Ansonia, Milford to share recycling equipment

Mayors join forces to save money 

Ansonia Mayor David S. Cassetti, left, and Milford Mayor Ben Blake pictured with an asphalt recycler. / Contributed photo

MILFORD -  Ansonia Mayor David S. Cassetti and Milford Mayor Ben Blake recently discussed a plan to share certain equipment belonging to the City of Milford that will result in savings for residents in both communities.

The meeting marked the beginning of a new relationship between the two municipalities. Ansonia's Superintendent of Public Works Doug Novak and Milford Public Works' Director Chris Saley have had several conversations regarding shared services over the course of the past several months.

The first initiative in this cost-saving endeavor will be the shared use of Milford's Bagela asphalt recycler. 
Nearly a decade ago, the City of Milford acquired this piece of machinery that uses waste asphalt or milled material and turns it into new "hot patch" asphalt, which can be used to fill potholes on local streets. 
Saley described the process as "extremely efficient," adding that recycling the used asphalt "significantly reduces transport and disposal costs."

The Connecticut Department of Transportation has acknowledged that this has been the worst pothole season that we have seen in generations. Both mayors see this as a serious problem and agreed that the shared use of the asphalt recycler would serve as an immediate solution to reducing costs for their respective communities in undertaking the daunting task of filling these potholes.  
Under the new agreement, Ansonia will deliver broken asphalt from its roads to Milford, which will process it into new asphalt and then sell it back to Ansonia at a rate of $50/ton - a savings of up to 50 percent. 
The machine itself generates approximately 10 tons of new asphalt per hour, producing an ample amount to supply both cities with the quantities needed to repair their respective streets.
The state of Connecticut is encouraging all municipalities to regionalize services and equipment wherever appropriate and has also offered other incentives and grants to encourage these activities.
"I am proud of Ansonia's and Milford's public works departments and in particular I want to thank Mayor Blake for his cooperation on this agreement. It is a win-win for both of our communities and it's nice to know we have a friend in Milford," Cassetti said.

"It has been a pleasure to work with my counterpart in Milford, and I am looking forward to a continued partnership," Novak said. "This simple solution will help both of us more forward. It's good for Ansonia and good for Milford."

Cassetti added, "The increasing shift of the local tax burden to homeowners is particularly problematic for Ansonia residents. We have a responsibility to our residents to look at any way possible to lower their tax bill. This will move us one step closer to lessening the tax burden."


This is a press release from Cassetti's office.