonnage would still require a disposal option.