06-09-82 Council Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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MINl1TF;S Ci.ty Council June 9, 1982 Land£ili P4r, Orth stated that caithin the next two Co three years steps could (Cont.) be made in this direction. Mr, Orth also i.ndi.cated that the outlying count.i.es are starting to make noi.se about taking the metropolitan area's waste. It could be that within the next three to five years these landfills wi.ll close. Mrs. Nardini aslced T4r. Orth if the City of St. Paul Cried di.stricting its p,arbage coLlection system. Mr. Orth replied that :it did~ but not very successfully. Mr. Orth stated that mandatory trash collecti.on has to become a real.ity for. a county the si.ze of Ramsey and with its population. Also, Orth commented that competition between trash haulers does not bring the pri_ce down, it just establishes a fixed price and it is a waste o[ fuel. It also causes caear and tear. that is unnecessary on public worlcs. Mr. Orth inda.cated that trash haulers are interested i.n a r.efuse processing plant. Mrs. Nardini aslced if the plant would be capable of handling glass and metal. Mr. Orth repli.ed that they hope to have an abatement plan. Orth also stated that the plant would take care of 70% or better ot the waste in Ramsey County in conjunction with an abatement plan. Mrs. Nardini asked if the Lep,islature i.s considering alLowing the burning of leaves. Mr.. Orth replied to the contrary that compostinp., is both privately and commerci.ally feasibie. The City Clerk aslced the status o£ brush. ~Ir. Orth replied that ways have to be found to handle this problem. Orth stated that there are several alternaT.i.ves and that the County is interested in getting baclc into the Uusiness. A site i.s trying to be l.ocated and the County may be re-establi.shing a composting and chipping site. Mayor Hanson asked hoco the PCA felt about the plant. Mr.. Orth replied that the PCA i.s anxi.ous to see the CounCy succeed with not only the plant but also the abatemenC plan. They would lilce a good example to show that it can be done. Mr. Orth in£or.med the Council that the price ta~ for the plant could be f.rom $50 million to $140 million. The cost of steam Lines would be $L,000 per Loot, or $5 milli.on per miLe, Mrs. Scalze asked ho~o thi.s pro;ect wc,uld be financed. Mr. Orth replied that there is the possibility of private owners of the plant. The County would like to limit its investment. The County may I~ave to become involvect with industr:ial revenue bonds or with the retiremenC of bonds. Mr. Orth stated Chat if it was decided to go ahead with the projecC this October, it would be Spring of 1984 before Che ground would be brolcen. With the changes in teclmology, this coul.d be a very feasi.ble project by that time. Page -2-