Study on Landfill Should be approved

by: Bill Liblick

The Public Works Committee of the Legislature has tabled a resolution which would have hired of an outside financial management firm with vast experience in landfills to do a cost analysis on our county dump. Not approving this study is a move in the wrong direction.

Legislator Alan Sorensen living up to his campaign pledge to get the landfill closed pushed for the review. He is claiming that Sullivan County would be saving millions of dollars a year if our waste were instead transported outside the county.

But when you listen to Kathy LaBuda who heads the legislature's committee that oversees the landfill you come away with a different feeling. 

“Obviously our current solid waste system needs to be examined to determine the most efficient and cost-effective way to proceed,” LaBuda tells me.  But when it comes to closing the dump - not so fast.

LaBuda rightfully points out that although people who live in the Village of Monticello want it closed, the legislature must consider the entire county’s needs. Even the Sullivan County Supervisors’ Association headed by Lumberland Supervisor and Republican County Chairman John LiGreci supports Phase Two expansion.

Sorensen insists that growth of the landfill does not make economic sense. His argument may be flawed, because Sullivan County will ultimately not be able to control the price of exportation.

He points to Orange County as to why we should export. He contends they pay less than we pay to run the landfill. However, LaBuda counters, that we would be exporting significantly less refuse, and maintains Sullivan County would not be receiving the same pricing. This may actually cause us to pay more than our current tipping fees, particularly as gas and fuel prices continue to rise.

So what is the solution? Labuda says it is recycling, “If we were to increase our recycling, or better yet, double our recycling percentage, we could dramatically increase the life of the current landfill, as well as any future expansions.”

Village of Monticello Mayor Jim Barnicle told me he is “vehemently” opposed to any expansion of the landfill, but agrees with LaBuda on recycling. 

He said the Village is working with the county and several companies whose expertise is disposal technology.

Barnicle said he will also seek tax benefits for residents of the village so they don't have burden the costs of alternative waste.

Sorenson is convinced he will deliver a knockout punch to sway the legislature to close the dump once and for all by pointing to our $60 million in bonded debt. Approximately $40 Million is directly related to the landfill. 

He says the projected cost of first two cells of Phase II was $33 Million in 2004 dollars.  The cost has gone up since then. If the County has to bond $40 Million for the Phase II expansion total debt will total nearly $100 Million. Let us not forget the additional debt we will incur because we are mandated to build a new jail. 

To Sorensen the only solution is to close the landfill and transport our garbage. He says Sullivan County taxpayers cannot afford the debt if we don’t.

So whom do we believe? Perhaps everyone is right.

In any event, an independent cost analysis must be done.

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