Poughkeepsie's solid-waste 'Tag' and 'Not It' games

Warm weather ushers in children’s play, including the classic game of “Tag.†Soon cries of “Not It†will be heard wherever children gather. Children learn early that role designation is the only way for games to work. Such cries of “Not It†are also being heard cross-county in Poughkeepsie, as elected and appointed leaders involved with the county Resource Recovery  Agency (RRA) try to make that entity “work†for the taxpayer.

The county’s Solid Waste Management Plan (SWMP) is due for updating this year. This plan outlines the approach for collecting and disposing of solid waste generated within the county. Not only are the key environmental strategies “reusing, reducing and recycling†in play, but the SWMP is especially significant this year because of the demonstrated annual financial losses the County RRA has sustained. The 2008 numbers have the county subsidizing losses at the Resource Recovery Agency to the tune of $3.5 million.

When the state Legislature established the DCRRA in 1982 (at the request of the county Legislature) the expectation was that the DCRRA would become self-sufficient. Previous installments of this column have reported how the loss of flow controls and Clean Air Act-compliant improvements have contributed to the DCRRA’s financial losses. 

Additionally, an Operational Review conducted by the N.Y.S. Authority Budget Office (ABO) cites operation defects.

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Specifically, the ABO criticizes the county for not enforcing flow control laws on the books: “more than 100,000 tons of solid waste is not being delivered ...  in violation of current county law.â€

The failure of the county to enforce flow control has led the DCRRA to lower its hauler fees such that in 2008, “for every $1 received by the agency … the agency incurred $1.31 in costs.â€

Additionally, the ABO calculated revenue losses in the hundreds of thousands for operating only at 86 percent capacity at the waste-to-energy plant and failing to charge recycling fees. The ABO report found that additional significant revenue (projected $1.2 million) could be had if the DCRRA monitored contracts and charged for after-hours services.

Thus, the SWMP is vastly important for our wallets, not to mention the underlying environmental principles it will espouse. That’s where the “Not It†comes in. The DCRRA prepared this document in 1992 wherein they professed, “DCRRA is the planning unit responsible for developing the comprehensive SWMP for Dutchess County.â€

Now, however, they are looking to the county for leadership. They cite past practice of the County Commissioner of Solid Waste working in tandem with the DCRRA so as “to take advantage of the legal and financial capabilities of each†(county Web site reference).

Except the Legislature eliminated solid waste staff positions in the 2010 budget and with the January retirement of acting Solid Waste Commissioner Roger Akeley, the executive has not yet otherwise assigned this designation.

Meanwhile, the Legislature is asking the DCRRA to prepare a draft SWMP and submit it “on or before Thursday,  July 1, 2010.†Whether this role designation will hold remains to be seen, but given that the summer Tag season is now upon us, the county taxpayer can ill afford further delay.

 Michael Kelsey represents the towns of Amenia, Washington, Stanford, Pleasant Valley and the village of Millbrook in the Dutchess County Legislature. Write him at KelseyESQ@yahoo.com.

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