Trash changes could cost Montgomery County residents more

The debate over what happens to your trash continuing in Montgomery County. Tonight, the council is weighing whether to shut down a 31-year-old incinerator or keep burning the county's garbage. Fox 5's Homa Bash, live in Rockville tonight to explain. Hi, Homa. Kenneth, good evening. Council met today to consider two opposing resolutions. One would keep that Dickerson incinerator open. The other would shut it down and find an alternative. Both come with costs. The decision is going to be made in just two weeks. And council members tell me they have a lot to consider because this decision is going to impact everybody in Montgomery County for decades. I don't see any harm in being patient and making sure you make the right decision. If at the end of the day, it is way too expensive to recover it and there's no difference in environment, then maybe it doesn't matter. But if there's difference in environment and difference in cost, it matters. All of our residents are going to be impacted, all the rate payers. even if you are in an apartment those costs will get passed down to renters so you know it's it's we're encouraging residents continue to put in your comments any additional questions you may have here's exactly what we're talking about the Dickerson incinerator is seen here by SkyFox drone which has been operating since 1995 it is in need of major upgrades cost estimates putting repairs at about $356 million. So now County Executive Mark Elrich wants to close it and train or truck the trash instead to landfills outside of Montgomery County while also developing new technology and advanced waste processing to sort out more recyclable materials. But there's a big debate here. Supporters who want to shut down Dickerson point to air pollution and environmental concerns. Those who want to keep it open are raising questions about the impacts of sending more trash to landfills. And obviously there is the conversation of cost. According to county projections, the annual trash charge for a single family home could increase by about $39 in 2030 annually if they keep and update the incinerator versus an increase of $55 by 2030 if they switch to alternative processing. So there is really no status quo option. We have a decision to make. We have to make some investment. It's either investing in that existing system with a major upgrade and a costly upgrade or moving to a new system. So council heard a lot of details today. They have two weeks now to make their decision. A vote is planned for November 10th. And again, they're encouraging residents to reach out, call or email your council member and let them know your thoughts because there is not a public hearing scheduled between now and that vote. Kenneth? All right.