To the editor:

What is happening at the regional landfill? Are there financial, engineering or environmental problems? Are operations there and at transfer stations transparent? And are local residents and haulers paying a fair price to dump trash? The short answer: I don’t know.

In December of 2018 I was appointed to the board of the County of Franklin Solid Waste Management Authority (CFSWMA). The board exists “to provide the vision and guidance necessary for the authority to fulfill its mission and meet its ethical and legal obligations,” according to the state Authorities Budget Office. For a number of reasons, that job is not an easy one.

First, in April the landfill will be under new management for the first time in 20 years. While the fire that was burning 20 years ago is now out and the $5 million deficit is gone, other problems remain. Those include labor issues, the need to update procedures for handling money, an ongoing security system fix and a lawsuit over work on cell 5.

Second, market forces and pricing make for an uncertain financial picture. The recyclable market is collapsing in many places. The spot market for out-of-county trash fluctuates, and the landfill has not yet set a fixed rate schedule. And there are some who still hope for a major deal to bring in outside trash from Albany, though that plan faces major infrastructure hurdles and significant public opposition.

Third, the CFSWMA has heard from consultants about financing a new cell, and that means issuing bonds. If for some reason the authority cannot meet its financial obligations, Franklin County will be forced to do so.

For all these reasons, I support an independent audit of landfill operations, finances and procedures. This time of transition in management is the perfect time for such an audit and will allow the authority to build on successes and learn from any mistakes. As a public authority we need to increase our transparency and always pursue greater efficiency. We need public input. And for the sake of the common good, we need the local media to show some interest in shining light on the solid waste sector. Only then can we get to the next chapter of the story.

Sincerely,

Greg Cook

Malone