To the editor:

At the January 13 meeting of the Tiverton Town Council, the impending closure of the landfill

was a topic of discussion. Councilor Edwards made several statements regarding the closure and plans for constructing a recycling center. His plan is to appeal to the DEM and to local members of the state legislature, of which his father is a member. 

His only supporting arguments for this course of action is his belief that there is more remaining capacity in the landfill then the DEM chooses to recognize, that there is no known water pollution, and that the town is unprepared. 

I find it hard to believe that he can be so out of touch with the situation. The town has known for quite some time that we would soon reach the mandated capacity and the end date for closure would be 30 November. For years we have been discussing this. A bag fee was imposed to help pay for the closure and for capping. 

Town government has consistently failed to take any further meaningful action to develop

a plan for the added expenses associated with sending trash to the central landfill in Johnston, and for building a recycling center. 

The sitting Town Council has just now started to make decisions about the siting of a recycling center and the mechanics of trash pickup for the near future. Our failure to have a plan, and adequate funding, is the towns fault alone and it is time for the Town Council to develop and implement a comprehensive plan for dealing with this and not to enter into an ill advised attempt to delay the inevitable. The clock is ticking and failure to act will only make things worse.

Jay Edwards

Member of the Tiverton Budget Committee