The Monmouth County Board of Freeholders has unanimously authorized the award and execution of a landfill facility service agreement with Waste Management of New Jersey Inc.
Under the terms of the agreement, the corporation will operate the Monmouth County Reclamation Center in Tinton Falls. Garbage from the county’s municipalities is transported to the facility.
During a meeting on Dec. 8, Freeholder Director Thomas A. Arnone said the county is not selling the landfill property or the infrastructure at the reclamation center, but is hiring a corporation to operate the sprawling facility.
Arnone and Freeholders Susan M. Kiley, Lillian G. Burry, Patrick Impreveduto and Dominick DiRocco voted “yes” on a motion to pass a resolution which designates Waste Management of New Jersey Inc. as the landfill’s new operator.
Arnone said the decision to have the county step away from operating the landfill was made because the deficit associated with the facility was “getting deeper and deeper, through no fault of the county employees who work at the landfill.”
He said representatives of the county’s human services department will meet with the employees who will be displaced by the change in the landfill’s operator and discuss their employment options.
“At the present time, we are holding county positions that are currently open for people coming from the landfill. That might not be the case if we wait three to five years if we kick the can down the road.
“We are very confident every employee at the landfill is going to have a bona fide offer (of employment). People who can retire will be given that opportunity and may actually go to work for Waste Management. We will also have certain staff on site,” Arnone said.
County officials said the decision to engage a corporation to operate the landfill will yield millions of dollars in savings.
According to the resolution, county officials were authorized to solicit a Request for
Qualifications and a Request for Proposals to seek qualified companies to operate and maintain the landfill.
In February, the county received qualifications from Waste Management of New Jersey Inc. and Urbaser Inc., both of which were deemed qualified by the county.
In June, a Request for Proposals was issued by the county to Waste Management of New Jersey Inc. and Urbaser Inc.
In July, the county received a proposal from Waste Management of New Jersey Inc., which is a Delaware corporation that is authorized to do business in New Jersey. The county did not receive a proposal from Urbaser Inc.
Negotiations were conducted between representatives of the county and Waste Management of New Jersey Inc. and an agreement was reached, according to the resolution.
The awarding and execution of the agreement is subject to the consent and approval of the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection pursuant to the terms of the requirements contained in the county’s permits for the landfill, according to the resolution.
