Essex Approves Waste Contract, Balks at $1.1 Million Tennis Court Estimate

ESSEX — October 6, 2025 — Essex Select Board approves five-year trash disposal contract with ReWorld, reacts to $1.1 million tennis court cost estimate. The board voted unanimously October 6 to extend the town's solid waste disposal agreement with ReWorld — formerly Covanta — for five years at the same CPI-W escalator terms as the expiring three-year pact, with the deal subject to appropriation at a future town meeting. Town Administrator Brendan Egan said he persuaded the company to drop an initial proposal for a more volatile price index and noted geographic options are limited to facilities in Saugus and Haverhill. Separately, Egan presented a preliminary estimate from engineering firm Weston and Sampson showing that a Memorial Park tennis court renovation could exceed $1.1 million — driven by post-tension concrete slabs, elevated fill, receiver-tube fencing, road relocation, and drainage work needed to avoid disturbing potentially contaminated subsurface soil. "From $150,000 to $1.1 million — I did fall off my chair when I read that," Egan said. The board also appointed Sam Mercia to the Conservation Commission for a three-year term and reviewed a state campaign finance finding that the Manchester Essex Regional School District superintendent used public funds to influence the May 2025 town election, with the financial value of the violation assessed at roughly $300.