The city of Albany has other options to manage its trash and recycling than those described in the article "Landfill's fate gets political," July 11. The Capital Region has a diverse waste disposal marketplace. It is serviced by nearby landfills, trash burners and transfer stations that open up disposal locations elsewhere in New York.
In spite of dependence on landfill fees, the city of Albany should get out of the business now. The city can then use the robust competitive marketplace that is available to provide improved service at a lower cost, increased efficiency and other benefits. The belief that a super-regional waste authority is both going to fix Albany's fiscal woes, while providing good disposal deals for Capital Region communities, is seriously flawed. Disposal is down nearly 20 percent in five years due to trends of more recycling, greater waste reduction and more technologies that convert discards into productive materials and uses. These trends will make it difficult for Albany to stay in the disposal business or for any super-regional disposal authority to succeed.
Albany and its waste planning unit partners should allow private disposal companies to become the primary providers of this service in their jurisdictions. They should focus on providing police, fire and other services that are not available in the competitive, private marketplace like waste and recycling management.
Steve Changaris
Northeast region manager, National Solid Wastes Management Association and Waste Equipment Technology Association
Auburn, Mass.
