Town: Carlson Associates Plans for Recycling Plant "Has Merit"

A Kings Park industrial company's proposal to build an indoor recycling facility instead of an asphalt plant is gaining attention from Smithtown Town officials. 

Councilman Ed Wehrheim asked Smithtown Planning Director Frank DeRubeis if he would consider taking a look at Carlson Associates' proposal to build a state-of-the-art organic processing facility instead of an asphalt plant and trucking station on Old Northport Road, as per plans submitted Aug. 28, at Tuesday morning's town board work session.

"We think this has merit in terms of looking at it. We’re not saying you should approve it, but we think it has merit," DeRubeis said. 

Carlson Associates sent the town a letter dated Aug. 6 stating it would prefer to build an indoor organic yard waste processing facility instead of an asphalt plant and cited its merits. 

"My concept for this type of alternative at our site would be to move the majority of our organic waste processing indoors, which will control dust, noise and odors with filtration," reads the Aug. 6 letter. "It would be one of the next-generation recycling facilities with the latest and best-use technologies." 

The problem with Carlson Associates' alternative is it would require Smithtown officials to amend town code, as the town eliminated the operation of recycling facilities from all town codes in 2003 except for automotive and scrap metal, according to DeRubeis. 

"If we go into this particular area, we would have to do a full environmental impact study. There's no getting around it, this is a  huge shift in town policy," DeRubeis said. 

Toby Carlson, of Carlson Associates, urged the town board to consider the proposal for the organics processing facility and "craft a suitable set of guidelines for such facilities that will protect the community and the environment" in a letter dated Aug. 29. Carlson said he hoped the town would begin taking steps at its Sept. 10 board meeting. 

Councilman Kevin Malloy said he would be in favor of further considering the recycling facility. 

DeRubeis said it would take the Planning Department's staff approximately 2 months to review the concept as Carlson Associates has offered three different possible approaches to the facility, ranging from fully enclosed to partially enclosed and varying uses. 

"We are looking at this trying to devise something with minimal outdoor impact,  so we want to know what is the process for all of three," DeRubeis said. 

He pointed out Town of Islip has a similar indoor facility that Smithtown planners and elected officials should look at as a possible example. 

However, Councilman Thomas McCarthy cautioned others about considering Carlson Associate's alternative plan for an indoor recycling facility without taking into account their other applications, including a pending change of zone request. 

What do you think, is an asphalt plant or indoor organic waste processing facility better suited to the area? 

Tell us in the comments below.