On May 23, Cushing voted to stay with the MRC (Municipal Review Committee), the nonprofit that 187 Maine communities established to look after their interests with PERC (Penobscot Energy Recovery Corporation). The Cushing vote also served to accept Fiberight as MRC's recommended option to replace PERC after 2018.

On June 14, Waldoboro, Friendship and other Lincoln County towns will vote on whether to keep MRC as their advocate and to adopt the MRC/Fiberight option. I urge everyone to vote in favor of MRC/Fiberight.

The MRC's proposal of Fiberight to replace PERC makes economic sense. Other options are extended contracts with PERC and, possibly, EcoMaine—both without MRC advocacy or oversight.

With MRC/Fiberight, transport and tipping fees will be $6.40 to $19.66 per ton less than they would be with EcoMaine or PERC, respectively. Over time, the differences matter a lot. Waldoboro paid to transport and tip about 2500 tons of trash in 2015. Assuming the volume stays the same going forward, MRC/Fiberight will produce a cost reduction over EcoMaine and PERC of $16,000 to $49,150 per year. Over 15-years, those annual reductions aggregate rapidly to $240,000 or $737,250. Let's not throw our money away.

With the MRC's proposal of Fiberight, joining towns have a shot at future rebates and revenue sharing. Not so with post-2018 PERC or EcoMaine.

With MRC's advocacy, member towns continue to benefit from MRC's oversight of any trash disposal arrangement MRC members may adopt. That's a significant advantage over dealing directly with PERC or Eco-Maine, given MRC's technical and legal expertise.

On the Waldoboro warrant, the article is Number 34. Please vote YES.

Bob Butler, Waldoboro
Monika Magee, Cushing
John Meyn, Friendship