By Jonathan L'Ecuyer
ROCKPORT — A mixture of various decaying organic substances will be sold to the highest bidder at a live auction this morning at the town's transfer station.
The Department of Public Works will attempt to sell the town's excess compost today at 10 a.m.
Auctioneer and Public Works director Joe Parisi said 600 cubic yards (about 150 tons) of compost produced at the transfer station this year is available to the highest bidding landscaper or contractor who attends.
"Rockport is able to produce a pretty good amount of compost each year," Parisi said yesterday. "We sift it and create a pretty good product for people's gardens and other uses around the yard."
Normally, only residents are able to take small amounts of compost from the transfer station, but with demand dropping as winter approaches and the promise the compost supply will be replenished next year, officials decided it would be best to sell the fertilizer to a commercial business and generate some additional revenue for the town rather than let it go to waste.
The revenue generated by this morning's sale will go into Rockport's general fund. Parisi said a minimum bid would be set prior to the auction but that officials had not determined the price as of yesterday afternoon.
Parisi said the town is looking to unload the compost in one bulk sale because the department doesn't have the tools needed to determine precise quantities.
The Department of Public Works sold a truck recently retired from its fleet just yesterday morning, netting the town another $10,000.
Jonathan L'Ecuyer can be reached at 978-283-7000 x 3451 or jlecuyer@gloucestertimes.com.
