Community Corner
Done Deal; Approval Will Bring New Life to the Old Landfill
The Southington Town Council has approved a lease agreement and members of the Board of Finance are expected to give the go ahead bringing a new purpose – and new business – to the landfill along DePaolo Drive.
There’s new life coming to the DePaolo Drive landfill, both literally and figuratively, as Supreme Forest Products prepares to set up shop at the site of the former landfill.
The town this week reached an agreement with Supreme Industries to provide use of the landfill in exchange for services rendered and Southington Town Attorney Mark Sciota said the plan will provide cost savings and tax income for the community.
“The lease calls for company take over the property and liability and it requires that they also take the leaves from the northwest section in town,” Sciota said Monday. “It will relieve families from paying about $32,000 per year.”
At a public hearing this week. Southington resident and Supreme Industries Vice-President Mark Vigneault said it’s been a year since the company first presented their plan and he is looking forward to seeing the process come to a completion.
With town approval, the last step is for the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection to provide a final approval and the business will be able to get up and running.
“We are happy to have this opportunity,” Vigneault said. “This allows us to use area for mulch and building construction that will bring 15 jobs. With the total long-term investment, it is a plan north of $10 million.”
If not for Supreme Forest Products, Southington Economic Development Director Louis Perillo III said the land would remain vacant and unused. As a former landfill, he noted, there are few other uses for the site and none quite as fitting as a forest waste product to mulch operation that includes no toxic chemicals and creates virtually no emissions.
Under the terms of the lease, the company would be responsible for all costs to maintain the capped landfill and would be banned from using any hazardous waste materials. In exchange for the property, they would also be responsible for any personal property and equipment taxes associated with operating the business.
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