Allan Appel Photo
Members of the Enviromental Advisory Council (EAC) also offered up a collective wish along with blondies, dark chocolate stars with sprinkles, clementines, and, of course, green candies at a holiday party held this week in City Hall.
The wish took the form of a stern letter to New Haven’s state legislators. It asked them to vigorously oppose state approval of a permit to allow a local recycler, Murphy Road Recycling in the Port District, to build a transfer station that would process domestic garbage from suburban towns within a 30-mile radius from New Haven.
EAC member Henry Auer consults with Port Authority Executive Director Judi Sheiffele.
So far, at least one state legislator has obliged: State Sen. (and Senate President) Martin Looney told the Independent Thursday that he stands with the opponents: “I’m not going to support it in its current location. I’m not endorsing it at this time. The business is legitimate, but the location is prohibitive. Maybe a better location would be next to the trash authority” on Middletown Avenue.
Meanwhile, at the EAC’s monthly meeting held after the City Hall party Wednesday night, Judi Sheiffele, the executive director of the Port Authority, offered an update on doings in the district, where Murphy Road is located.
EAC Chairperson Laura Cahn asked Sheiffele formally to join in opposing the Murphy Road expansion. Sheiffele said she shares the concerns expressed, but must first bring the matter formally up to her board, which she promised do in the coming days.
“The Port Authority’s interest [in general] is that land within it be used for maritime purposes,’ she added.
The full text follows of the EAC’s letter to legislators follows:
Dear New Haven State Legislative Delegation:
The New Haven Environmental Advisory Council calls upon you, our state senators and representatives, to publicly oppose (1) expansion of the recycling plant and (2) acceptance of putrescible waste at Murphy Road Recycling’s 19 Wheeler Street facility.
While we support the stated goals of Murphy Road Recycling to save more kinds of material from landfills — such as wood from construction waste — such recycling should not be done at a site next to the mouth of the Quinnipiac River.
Given a permit to accept putrescible waste, we believe most of the processing will consist of household garbage from surrounding towns — not more recycling. Our city should not suffer the consequences of processing municipal waste for other localities.
EAC members Kevin McCarthy, Kristyn Gorton, and City Plan staffer Aicha Woods at holiday party.
Some concerns: proximity to a residential area, excess noise, noxious odors, waste-contaminated water run-off, wear and tear on roads and bridges by more and larger garbage trucks, and greater risk of asthma in children exposed to polluted air.
In addition, two fires have occurred on the site in the past three years; one in the recycling plant, the other in a garbage truck parked in the garage.
We urge you to join us, neighborhood residents, community leaders, and alders from Wards 8, 11,12, 13, 14, 17, and 18 in objecting to the Murphy Road Recycling expansion plans.
Thank you for standing with your constituents and taking the health and well-being of al New Haven residents into consideration.
Sincerely,
The New Haven Environmental Advisory Council
Tuesday night the Murphy Road Recycling people did a presentation to the Quinnipiac East Management Team.
A number of well informed people from the area and an organization or two (did not hear their names) asked very direct questions about the plan to expand and its impact on the neighborhood.<br /> The most striking thing to me was to see this complex along the Quinnipiac River, opposite and near the Ferry St. Bridge. Why are we not reclaiming our river fronts for recreational access rather than conducting a business that could be any where in CT as long as it is near an interstate road?<br /> Since it is an existing business, I doubt there is any basis for reclaiming the land, but it made me wonder if there is such a policy in place on either the state or local level?<br /> At least two residents spoke of a noxious odor that the presenters said they were unaware of, but promised to investigate.<br /> As I listened, it became obvious that there is NO benefit to the City of New Haven, nor to the residents of the area from a planned expansion to take on more wet garbage to move by truck to other locations.<br /> Recycling and garbage disposal are good and necessary businesses, but waterfront locations, historically polluted as part of the industrial revolution, should be reclaimed to benefit the public. The Quinnipiac River is a phenomenal resource, but public access is limited.<br /> In Fair Haven Heights, there is one tiny public access canoe ramp and it is falling into the river from erosion. <br /> Perhaps members of the Environmental Advisory Council could fill us in on the existing policies in place and the vision for New Haven.