Commissioners talk trash, discuss WASTEC agreement | News

NEW HANOVER COUNTY, NC (WECT) - The New Hanover County Board of Commissioners voted against entering into a 20 year agreement with Covanta to retrofit and operate the former WASTEC facility. If approved, it would have cost the County $32 million over fifteen months to refurbish the facility in addition to an annual operating cost of around $12 million per year.

The deal would have also increase the cost of tipping fees for the facility from $59 per ton to around $90 per ton. That cost increase would have been used to pay down the debt from the project.

Commissioner Chair Ted Davis stressed that if enough money wasn't made from the tipping fees, the balance would have to be made up by the taxpayers. Commissioners Catlin and Berger joined Davis in voting against the contract with Commissioners Thompson and Barfield voting in favor.

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