By JIMMY LAWTON

OGDENSBURG – Ogdensburg has a three-year contract to dispose of the city’s sludge.

The disposal will cost the city $88.99 per ton. The city currently pays tipping fees of $70 per ton for disposal, but Department of Public Works Director Scott Thornhill says the cost to the city is closer to $104 per ton when you consider the manpower, fuel and other hidden costs.

Thornhill says Casella is also hauling the sludge to Chateauguay, where it is refined and used for fertilizer for farmers. He said the environmental benefit of this method is also a plus.

Thornhill said the DPW would gain 9 to 12 hours that could be spent on other areas, such as vehicle maintenance, which would improve efficiency in his department.

In a memo to the city council Thornhill explained the plan.

“The primary goal of going with Casella to manage our sludge is to free up some time for our Waste Water Treatment Staff. We are trying to better prioritize the tasks and repair work they are performing so that we can keep moving the plant forward. We have been supplementing the workforce with assistance from the DPW, which is keeping them from completing necessary tasks and is not sustainable. Secondary benefits of going with Casella is that our sludge will be recycled and reused, which is looked upon favorably by the DEC and EPA, and the financial impact is neutral.”

City council passed the measure at a Monday meeting.