CLINTON TOWNSHIP, NJ (Hunterdon County) – The Hunterdon County Commissioners Tuesday unanimously awarded the sale of the County Transfer Station on Petticoat Lane in the Clinton Township, to Waste Management of New Jersey, Inc. for $3.7 million.
Commissioner Jeff Kuhl said, “When we say our goal is to run the county in a business-like fashion; there can be no better example than the sale of the transfer station. The action will relieve the county of significant capital costs and gain a $3.7 million payment into the county’s coffers, all to the benefit of the taxpayers.”
On May 9, the County Purchasing Agent Ray Rule opened sealed bids and after the necessary due diligence, noted that Waste Management of New Jersey had submitted the highest bid in the amount of $3,700,000. While several entities expressed interest, Waste Management, who currently operates the County Transfer Station, was the only bidder.
Based upon public feedback received at a public hearing held in Clinton Township on June 6, 2023, and Flemington on June 27, 2023, the Commissioner Board added conditions to the bid including:
- Clinton Township will continue to receive a $1.40 per ton host community benefit.
- The Saturday residential bulk waste drop off, at a cost of $22 per car, will continue.
- Tonnage rate to private haulers will be frozen for two years.
- The purchaser is also obligated to continue to operate a transfer station at the site for at least 10 years.
“There were some who believed a solution should be the creation of a new government bureaucracy to operate the transfer station, an independent authority with the ability to go into debt putting the taxpayers on the hook for any shortfalls. This Board has chosen a better, more successful path and the resolution before us tonight sets in motion a major win for Hunterdon County taxpayers,” Commissioner John Lanza said.
The county will be moving forward with executing an Agreement of Sale and entering into a service agreement with Waste Management. The county and Waste Management will also be working together to finalize any additional NJDEP permits and licensing requirements which are anticipated to be completed by the end of the year.
