Misconceptions

Our project is a Transfer Station; everything that enters the fully enclosed building leaves the building. The facility is not a large composting facility, incinerator or landfill. Accordingly, it will not produce the impacts of such facilities.  Please notice the real facts and understand that any project that involves “waste” can bring about many unfounded fears.

1)       Your community will not be “dumped on.  Our project will predominantly service Holyoke and to some extent the immediate communities around the facility.  More distant communities are served by their own transfer stations and realistically, it does not make sense to think that out of the area trucks would travel past other transfer stations to come to Holyoke. The reality is that Holyoke's trash will still end up in somebody else’s community. This project is merely a method to consolidate loads so that the material can be transported economically and efficiently. Instead of having lots of smaller vehicles travel longer distances, material can be sent in larger rail cars and trucks.

2)       There will not be excessive traffic issues.  Our project will generate less than 200 vehicle trips per day on average. There are already over 14,000 vehicle trips per day on average in this area. This is very insignificant increase. The City of Holyoke does not even require a Site Plan Review until a project generates 700 vehicle trips per day. A different use could have more that three times the traffic and emissions without even triggering a Site Plan Review. The site is next to the old incinerator, just off the 391 exit on Main Street. Those that are not servicing Holyoke will be required to utilize the short stretch of road from the 391 Highway Exit (800 feet from the off-ramp to Berkshire Street, 160 feet from the on-ramp to Berkshire St).

3)       There will not be unacceptable pollution. The inbound material will be removed regularly (no decomposition, incinerating, or burning of material).  Everything that enters fully enclosed building leaves the building. Our project will produce approximately 10 gallons per day of discharge that results from the accepted material.  The discharge will be held in tight tank and tested before discharge. If the material is not acceptable for the Holyoke Waste Water Treatment Plant, we will truck it to an appropriate facility. One four bedroom home in Holyoke can produce 440 gallon per day of discharge. Industry experts realize that the detergents and other home products are harder to manage than the insignificant discharge at a transfer station. A different use could produce more than 1000 times the discharge with out the scrutiny that our industry provides. Generally, transfer stations do not have negative odor or emissions issues. To be certain that that such issues will not exist, state of the art control apparatuses will be installed at the facility.  We do not accept asbestos, hazardous materials or toxic wastes. We accept the same materials that are generated from the homes and dumpsters throughout the City.

4)       Our project will actually be good for the environment. The project will allow construction and other materials to be sent for processing and recycling. Load consolidations results in fewer trucks traveling longer distances to more remote disposal facilities. This project will actually reduce emissions, traffic, green house gas effects and will better conserve resources.

5)       The project is not inconsistent with the immediate vicinity. This is an appropriate use for the property as it is zoned specifically for solid waste facilities and has been previously Site Assigned as such. The property abuts the waste water facility, the compost drop off area and the old incinerator.  Every surrounding use is commercial or industrial. The nearest residential dwelling is approximately one quarter mile away.

6)       The project will not reduce property values in the area. The property is a vacant distressed lot that is not aesthetically pleasing, and does not provide any useful purpose to the City of Holyoke.  A new, landscaped facility will certainly look more pleasing than the current condition. There will not be piles of thrash and waste as some have envisioned. All of the operations (load consolidation) will take place in the enclosed building.  

7)     The public and City officials will not be cut out of the permitting process.  The proponent has a strong desire to communicate all aspects of the project. The State has developed a very well defined process that is open to the public and scrutinized by many State and Local regulators. The process provides for substantial public comment periods and public hearings. The proponent must adhere to specific public health, safety and environmental criteria that the Holyoke Board of Heath and various Massachusetts State agencies will review. Various local regulators will also oversee the construction aspects of the facility. All public safety, heath and environmental concerns must to be addressed in writing and at a public hearing. The MEPA review that has been completed is the very early stage of the process.  As stated in the MEPA filing, only 10% of the design was complete at the MEPA phase of the permitting. It is appropriate to communicate the project more publicly now that we have made more detailed submissions and have most of the pertinent information that everyone deserves.