Carbon commissioners discuss solid waste plan

The Carbon County Commissioners were talking trash on Thursday.

That’s because the county’s new 10-year solid waste plan will go into effect in January, and there are some notable changes that may help municipalities and the county with projects and cleanups.

Commissioner William O’Gurek spoke about one action the board approved regarding a municipal waste disposal capacity agreement with Alliance Sanitary Landfill Inc. of Morrisville; Clinton County Solid Waste Authority of McElhatten; Commonwealth Environmental Systems of Hegins; F.R.&S. Inc., doing business as Pioneer Crossing Landfill of Birdsboro; Grand Central Sanitary Landfill of Pen Argyl; Keystone Sanitary Landfill Inc. of Dunmore; and New Morgan Landfill Company Inc. of Morgantown.

He announced that these landfills, through the new 10-year plan, have donated storage space in their landfills for the county as in-kind contributions for future projects.

“I’m optimistic that the storage capacity that the county had sought and the landfills have generously agreed to donate as part of the in-kind contributions, will allow for the county and municipalities in the county to do some good things in the future,” O’Gurek said.

Types of projects could include demolition of deteriorated buildings, illegal dump site cleanups, roadways cleanups and more.

“It allows for the future board of commissioners to work with supervisors and borough councils in the county with projects that they might have in the communities,” he said. “This opens the door to some creative projects.”

This is the first time Carbon County has included this in-kind contribution in the plan, and the board is excited about it.

In related matters, Commissioner Thomas J. Gerhard and Chairman Wayne Nothstein spoke about illegal dumping and littering. These examples, O’Gurek said, are perfect ways this donated landfill space could be used.

Gerhard said that the county has identified 49 illegal dumping sites in the area and will be working to get them cleaned up.

“Garbage is a problem,” he said, noting that tourism is a big industry in Carbon County and the dumping creates eyesores for visitors. “You don’t want to see garbage when you come into the county.”

Gerhard said that the prison may be able to use its inmate volunteer program and the juvenile probation program to help clean some of the roadways.

The county also plans to look into funding that may be available for the purchase of security cameras that would be installed at the dumping sites as a deterrent.

“It’s really disgusting when you think about it,” Nothstein said. “When you drive along the roads here, especially now that the snow is gone, and see the lack of respect for this county and people traveling through it and tossing their garbage, whether it be empty containers from fast food, other garbage or tires or TV. It’s a total lack of respect for our county’s environment in the future.”

He said that he believed littering and dumping fines aren’t stiff enough and would like to see them tripled for repeat offenders, who then must also be held accountable for their actions.

“They’re making the mess, let’s hold them responsible,” he said.

A hearing on the county’s plan has been scheduled for June 25. Details about the hearing will be advertised.