Mayor On State-Local Trash Talk: It's 'Manchester First'

MANCHESTER, CT — Saying no to burying excess trash the state can't handle at Manchester's landfill is a matter of putting the town first, Mayor Jay Moran said this week.

The state recently reached out to Manchester officials to ask for help with trash that has built up since Nov. 5, when two power plants in Hartford fueled by burning trash went offline, Moran said. He said the state asked for help for up to six weeks.

He said the state is specifically looking for help with "bundles of garbage that have been removed from recycling," and gave shirts and chair arms as examples.

"Although we are being told there is no odor to the bundles, I — and the Board of Directors — feel we need to deal with and solve our own landfill problems and not take on the state’s difficult situation," Moran said. "We are good neighbors regionally helping out in many ways, but we feel, at this point in time, we should take care of Manchester first."

The landfill is located at 311 Olcott St.

Town officials are already dealing with construction delays with a project designed to alleviate odors there.

In March, work on an all-encompassing landfill gas collection system began. The system is made up of 42 new gas collection wells, some drilled more than 100 feet down, municipal officials said.

They are tied into piping that loops around the entire 66 acres of the landfill and they will lead to one central stack designed to burn off the gases, he said. There will be no visible flames, officials said.

Completion was initially targed for June, but the work is still taking place, officials said.

Photo Credit: Google Maps

To sign up for Manchester breaking news and more, click here.