WCAX.COM Local Vermont News, Weather and Sports-Plattsburgh Could Reopen Stinky Compost Plant

Plattsburgh Could Reopen Stinky Compost Plant

Plattsburgh, New York - January 3, 2008

A few years ago, the city of Plattsburgh, New York shut down its compost plant because of complaints of strong odors from the residents. Now the city council will be looking into the possibility of correcting the problem and reopening the facility again.

The odor got so bad a few years ago, that the city just shut the compost plant down and locked the gate. It had been processing sludge from the water treatment plant. Numerous attempts to get rid of the smell failed.

Since it's been closed, the waste sludge from the water treatment plant has been hauled to other compost facilities far from Plattsburgh.

Now, Mayor Donald Kasprzak, R-Plattsburgh, says that they will be looking into making the plant operational once again since that would be cheaper than trucking the waste out of town. But there's a condition: no smell.

"I would never open up the plant again with the intent of recreating that situation. It would not be fair to the residents. So whatever we do in the future, it will have to benefit the taxpayers and the people in the area," said Kasprzak.

Although Clinton County owns the plant, the city had the contract to run it. To resume operations, the city would have to seek federal and state government grants.

But residents don't want to live again with the strong odor the plant gave off.

"As a resident of Plattsburgh, I think we need a facility of that nature to get rid of the waste product. But if we could get rid of the smell I'd be fine with it," said Clem Jackson.

The future of the compost plant will be one of the priority needs that will be looked into this year. The mayor said that he believes that the technology is finally here to fix the troubled plant. So with that in mind, 2008 could be the year that the air is cleared here.

Jack LaDuke - WCAX News