Why we’re shipping our trash elsewhere

Area residents brought their trash and recyclables to the Salisbury-Sharon transfer station on Sunday, Feb. 20.
Photo by Patrick L. Sullivan
SALISBURY — It’s hard to imagine that it would ever get to this point. Up until recently, what we did with our waste in most of the Northwest Corner was quite simple: we bought a sticker at town hall, separated the trash from the recyclables, and took it all to the transfer station, where they would be taken care of.
Anything that might be reusable went into the Swap Shop, a dusty room full of what most people considered junk, but that others saw as an opportunity for reuse. The recyclables were turned over to a company that hauled them away to a facility that separated them, cleaned them and broke them down. If the towns were lucky, the recycling hauler would pay something for the privilege. The trash was sent to an incinerator in Hartford for a fee. End of story.
Before our towns started sending their garbage — known formally in Connecticut as municipal solid waste (MSW) — to incinerators, they deposited them in their own landfills. But by the 1990s, Connecticut had closed almost all of its dumps.
Most of the towns simply converted their landfills to transfer stations. Since 1975, Salisbury and Sharon operated a shared transfer station on land leased from The Hotchkiss School. That changed when the two towns leveraged their partnership to build a new $4.8-million transfer station on Route 44 near the New York state line.
The only landfill of any size remaining in the state is in Putnam, where a massive dump receives nearly 600,000 tons of ash per year from trash-to-energy plants such as the one that burns our waste in Hartford.
Now the situation has become much more complicated and likely much more expensive for our towns. Using two General Electric turbines that date back to the 1950s, the aforementioned trash-to-energy incinerator burns garbage and turns it into electricity — 45 megawatts, to be exact — enough to power 35,000 homes.
Located in the North Meadows section of Hartford and operated by the quasi-public Materials Innovation and Recycling Authority (MIRA), the facility we send our garbage to is on its last legs.
MIRA’s aging trash-to-energy plant, which handles an estimated 35% of the state’s waste, broke down in 2018 and was out of commission for several months, causing MIRA and its member towns, including Salisbury and Sharon, to scramble. Meanwhile, thousands of tons of garbage began to pile up inside and outside the aging facility.
“It was nerve-wracking,” MIRA President and CEO Thomas D. Kirk told the CT Mirror’s Tom Condon. “Thank God we didn’t have a fire.”
After a temporary fix in 2019, MIRA came up with a plan to replace the plant to the tune of $330 million. The administration of Gov. Ned Lamont practically laughed the proposal right out of the Capital City.
So MIRA’s board made the decision to shut down the trash-to-energy plant and use the property as a glorified transfer station from which to ship the garbage out of state for its remaining member towns.
MIRA’s problems, however, did not start with its busted incinerator. MIRA, formerly known as the Connecticut Resources Recovery Authority (CRRA), prompted ridicule, contempt and cries of injustice when, during the administration of then-Gov. John Rowland, it made an ill-fated $220 million loan to Enron, the energy-trading giant that later went belly-up in an accounting scandal.
When Enron defaulted, CRRA raised its tipping fees to cover its losses, resulting in a protracted and costly lawsuit from its then-70 member towns seeking compensation for the overcharging. The authority finally settled the suit for $21 million.
As one might expect, the antipathy between CRRA and its member towns extends well beyond an ill-advised and unsecured loan to a corrupt corporation. To wit, the authority took legal action in 2006 to try to stop the Salisbury-Sharon transfer station from sending its recyclables to a third party that paid the two towns for the raw materials.
Since it was accepting garbage from the two towns, CRRA insisted it was entitled to taking their paper recyclables as well. What was the price CRRA was willing to pay? Nothing. Town officials said the arrogance was staggering.
“They said they would take our junk mail and not charge us for it,” then-First Selectman Val Bernardoni quipped to this reporter. “They have 70 towns under contract; they’ll make a bundle.”
So it’s safe to say that there’s no reservoir of goodwill among MIRA’s member towns, including those in the Northwest Corner, which relies heavily on the authority. That’s probably why the Lamont administration wanted no part of approving MIRA’s pricey proposal to build a new incinerator. And reputation management might very well be the main reason the General Assembly allowed CRRA to change its name. If you Google MIRA, you won’t find much about its past problems as CRRA.
