Additional Debris Clean Up Funding Approved by Town Council

The Town Council unanimously approved further funding to complete post Storm Alfred clean up.  For several weeks, contractors have been collecting branches off of Windsor streets and taking them to two processing sites in town, one on Bloomfield Avenue and the Windsor landfill.

"We are essentially complete with the debris cleanup around town," said Town Manager Peter Souza. "The spot clean up should not last more than a week and a half.”

To date 53,000 yards of debris have been collected not including the debris which has been driven to the landfill by residents and business owners.

“Our next step is to bid out the grinding and processing work," said Souza, who added that this may cost somewhere upwards of $1 million but the total cost will not be known until the final collection of debris has been made. The grinding and processing work will make the material potentially useful to both the Town of Windsor as well as others companies.

What we will do with all the material is what Souza calls that "the hundred thousand dollar question."

"Connecticut law does not allow this material to be landfilled," said Souza.  "But there are a variety of uses," he added saying it could be turned into fiberboard.  "With the large quantities across the state, it is a little bit unknown what the end use will be." 

In order for the material to be used as mulch, it will have to go through the grinding process twice, adding to the cost.

"We are anticipating 75 percent reimbursement from the Federal Emergency Management Agency for eligible costs," added Souza. "[We won't know the details] until we get into that paperwork; some of the costs we have incurred may not be eligible." 

The Town Council voted unanimously to approve the funding.