The Partnership

The advantages of a public/private partnership are many. In particular, the private sector can act more quickly, and implement innovation more easily while achieving the public goal.

"Not only are we environmentally compliant now,"
said Nantucket Selectman Tim Soverino,
"but the manner in which we have chosen to handle our solid waste, to the best of our knowledge, has not been done anywhere in the world. Waste products on Nantucket will either be composted, recycled, or landfilled in our lined state-of-the-art landfill. In addition, waste in the existing landfill will be run through the same process, so, instead of just forgetting our past, we will clean that up as well."

Bedminsters' success on Nantucket has been a result not only of its partnership with the Town, but also of its ability to partner with other private sector corporations. To build the Nantucket composting facility, Bedminster enlisted the building engineering expertise of Boston-based construction engineering firm Stone & Webster, the permitting knowledge of SECOR and the financial muscle of KeyBank in Portland, Maine. The cumulative resources of these companies allow Bedminster to be a small business with the experience and capital of a giant.

"We were delighted to participate as the senior lender in this project,"
KeyBank's Noel Graydon said.
"Not only because we've gained a tremendous new partner in Bedminster, but also because we have contributed to a project that benefits the Nantucket community, and the overall effort to protect the environment."

Alan Benevides, the project leader for SECOR, agrees. He has helped permit over 25 landfill projects in Massachusetts, and he has called Nantucket's the finest facility in the Commonwealth.