Provisions, Fees Approved for Trash Conversion Plant

By a 5-0 vote, a San Diego City Council committee Wednesday approved contract provisions and a fee schedule for the city’s new trash-to-energy project.

The plant is to be run by Signal Resco, a division of the Signal Cos. Inc. of La Jolla. It is expected to dispose of at least 657,000 tons of garbage a year and produce 60 megawatts of electricity, enough to supply electricity for 60,000 homes.

City officials also expect to realize $1.9 million a year from disposal fees of $12.80 per ton when the plant starts operating in 1988, the City Council Public Services and Safety Committee agreed Wednesday. Signal Rescoe is to seek $300 million in state bonds to finance construction.

San Diego city and county officials have been studying the need for such a plant since 1977, when it became clear that local landfills, including San Diego’s Miramar Landfill, were nearing their capacity.

Councilman Ed Struiksma noted that the plant, with its tall smokestack, will be in his district, and he urged its developers to work carefully with his constituents during upcoming environmental reviews.

“I think you’ve touched base with everybody but me,” Struiksma said, as he also moved for approval. The plant must still be approved by the full City Council.