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Committee places $100,000 placeholder for harbor fish-waste grinder pending DEQ review
Summary
The committee discussed replacing harbor fish-waste grinders with commercial units (quotes $85,000–$100,000) to reduce smell and staff strain; members agreed to a $100,000 placeholder and to investigate DEQ, plumbing, grant options and composting alternatives before committing to purchase.
Staff presented proposals to replace aging harbor grinders with commercial-grade units to reduce manual lifting and odor complaints; quoted prices ranged from about $85,000 to $100,000 per unit depending on model and installation needs. Staff said existing units were not commercial and that a new grinder could reduce labor injuries and garbage costs.
Committee members raised environmental concerns about oxygen demand and DEQ compliance for disposing of ground fish waste; engineers and operations staff said they would study whether the wastewater treatment plant could accept the material, explore grants (Marine Board and others), and consider alternatives such as refrigerated dumpsters or composting. The committee agreed to include a $100,000 placeholder in the capital outlay for further study rather than proceed immediately with purchase.
