Freeport officially kills plans for incinerator near Merrick border

Village of Freeport Mayor Andrew Hardwick announced this week that his administration is no longer considering plans to construct a $550 million waste-to-energy incinerator in the village, near the Merrick border.

On the Freeport Village website, Hardwick wrote, "When I was sworn into office in April 2009, I pledged to represent the residents of the Village of Freeport. Over the past few months, the residents have told me that they do not want a waste-to-energy facility within the Village of Freeport. While I looked at various technologies, the residents have spoken in a united voice, and I understand, respect and have, and will continue, to honor their concerns.

"No matter what is posted and said online," the mayor continued, "I am confirming that there will be no waste-to-energy facility in the Village of Freeport."

Hardwick had been in talks since December with ZhongDe Waste Technology AG, a Chinese firm, about potentially constructing the waste-to-energy incinerator on the docks behind BJs. The facility would have generated electricity by burning garbage. In a video, likely made in April, Hardwick discussed plans with New York State Assemblywoman Earlene Hooper, who represents south Merrick, to haul garbage in on barges through the canals that surround Freeport. Ash from the incinerator, he said, could have been used to make concrete.

Among the opponents of the incinerator plan were Town of Hempstead Supervisor Kate Murray and Councilwoman Angie Cullin, a Freeport resident. Murray said she received 4,500 petitions opposing the incinerator.

In a letter to residents this week, the supervisor wrote that the town does not "oppose waste-to-energy plants in principal. Indeed, a previous town administration negotiated for the placement of a centrally located facility adjacent to several major roadways within our township [in Westbury]. However, we feel that siting a plant along our ecologically sensitive waterfront [would be] the wrong choice for the environment and for neighbors."

A number of local groups also opposed the incinerator, including the North Merrick Civic Association, the Merrick Gables Civic Association and the Levy-Lakeside Elementary School PTA. Hundreds of residents attended two protests at Freeport Village Hall in April, when plans for the incinerator first came to light.

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