Greenville names waste disposal option for 2018

GREENVILLE — After considering several options for solid waste disposal for after 2018 when the current agreement expires, the selectmen opted to enter into a five-year, renewable agreement with Waste Management of Norridgewock during a June 15 meeting.

The $64.50 per ton cost with Waste Management for post-2018 was the lowest of three options for the town of Greenville, as the Municipal Review Committee had a rate of $70 at its planned Fiberight facility in Hampden and the Penobscot Energy Recovery Company (PERC) in Orrington had a rate of $84.36 a ton. In 2015 Greenville’s municipal solid waste volume rate was 892.52 tons, equaling a cost of just over $57,500 at 2018 rates with Waste Management. The costs would be $62,476 at Fiberight and nearly $75,300 at PERC with 2015 volumes at 2018 rates.

Greenville will also contract with Waste Management for the disposal of construction and demolition debris, also at the rate of $64.50 per ton starting in several years. The town is in discussion with Theriault Construction to have some of this material sent to the company to be burned. A total of 100 tons could be sent to Theriault Construction, and in 2015 Greenville had 330 tons of construction and demolition debris.

The town may also be able to burn wood waste on a suitable gravel pad to be constructed across from the transfer station on Sheridan Circle. Ash would need to be tested for contaminants and be disposed of as special waste should such materials be found.

A plan for food scraps and other organic material to be shipped to Exeter Agri-Energy — at a cost of $40 a ton — is being developed. A pilot project is running from May to October and this could continue if proven successful. An estimated 200 tons of food and organics could be diverted annually from the Greenville municipal solid waste stream.