HomeMy WebLinkAboutLetter from Idaho Waste System
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14425 SE 631'd Street
Bellevue, W A 98006
(425) 761-1399
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Eric J. Weiss
Regional Sales Director
(425) 761-1399
eric@idahowaste.com
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October 25,2005
CITY OF MERIDIAN
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Mayor Tammy de Weerd
Meridian City Council
Solid Waste Advisory Committee
City of Meridian
33 East Idaho Avenue
Meridian, ill 83642
RE:
Ada County Landfill/North Ravine Cell
Dear Mayor de Weerd, City Council Members and Solid Waste Advisory Committee (SW AC):
Initially, let me thank you for allowing Idaho Waste Systems to participate in the discussions
relative to Ada County's development of the North Cell Ravine and alternatives available to the
City of Meridian to possibly divert some waste to our facility. This letter is drafted in response
to some questions asked at the recent SW AC meeting and other City inquiries.
Idaho Waste Systems cannot stress enough the advantage present in the design and operation of
the Simco Road landfill. As stated in our presentation, our facility exceeds current sub-title D
requirements by constructing our landfill with a double liner system. Also, an array of
environmental monitoring systems has been installed to confirm the environmental security and
integrity of the landfill. Leachate monitoring, early leak detection, ground water, gas, and
radiation monitoring are all in place to ensure our "Safe" operation. Ada County has not
provided the cities in the county a final design of the North Ravine Cell. There is no reason to
question its intention to build a quality facility, yet it remains to be seen. The same is true for the
proposed Blacks Creek site being pursued by BFI. Nonetheless, the City is being required to
make a long term commitment to Ada County without a complete picture of the project. In the
same sense, Ada County has not provided the City information as to the nature of the
commitment being sought, i.e. is the Blacks Creek project included within the scope of this
commitment, the financial obligation to the City for the construction and closure of the proposed
cell or the duration of the commitment. These are issues that may be considered in the
contractual negotiations with the County, but they are unclear at this point when the City facing a
statutory deadline to commit to the project.
October 25, 2005
The City Council posed several obstacles in contracting with Idaho Waste Systems. The first is
complying with the competitive bid process. This is not an obstacle and the process should
provide the City the best value for its dollar. The bid process cannot be completed by November
3rd, but then again, the North Ravine Cell will not be opened until 2009. Idaho Waste Systems
understands that the City will participate in the North Ravine Cell, yet it would welcome the
opportunity to competitively bid for the waste generated in the City. During the recent SW AC
meeting, the committee discussed the importance of the continuation of the County's programs.
As well, the County acknowledged their sole responsibility as a "non-profit" organization was to
provide program management through the rates paid for solid waste in the County. With this in
mind, Idaho Waste Systems would be willing to compensate the County on Meridian City's
participation in their Household Hazardous waste and other programs.
Finally, Idaho Waste Systems does not believe that siting a public/private landfill at Blacks
Creek is prudent. If anything, it is redundant. Idaho Waste Systems has a state of the art facility
in the same region and is actively pursuing contracts with public entities for business. Its site is
located on an active rail system and could easily receive waste utilizing the rail corridor owned
by the City. Even if this does not become feasible, the extra cost in transportation between
trucking to Simco Road rather than Blacks Creek cannot justify the construction of a second
desert landfill.
Again, thank you for providing Idaho Waste System the opportunity to participate in the City's
process. Idaho Waste Systems will be in the region for a very long time and looks forward to
future opportunities to provide service to the cities in the Treasure Valley.
If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to call me at (425) 761-1399.
Respectfully,
Eric J. Weiss
Regional Sales Director
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