Islip and Brookhaven officials announced a plan for residents? trash Tuesday that they say will benefit both towns.

Islip officials say the town will soon begin transporting ash generated at its waste management center to Brookhaven's landfill instead of Hempstead?s. They say the deal will bring nearly $3 million a year to Brookhaven and save Islip money at the same time.

?Bottom line is we're doing this because it?s going to help the residents of our two towns,? Brookhaven Town Supervisor Brian Foley said Tuesday.

In the future, Foley and Islip Town Supervisor Phil Nolan say the towns hope to take the collaboration a step further by expanding Islip's power generating facility so it can also burn garbage shipped in from Brookhaven. Officials say that would help generate enough electricity to power an additional 18,000 homes.

Some civic leaders have their concerns though.

?All the taxpayers are strapped because of the cost of living,? Bohemia Civic Association President Anthony Perisco says. ?How much more are they going to be asking from us to have this facility up and running??

Town leaders will hold public hearings on the plan.