Regional study recommends forming a Naugatuck Valley regional waste authority; full board voted to begin planning

Regional staff reported the completion and publication of a regional waste authority study and the board’s action to begin planning for a regional waste authority for the Naugatuck Valley.

Molly Johnson, environmental planner, told the committee the study collected existing conditions, analyzed potential future services and found benefits to forming a regional waste authority. The waste committee, which includes chief elected officials, voted to advance the recommendation, and the MBICOG full board on Sept. 19 voted to begin planning to form the authority.

Johnson said planning phase two will require decisions on organizational structure, fee models, bylaws and municipal ordinances; those activities are covered by a grant that funds the next phase. She encouraged municipal public works staff to work with the regional waste committee during document drafting and said the finalized study and supporting materials were circulated to public works staff and elected officials.

Bristol representatives in the meeting said one element of the published study misstated local practices about construction debris and pay-as-you-throw at the Bristol transfer station; staff noted the draft was circulated for review and said they will investigate an addendum or corrected upload to the website.

No formal vote on the authority formation occurred during TTAC; the full MBICOG board vote to begin planning occurred Sept. 19 and was reported to the committee.