The Marion County Board of Commissioners will meet to consider another contract with Covanta, the garbage incinerator, for another three years. The current contract expires on Thursday. Covanta Marion, run by a New Jersey-based firm, burns Marion County’s garbage and imported medical waste, creating steam that generates electrical power that’s sold to Portland General Electric.
The new contract will see the county take a smaller role in the plant’s operations. If approved, the county will pay a set fee to dispose of garbage and won’t get money from the electricity generated at the facility. Under prior contracts, Marion County got a portion of the money from power generated at the plant, about $1.6 million last year, and had to pay to dispose of the ash, among other things.
Supporters say burning trash is better for the environment than using landfills. Opponents, however, say the air pollution, among other issues, does more harm than good.