And so we find ourselves in quite a pickle. The costs of operating our transfer stations will rise — perhaps sharply. Thanks to COVID-related money from the federal government, states and municipalities can probably foot the bills in the short term.
But the day of financial reckoning will arrive soon enough. Last spring, MIRA put out requests for bids for contractors to haul away the waste from its facility. MIRA President and CEO Thomas Kirk told Condon its current disposal rate for garbage is $105.
If the 49 member towns don’t jump ship, Kirk forecasts a tipping fee of $114-$119 a ton in the first year of a five-year disposal contract, going to $139 in the fifth year. That rate could rise by $15 if more towns bail out on MIRA, or it could rise by even more if, as expected, MIRA must ship waste to landfills as far away as Alabama or Michigan. To give you a sense of perspective, as recently as 2019, the cost was $83 per ton.
With antiquated systems for collecting fees and perverse incentives for recycling still in place in our towns, the current trajectory is clearly unsustainable. What can we do? Stay tuned.
This is the first of a two-part series on Connecticut’s waste crisis and how it affects the Northwest Corner.
Aradev LLC’s plans to redevelop Wake Robin Inn include four 2,000-square-foot cabins, an event space, a sit-down restaurant and fast-casual counter, a spa, library, lounge, gym and seasonal pool. If approved, guest room numbers would increase from 38 to 57.
LAKEVILLE — The public hearing for the redevelopment of Wake Robin Inn is over. Salisbury Planning and Zoning Commission now has two months to make a decision.
The hearing closed on Tuesday, Sept. 9, after its seventh session.
Michael Klemens, chair of P&Z, had warned at the opening of the proceedings that “this might be a long night” due to a last-minute influx of material from experts hired by Wells Hill Road residents William and Angela Cruger to oppose the project, but this turned out not to be the case.
These 11th hour submissions set a sour tone to the start of the meeting, with commissioner Robert Riva stating that it was “not very professional to pull this stunt on this Commission.” Riva said he had diligently reviewed the already substantial documentation provided by both the applicant and the opposing experts, and was surprised to find a “dump” of additional information submitted just hours before the meeting’s start time at 6 p.m.
Tensions were quickly eased, however, when William Cruger offered his concise summation of his platform’s opposition to the expansion, which is the second iteration of the project after an earlier version was withdrawn late last year.
“It’s important for you all to hear from me that there was never any disrespect intended to the Commission, the commissioners, and to the process,” Cruger said. He defended the last-minute submissions as an effort on the part of the experts to be thorough in their analysis: “Our intention… has been and remains to do our best to get whatever we think will be helpful in your deliberations into the record.”
The Crugers formally entered the hearing process as intervenors for the first application from Aradev LLC, the applicant, in the fall of 2024, meaning they and their hired consultants had full party status in the hearing proceedings. During this cycle, however, they chose not to petition for intervenor status, yet during this round of hearings their role has been similar. Klemens described them as having “almost intervenor status — not quite.”
William Cruger summarized the consultant’s findings for Aradev’s revised application, noting they found it to be “virtually identical in scale to the previous proposal.”
“Our position is that the proposed expansion would absolutely negatively impact the usefulness, enjoyment and value of the surrounding properties,” he said.
Aradev’s attorney Joshua Mackey countered by saying that the special permit conditions would elevate the currently non-conforming hotel in the zone, describing it as a “community asset that is improved, regulated, and safeguarded for generations to come.” He characterized Aradev as “the next steward of this storied property.”
After Mackey and Aradev co-founder Steven Cohen concluded their remarks, Klemens closed the hearing with no public comment, which he had stated would be the case at last week’s hearing session on Thursday, Sept. 4. Klemens said that P&Z will begin deliberating the proposal in early October after the commissioners have had the chance to review the information in the record.
A total of 45 letters, including the Crugers’ experts’ testimony, were submitted since the Sept. 4 meeting alone, alongside hundreds of pages of application materials and additional testimony.
As the Commission deliberates and reviews, all of this information is available for public viewing on the “Meeting Documents” subpage under P&Z’s section on the town website, www.salisburyct.us.
The Commission must issue a decision on the application by Nov. 13, the end of the statutorily defined deliberation window.
