I would like to state my concern regarding the proposed waste disposal user fee.  I think the ramifications of such a move should be given a thorough evaluation and that more opportunity for public input is imperative.  My main concern is the lack of incentive to reduse, reuse and recycle such an across the board fee could result in. 

Helle Henriksen 

I wanted to make a couple of comments on the proposed Solid Waste Fee structure for Sullivan County. I have read the letter/memo posted on the Sullivan County website on Tuesday.  I appreciate the amount of work that the committee, the legislature and county government have put into this issue.

As noted in the letter, the Town of Tusten currently disposes of much of it's waste outside of the county.  Our business, for instance, shares a dumpster rented from Waste Management, who have a transfer station in Beach Lake, PA.  I know that many of the local trash haulers use that facility as well.  Also, I know that many of the second home owners in our area take their trash back to the city with them and dispose of it in their apartment buildings.  Is the county prepared for the potential increase in waste once we can no longer use out-of-county facilities? 

I also recycle, and take my recycling to the Wayne County PA recycling center, mainly because the hours are far more convenient (Monday - Friday, 9am - 4pm).  Is the county able to handle an increase in recycling materials as well, and could the county have more hours when recycling can be done? 

It seems, too, that in the proposed plan, there is very little incentive to reduce waste.  Yes, we may be penalized for not recycling, but what about an incentive for actually reducing the amount of waste produced?  Right now, my coffee shop produces less than one  standard (Kitched-sized) bag of garbage per day, which is quite low for a restaurant.  Yet there's no incentive for me to cut that back even further.  In fact, since the determination will apparently be made based on business type and square footage, I could probably increase my garbage output to two to three bags a day without any change.  Unless there's a way to adjust fees based on actual output, it seems like there's going to be some unfair charges with this system.

Right now, Sullivan County needs to help businesses keep going in the county, especially small businesses.  We don't need more fees.  I don't believe that trash haulers will simply be able to cut their fees by 50% with the end of tipping fees.  I don't think that they will try to rip people off, I just think that it's not that simple.  I think it's a little foolish to assume that that will happen. They, and their employees, will have to pay these fees too, after all, so their hauling fees will have to reflect those indirect increases.  If this proposition is passed, and the business fees are too high, there will be another wave of closures, and eventually all that will be left in Sullivan County is Wal-mart and McDonalds and other large corporate chains that can afford to pay large fees.

Bill Geisler, Narrowburg Roasters, will@narrowsburgroasters.com

My family of 3 recycles and re-uses. We have, historically, produced less than 1 large garbage bag of waste each month. We are opposed to a fee added to our taxes when we have the potential to be resouceful and thrifty. Please take the many families like us into account when voting on this issue,

Colleen M. Rizzo

As a long time resident of Sullivan Co., I strenuously object to the waste management fee being voted on this Thursday, Nov. 12.  I am a single resident who carefully recycles all applicable waste and takes it to the recycling center in Ferndale, where I pay a point-of-service fee for all my non-recyclable waste. 

Why should I have to pay an additional, tax-levied fee equal to my neighbors who have 5 or 6, or more people producing waste, and who do not bother to recycle?

Perhaps I have not fully understood the proposal being voted on, but it seems to me to be not only a disincentive to recycle, but an inequitable financial burden on small families and part-time residents.

Please, do not vote for this proposal at this upcoming session.

Stephen Van Benschoten

Please accept this comment on the new User Fee Waste Plan and pass it along to my representatives. I am a 20 year resident of Cochecton.  I have reduced my waste (2 persons) going to the transfer station to about one bag a month by composting and recycling.  I doubt I spend more than $30 - $60. a year on trash.  This fee would more than triple my cost, remove all incentive to reduce waste, and force me to subsidize others who are not careful about their waste production.  It is unfair and unwise.  Please rethink this terrible plan.

Allan Rubin

I am from the Town of Tusten, and our Town Supervisor has written a letter expressing my strong objection to this attempt to pay for waste disposal via what amounts to annual tax, not to mention inconvenience.  On an evironmental level, it discourages recycling, and so adds to land fill problems.  why should taxpayers, especially those in the western part of the County pay for the Legislatures inability to deal with our waste disposal problems, when other counties in New York State are able to find workable solutions?

Susan Sullivan

A NO VOTE on waste desposal Tax. Land  owner and business owner.

Hank Schneider

I am writing to urge the Sullivan County legislature to VOTE NO on the proposed law as written.  The legislature should honestly evaluate the true capacity for solid waste disposal at the county landfill: revisit a different methodology with real data developed with input from local haulers and users; consider a one time SW debt charge rather than an ill conceived
solid waste amendment that will have serious negative financial impacts on businesses, residents and the environment.=A0

I am a homeowner in Callicoon and in the past FIVE years have spent $120 on disposing of garbage at the dump.  I recycle or compost most of my waste and find it unfair that I should be required to pay for those who are too lazy or unable to recycle.  This law if passed will reduce recycling because if people have to pay $182 a year for waste disposal they will not bother torecycle.

Jane Blake

I would like to add my voice in opposition to the proposed waste disposal tax on residents of Sullivan County. I am a full-time resident,homeowner and taxpayer in Youngsville. Currently I reuse what I can for as long as I can (grocery bags, cardboard boxes, food containers, etc.); I recycle what I can't reuse; I choose products for minimal packaging; I compost all food scraps--in short, I do everything a responsible citizen of Sullivan County ought to do. I would be surprised if I contributed 24 bags of garbage to the landfill in a year. This proposal seems to be a step in the wrong direction for Sullivan County and would reward slovenly and irresponsible attitudes and behavior. And there would appear to be no fair and equitable way of levying this additional tax burden.

John Bachman

I am writing to say that as it is written, I am against the above proposed law establishing a waste disposal fee.

Linda Charpentier

I am writing to voice my opinion on the proposed Solid Waste User Fee.  I realize the county is in a financial pickle with the imminent closure of the landfill in 2010.   As a full time resident who recycles religiously, I believe the methodology for determining the user fee creates a disincentive for individuals and or businesses to increase recycling and reduce waste. Also, how much of the user fee will be used for debt and how much for costs to export waste? How will this law financially enhance or hinder our local haulers?

I urge you to VOTE NO to the proposed law as written and instead:

• Honestly evaluate the true capacity for solid waste disposal at the county landfill;
  
• Revisit a different methodology with real data developed with input from local haulers and users;
  
• Consider a one time SW debt charge rather than an ill conceived solid waste amendment that will have serious negative financial impacts on businesses, residents and the environment. 
• Make this process more accessible to the public, through public hearing that is well advertised by newspaper, radio, local television and the county website.

Adrianne Picciano

Based on the article I read in the Sullivan  County Democrat, payroll and benefits increased from 60 million to 85 million in a 5 yr time, that works out to $22,727.00 increase per employee. Who has ever gotten that kind of increase in 5 yrs? Now their is going to be a charge for the landfill if you use it or not! I have had a job for 13 years in sullivan county and over the past 5 yrs I've had no payments to now paying 30% of my benefits, and this year they terminated my pension plan and said times are tough so they will be no raises.  Now can you explain to me how now you can charge me a user fee instead of giving employees an average increase?

Mark