Finance Committee member questions if the town would save money on trash disposal by signing a Host Community Agreement with WIN Waste

By Mark E. Vogler

Finance Committee Member Marc Magliozzi broached the issue of whether it would make economic sense for the town to enter a Host Community Agreement with WIN Waste Innovations in order to eliminate the town’s expense for trash halting and trash incineration.

Discussion of the issue came up as the Finance Committee reviewed more than $2.6 million that is budgeted for waste collection and disposal expenses in the proposed budget for the 2025 fiscal year that begins July 1

“So, now if we were to as a community agree on a Host Community Agreement, some of this money would be gone?” Magliozzi asked Town Manager Scott C. Crabtree at Wednesday night’s meeting.

“We have a Host Community Agreement,” Crabtree insisted.

“Since Ed Collins was here,” he said of the former town manager who served from 1977-79 and reached a tax agreement deal with Wheelabrator, the previous owner of the trash-to-energy incinerator on Route 107

Magliozzi was referring to the tentative, nonbinding agreement reached by selectmen with WIN Waste Innovations which would allow the company to continue using the ash landfill.

“You talking about what they presented in the PowerPoint,” Crabtree asked, referring to the meetings last year between four of the selectmen and WIN Waste officials.

Magliozzi asked if the town could save money by going along with that agreement. He referred to the money the town is budgeted to spend on trash hauling and incineration.

“So it would save us that money if we did the Host Community Agreement,” Magliozzi asked.

Crabtree didn’t answer the question directly, but suggested an analogy.

“I guess it would be the equivalent if your child is 12 years old and he wants to get his license. You take him down to the registry,” Crabtree said.

“What do they tell you at the registry? “ the town manager asked.

Magliozzi answered; “Come back when you are 16 ½”

“Correct,” Crabtree answered.

“So, when the state allows it, the Board of Health would have authority looking at site modification,” Crabtree said.

A year ago, selectmen supported a HCA on a 3-2 vote, which has no legal basis. The agreement would have to be negotiated by the town manager and wouldn’t take effect unless the state allows the company to expand its ash landfill.

If the state loosened the regulations at the ash landfill and the town manager negotiated an agreement with WIN Waste, Saugus would receive $20 million over the next 20 years while WIN Waste could continue use of the ash landfill, according to the HCA supported by a majority of the selectmen.

Mary Urban, Senior Director of Communications & Community for WIN Waste, issued a statement yesterday, reiterating the company’s recent position that continuing to use the ash landfill in Saugus is the best option for all parties.

“The Host Community Agreement (HCA)approved by the Board of Selectmen does stipulate a date for the closing of the landfill. One significant difference is that the HCA includes $20 million in economic benefits to the Town,” Urban said.

“The HCA also includes significant environmental benefits, including formalizing lower emission limits, continuing to support and manage the Bear Creek Wildlife Sanctuary, and installing a stand-alone air monitor,” she said.