Mayor Davenport sends letter to WastAway officials
In a letter to WastAway this week, Mayor Royce Davenport has indicated that McMinnville is still interested in moving its trash disposal from Waste Management to WastAway.
WastAway is a fairly new recycling operation located in Warren County, which turns household trash into useful materials. City officials stated they only have two concerns with switching trash disposal companies — the cost and the smell.
In response to the odor problems, WastAway officials indicated they have purchased a new vapor phase atomization system, which they hope to have installed by the end of the week.
“It’s basically what waste water treatment plants use to control odor,” said WastAway environmentalist Markus King.”
If the new vapor phase atomization system reduces the odor problem, the next obstacle will be the cost.
In WastAway’s original proposal, the company offered to dispose of city garbage for $40 a ton. The county has already begun using WastAway at the same rate offered to the city.
“My only concern is the odor. If that’s fixed this will be a great operation that’s great for Warren County,” said County Executive Kenneth Rogers.
While WastAway is not the cheapest option to dispose of McMinnville’s trash, it will be less than what the city paid last year. After compiling last year’s figures, the city actually paid $43 a ton to dispose of its household garbage. That same amount per ton was budgeted again this year, according to Alderman Bobby Kirby.
Switching to WastAway would actually result in a savings from last year. However, Waste Management has since offered a proposal in which the city can dispose of its garbage for $35 a ton. This entails closing the city’s transfer station.
Though no contracts have been signed by the city with WastAway, the option remains under consideration by McMinnville’s Board of Mayor and Aldermen.
Garbage proposals
WastAway’s current proposal would have the city paying $40 a ton to dispose of its household garbage – a $3 a ton savings from what the city paid last year. However, Waste Management has since offered a counter proposal which would allow the city to dispose of its garbage for $35 a ton.