During the October 27, 2010 Torrance County Commission meeting, Joseph Ellis of the Estancia Valley Solid Waste Authority (ESVWA) presented information regarding possible stimulus funding for creation of a recycling center in Torrance County. The funding would provide monies to erect a building and purchase necessary equipment for the recycling operation. Mr. Ellis indicated ESVWA has space at their current location, required site testing in place as well as room to build the structure to house the recycling center. He further commented that the project met criteria for stimulus shovel ready funding and that work had to be completed by June 2011.
Commissioner Chavez-Gutierrez questioned additional staffing requirements included in the funding package to which Mr. Ellis commented that it was unclear how quickly new staff could be hired for the recycling facility because it was unclear how quickly the project would become self supportive. Additionally, Mr. Ellis indicated that the recycling facility would be easy to operate as items would be pre sorted before reaching the facility. Recycling in Torrance County - that would be nice!
Pre-sorted before reaching the recycling facility and questions regarding self supporting operations raises a few question from this writer. How will that trash be pre-sorted? Many residents in Torrance County (our family is one of them) have had running battles with Estancia Valley Solid Waste Authority for years.
From on again off again hours, rules regarding what you can dump changing week to week, vacant rates applied to non-trash generating properties, to invasion of privacy via the ever unpopular residential trash inspections, I think it valid to cautiously question any changes to ESVWA and managements approach to consumers when those changes are on the horizon. Will the opening of a recycling center in Torrance County create another opportunity for ESVWA to brow beat and abuse their mandated customer base?
An added concern is how will the recycling program be paid for? Every item that ESVWA plans to accept for recycling should have resale value to recycling companies. ESVWA already generates income from refrigerators and other metal items deposited at trash stations. Management should be able to produce projected figures regarding income generation for additional recycling activities. Statements by Mr. Ellis regarding the unclear nature of how quickly the recycling facility will be able to generate self supporting income leads me to suspect additional increases for consumers from ESVWA in the near future as well as potential burden on Torrance Counties already depleted finances.
Don't get me wrong I am all for recycling. Recycling has been a stated primary assignment of trash agencies since their inception and it is more than time for ESVWA to perform duties as assigned.
My hope is that ESVWA management will put aside the my way or the high way approach on this and all future projects, instead, choosing to include consumers input during the formation of recycling policies, procedures, and cost increases to create a positive environment for successful recycling in Torrance County. Let this be a project that all of Torrance County will take pride in as well as enjoy participating in.
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