After months of debate the North Central Solid Waste Authority voted May 21 to purchase a new green waste burner.
   The Authority General Manager Peter Fuller said the current air curtain burner was likely not burning hot enough to consistently reach emissions standards and was concerned that if the burner broke during the summer, when most green-waste is generated, there could be major issues without a more efficient disposal method.
   Fuller said he still preferred using a woodchipper for handled green waste because of the lower costs of removing the waste after its processed.
   As previously reported in the Rio Grande SUN the Authority spends around $50,000 a year removing ash generated by the burner in Ohkay Owingeh.
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The ban would need to be approved by the Las Cruces City Council through an ordinance.
Elements of a draft ordinance exist, and the proposed measure would affect places such as gas stations, grocery stores, department stores, home goods stores, hardware stores and pharmacies. The only proposed exceptions so far are food banks, restaurants and take-out food establishments.
The city is concerned microplastics bioaccumulate through animal food chains and eventually end up in people s bodies. Councilors expressed concern bags litter nature parks and city streets and a ban would reduce waste in landfills.
The city convened a committee, which included the city s Keep Las Cruces Beautiful group, the South Central Solid Waste Authority, local chambers of commerce, local retailers, Las Cruces Public Schools, the New Mexico Restaurant Association and others, in 2019 to draft the potential ordinance.
Editor:
   Regarding the choice North Central Solid Waste Authority officials are making between burning the organic waste and chipping it seems to be extremely straightforward. The New Mexico air standards are there to benefit every person.
   Either we return the nourishment from the earth to the earth, helping to reduce the impacts of climate change. To benefit the entire region for the future. Or we burn it, foul the air, aggravate asthma and other diseases of childhood and age, and contribute to the degradation of our climate.
   Because I care about the future, I know which one I would choose.
Editor:
   It has come to my attention that North Central Solid Waste Authority is debating whether to purchase a replacement incinerator or a industrial chipper to dispose of âgreenâ solid waste, such as branches, leaves, clippings and similar materials.
   It has long been the local practice to burn these materials resulting in ash which is unsafe to place in an unlined landfill.
   However, a chipper could be used to create a large amount of mulch. This mulch could be offered to the community, based on availability, for free or nominal fee.
   Our neighbor to the south (Santa Fe) does just this. The mulch can easily be used to promote water absorption/retention in our gardens, fertilize the soil, and save on irrigation usage.