Decision Delayed On Storm Waste Disposal

The Spokane City Council on Monday delayed voting on a $1.7 million contract to haul ice storm debris to a power-producing plant in Kettle Falls, Wash., where the branches would be burned.

Council members unanimously chose to delay their decision for a week after the owners of a West Plains composting plant protested the proposed contract with Washington Water Power Co.

Under the contract, the city would pay the power company $18.50 a ton to haul the branches to their Kettle Falls plant for burning. The city already is paying $15.40 a ton to grind the debris, bringing the total cost of disposal to $33.90 a ton.

Heidi and Jim Boyd of Ecocycle argued they could turn the storm debris into fertile soil for about $20 a ton, including grinding.

“What I’m offering you is a dramatic savings,” said Jim Boyd, adding the city’s free dumping during the storm already threatened to “run our business out of business.”

Phil Williams, the city’s director of planning services, said officials at the state Department of Ecology and Spokane County Health District told him Ecocycle couldn’t handle the 10,000 tons of debris the city has collected.

“I can’t find any positives to go with that option,” Williams said.

Several council members said they wanted more information about Ecocycle before making their decision.

, DataTimes