Greenville explores solid waste savings ideas

Staff Report

 GREENVILLE — With solid waste expenses up by $41,062 this year, the town of Greenville is attempting to remove as many items from the waste stream as possible to reduce current transportation and tipping fees, both of which are likely to go up in coming years.

 To do so, the town has implemented two efforts and are exploring a third, according to Town Manager John Simko’s written report to selectmen last week. “We have already taken receipt of a 20-yard roll-off container into which we’ll store household glass.” Simko said. “We have an arrangement with Theriault Construction to haul this to his aggregate area and dump it at no cost. He will crush this and mix it with other material to make a suitable aggregate material for fill or drainage purposes. This has been approved by the Maine DEP.”

 Simko also told selectmen at the June 17 meeting that he’s contacted Victor Horton at Maine Resource Recovery Association (MRRA), the co-op the town has worked through previously for sale of recyclable commodities and they still use for scrap metal sales.

 According to the minutes of last week’s meeting, MRRA has sold 10 backyard compost machines at their cost the town, which the town then sells for $45 each. “The more organic material which we can pull from the municipal solid waste (MSW) stream, the more cost we’ll avoid,” according to Simko.

 Leaders of the local Girl Scout troop have also met with Simko to discuss how they could help to promote compositing, he said. “We discussed several ways they could help, and I believe they will come forward with an interesting project to help us with this effort soon,” he added.

 The last effort is to pull other plastics from the waste stream. Currently, Moosehead Rubbish accepts No. 1 and No. 2 plastics at the recycling center for Greenville residents.  MRRA has contacted Moosehead Rubbish and discussed the market for No. 5 and No. 7 and other plastics, which would include motor oil containers, 5-gallon hydraulic oil containers, plastic planters, etc.

 “All of these currently go into C/DD, but if we could find another baler for Moosehead Rubbish to dedicate these materials to, we could pull them from the waste stream as well,” Simko wrote. “I’m searching for a funding source to accomplish this.”

 In other action taken at last week’s meeting, selectmen authorized Simko and Public Works Foreman Mike Bernier to prepare and submit a request for proposal for a plow truck to replace the 2006 GMC 5500 model, including options for sale or trade of the current truck.

 The board also authorized Simko to prepare and submit an application to the Northern Border Commission, a relatively news federal program to assist rural communities in the northern U.S., for facility improvements and energy conservations measures.

 The board voted to hire RHR Smith for a five-year period to complete audit services for the Town as requested.

 Richard Peat was also reelected as board chairman and Craig Watt as vice chairman.