Quincy compost facility needs work

Improvements needed to obtain license

QUINCY — The Quincy city compost facility is out of compliance with the Department of Ecology and the Grant County Health Department.

Several improvements must be done before a new operating license can be reissued including a larger retention pond for runoff and a pad to store lawn clippings and leaves, according to city documents. A new, larger grinder is needed in addition to more staff.

"It's going to be quite costly," Mayor Dick Zimbelman said.

He expects the cost of the upgrade to reach $200,000.

"(The city is looking at) a $200,000 blood transfusion to keep it going," he added.

To keep the site running at its current capacity, including servicing to different cities, garbage rates would have to increase tremendously for Quincy citizens to support it, Zimbelman said. The site is overloaded with compost materials causing a strain on space and equipment.

Council discussed the possibility of limiting use to Quincy citizens and charging outside citizens to drop off composting materials.

"I say cut everybody off and keep it local," Councilmember Jose Salda-a said.

The compost facility faces the problem of semi loads of materials coming in from outside cities.

Councilmember Tony Gonzalez said spending $200,000 to improve the facility may not be worth it because it does not bring in nearly that much revenue.

Councilmember Paul Worley thought otherwise. He said spending the money to improve the facility might be worth it if non-Quincy residents were charged a certain amount to drop off their compost materials.

"My biggest fear, if we don't have a compost facility, we're going to find it along the road or in the alleys," the mayor said.

Salda-a agreed. Garbage may begin turning up in back yards and vacant lots, he said.

Council did not make a decision on the issue.

Councilmembers Scott Lybbert and Jim Hemberry were absent from the meeting.