I have raised this issue several times myself but now the Guelph Mercury is asking some of the same questions. Here is an article written by them that all of Guelph should be reading!
Guelph’s Patrick Quirk has helped clarify something important about the proposed civic organic waste treatment plant.
His private research, and his efforts to make public its fruits, have revealed that there is misunderstanding not only in the community, but seemingly within Guelph city council, as to what the operating costs of this facility would be. As well, Quirk, an accountant, has by his efforts seemed to revealed that the cost estimate that has arguably become the one most frequently floated by some civic players is apparently a too-low one.
That’s significant. This remains a hot political subject. Mayor Karen Farbridge who has made efforts to reveal the complexity and possibilities of per tonnage treatment costs on this plant, insists that building the plant is what a majority of the community wants. She might be correct. But the community has perceived this issue without the context of the costs associated with this strategy, and those linked to other organic waste treatment possibilities.
Is this what a majority of Guelph would want at almost any cost? Or would it be a nice-to-have notion at a certain price point?
The Guelph Waste Management Coalition has offered arguments and statistics that suggest other courses would be more prudent environmentally and economically. But that group’s assertions and research are also hard to assess because it is so opposed to any wet-plant scenario – at least at the site of the city’s first effort.
In the last municipal election campaign, what to do about the city’s organic waste was a big issue. The strategic platform response of candidates was typically that they were open to considering all options. After the election, however, council moved almost immediately to the compost plant option – without a great deal of debate or exploration of other avenues. That’s interesting politicking. So, too, it seems is not doing enough to make clear what the costs will be of going down that road.
