A recent State audit of the Resource Recovery Agency raises some serious questions about its financial management practices, including a reported 74% salary increase from $62,000 in 2006 to $108,000 in 2009 for the Executive Director without board authorization or a written contract. The audit identifies irregular bidding procedures, failure to collect over $900,000 due from a scrap metal dealer, and failure to recover monies from the private plant operator for the sale of electricity produced by the incinerator. In addition, the audit criticizes the reappointment of board members to third consecutive terms when legislation clearly limits board membership to a maximum of two consecutive terms of service. The audit also states that seven facilities of similar size operate in a self-sufficient manner without need of subsidies. How can the Dutchess County Resource Recovery Agency be so out of step? Tax payers and the Legislature should demand answers.

Some defenders of the agency say the solution is to improve and expand the burn plant and require that all garbage in the county be incinerated. To do this would cost between 3 and 5 million dollars to increase the turbine capacity of the present incinerator, a technology that critics claim is as outdated as a 1980’s computer.

Before spending many more millions on an inefficient, antiquated, and environmentally unsound incinerator, now is the time to consider how that money could be better used. The Legislature is right to question the County Executive’s proposal and should seriously consider the recommendations of the State audit as well as those made last year by the Dutchess County Green Ribbon Task Force on Solid Waste Management, especially regarding expanded recycling efforts and the development of an “eco-industrial resource recovery park” to work towards recycling, re-using, or composting 90% of the waste in Dutchess County. It is done elsewhere and can be done here!

On Thursday, April 22nd, celebrate Earth Day by attending a lecture by Dr. Paul Connett entitled “Ending Incineration” at 8pm at Vassar College . Dr. Connett holds a Ph.D. in chemistry from Dartmouth College and taught chemistry at St. Lawrence University. He is an internationally recognized specialist on Environmental Chemistry and Toxology and will give concrete advice on a zero waste approach to resource recovery to save tax money, create “green” jobs, give us cleaner air, and lower carbon emissions.

What a shame it would be for us to continue the waste, inefficiency, air pollution, and poor management practices of our current approach towards waste management when a far superior approach is available.