The Weavery is Stanton Home’s oldest activity space, featuring a collection of vintage and modern floor looms. It offers opportunities for building dexterity, creative expression, and social connection through fiber arts.
Stanton Home is holding its annual Harvest Roast fundraiser on Saturday, Sept. 13 in Great Barrington, an evening of farm-to-table dining, live swing music, and community connection.
For nearly 40 years, Stanton Home has supported adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities through residential programs, therapeutic services and skill-building activities.
“Here in the Berkshires, adults with diverse abilities often face barriers like limited housing, tricky transportation, and fewer opportunities for meaningful work,” said Executive Director Peter Stanton. “Stanton Home flips that script. Our mission is to partner with adults to pursue healthy, self-determined lives.”
The Harvest Roast features locally grilled meats, roasted vegetables from Stanton’s own gardens, warm apple crisp with SoCo Creamery ice cream, and beverages —all set to the swing and gypsy jazz rhythms of the Lucky 5 Band.
“The Harvest Roast is a celebration of what makes our community strong, inclusive, and vibrant,” Stanton said. “Every ticket and sponsored table supports programs that make a lasting difference.”
Guests will begin in the gardens with a signature cocktail before gathering at long farm tables for a shared meal and celebration.
“Though this night matters, the work is year-round,” Stanton added. “People can help by shopping locally at the farm store or buying handmade weavery goods, pitching in with time or skills, gardening, lending a hand at events or by partnering with Stanton’s programs like composting or sourcing local goods. Folks can also speak up for inclusion in their workplace or community circle. Even the smallest action helps keep the mission alive.”
Tickets are $125 per person. Proceeds support Stanton Home’s inclusive programs. Reserve at donorbox.org/events/771775/steps/choose_tickets or call 413-441-0761.
Following the memorable benefit reading last season of Charles Busch’s Tony-nominated Broadway hit, “The Tale of the Allergist’s Wife,” the Sharon Playhouse will present a one-night-only staged reading of his riotous comic melodrama “Die Mommie Die!” on Friday, Sept. 12 at 7 p.m.
The production —a deliciously over-the-top homage to classic Hollywood mid-century thrillers — continues the Playhouse’s artistic partnership with Busch, who reprises his iconic role of the glamorous yet troubled songstress Angela Arden.
The playwright and performer is no stranger to the Playhouse and, luckily, he’s supported by a truly stellar powerhouse cast of top-notch comic actors — some returning to the Playhouse stage, and some making their debut. The cast includes Richard Kind; two-time Tony Award nominee Kristine Nielsen, who was part of the original New York cast; Tony Award winner Celia Keenan-Bolger; Andrew Keenan-Bolger; and Claybourne Elder.
The production also marks a fortuitous alignment of talent and history. It is directed by Sharon Playhouse Artistic Director Carl Andress, who performed in the play’s Los Angeles premiere in 1999.
“I have a long and happy history with this particular show,” Andress said. “At the Sharon Playhouse, we’re thrilled to offer unforgettable, one-of-a-kind live experiences. With Charles Busch and this phenomenal cast, ‘Die Mommie Die!’ will surely light up the Olsen Stage with laughter, wit and glamour.”
The original music is by Lewis Flinn, whose score for the 2007 Off-Broadway production is being adapted specially for this event.
The play is a classic Charles Busch concoction that, like all his work, lovingly and intelligently spoofs some of the greatest talents and tropes of stage and screen. The original production was praised by critics as his “funniest, most accomplished and, without question, raunchiest work.”
In 2003, Busch won the Best Performance award at the Sundance Film Festival for the film version of “Die Mommie Die!” His indelible contributions to American theater have been recognized with countless awards and he was recently inducted into the Theater Hall of Fame.
The event promises to be an unforgettable night of laughter, glamour and theatrical fun, with all proceeds going to benefit Sharon Playhouse’s productions and educational programs. The funds will help ensure that the Playhouse continues to thrive as a cultural destination for audiences and artists alike.
For tickets, visit: sharonplayhouse.org. Running time: 90 minutes.
Richard Feiner and Annette Stover have worked and taught in the arts, communications, and philanthropy in West Berlin, Paris, Tokyo, and New York. Passionate supporters of the arts, they live in Salisbury and Greenwich Village.