Letters to the Editor

We should live within our (trash) needs

To the Editor:
    This letter to the editor is only my opinion, and is not meant to attack anyone, my only intent is to try give the people of the state of Maine something to think about.

    I don’t know a lot about the details of our trash facilities, but some of the things that I do know is at the Sept. 18 Sangerville public meeting for MRC informational purposes we were told by MRC officials that Boston, for instance, pays $80 or $90 a ton for tipping fees out the door in Boston, and we only charge them sometimes as low as $10 to $20 a ton tipping in the door at Maine facilities.
    Meanwhile we, the Maine residents, pay over $70 a ton tipping fees at the door at our facilities, In plain English the way I see that is: We the citizens of Maine are paying the full trucking and shipping cost for Boston’s trash.
    They say in plain English our facilities are so big that they will not operate on Maine trash only, so we need out-of-state trash to operate, and we are paying dearly for it.
    To keep this short, this is only one of many issues with the existing system and or plan from MRC, which by the way has over $26 million in the general fund that possibly could help fund the downsizing and upgrading of the existing facilities to fit our needs.
    I also know that as soon as this out-of-state trash is tipped or dumped on our land at these facilities, we own it and are responsible for every thing in it, and I mean every thing in it, toxins and all. And every thing left after processing, we the whole state of Maine are responsible forever.
    Now for my opinion. Let’s live within our means; If I need a Jeep why would I by a Hummer and pay someone else to help me pay for the gas at an even higher cost to me? If I need a small pick-up truck, why would I buy a big dump truck?
    I do not think Maine should be a dumping station for the whole of New England and more at our cost? Why would we do that? Let’s at least think about downsizing and upgrading our existing facilities to operate more efficiently to fit our needs, and stop taking out-of-state trash. Let’s not go bigger so we need more out-of-state trash, turning trash into electricity or fuel is a good thing, but let us not turn this in to a big business at the cost of our people and our beautiful state. Stop creating so much waste (recycle more) and live within our means (stop spending needlessly).
    Save our state and save our money, (stop taking out-of-state trash, how and why did this start in the first place?). Sounds pretty simple does it not? It may be just that simple. Please take some time and think about it, and do some research before it is too late. Even if itturns out costing us a little more now, it will save us a lot more in the end. Please think of our state, our kids and our grandkids.

Richard R. Dobson Sr.
Sangerville