I reached out to Len Cawley at the MWRA on Monday to ask for an update on the Co-Digestion Pilot Program and as usual Len responded promptly today. Lens email stated Kathleen, attached please find the most recent Co-Digestion update. This is the status quo as we look into costs and funding sources. If anybody wants a copy of the MWRA June 25, 2014 report on Co-Digestion from Fred Laskey, Exec. Director of MWRA, to the MWRA Board of Directors please let me know and I will get you a copy of it, I just need your email. I have taken a very quick look at the report, I will read it thoroughly tonight but here are some highlights that caught my eye: 1) MWRA investigated various barging options and it was determined that the most cost effective is barges guided by tugboats (again the MWRA has not yet said that they will in fact barge the food waste, they are still researching their options); 2) Waste Management believes it could have a barging operation in place six months from the start of construction (improvements need to be made to the Deer Island facility and the facility in Charlestown). Waste Mgmt estimates the impact of trucking to barging to be approximately $1.9 -$2.5 Million (big problem here is Waste Mgmt has said they cannot fund this change in costs in a lump sum and need funding assistance, preferably grants - so WHO is paying? How does this impact rates?); 3) if barging is approved, Waste Management wants to extend the duration of the Pilot Program (we MUST pay attention to this!!); 4) MWRA increased cost from trucking to barging is estimated at approximately $2.3 Million (for pier repairs, pipeline from pier to digestor and other capital improvements to Deer Island (again what is the impact on rate payers); 5) if Co-Digestion does not prove to be cost effective certain capital improvements will not serve a purpose at Deer Island; and 6) based on my quick review of the report I do not see any mention of the potential environmental, health and community impacts of Co-Digestion. We need to not forget about this Program and the impacts of it and we need to keep in touch with our Town Government and State Representative and Senator on the hopefully active role they are all playing in this process!! Please feel free to share this status so our fellow citizens are kept in the loop.
Posted on: Wed, 09 Jul 2014 17:03:17 +0000
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