City moves to privatize sludge treatment operations
Source: By MARK McDONALD, Philadelphia News (PA), Mon, Feb. 27, 2006
Responding to changes in technology and warnings that the city is violating its own air-quality laws, the Street administration is proposing to privatize the water department's biosolids recycling center in southwest Philadelphia. If Street convinces City Council to approve the contracts, the privatization will be the city's first major outsourcing in a decade. The city wants to sign a long-term agreement with Synagro, a Houston-based company that operates in 23 states, to build a $66 million plant on the city's current biosolids operation on Penrose Avenue near the airport. For the roughly 100 city employees who treat and compost the sludge into a dry substance that is either landfilled or turned into a compost known as "EarthMate," the city will offer jobs elsewhere in the government. Or, they can apply for jobs with the company. ...... But Herman "Pete" Matthews, president of AFSCME District Council 33, said he will ask City Council to hold the proposed contracts until the union can mount its own counter-offer. The bills were introduced Feb. 16 by Majority Leader Jannie Blackwell on behalf of the administration.