PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • March 29, 2023
The recent comments of Casella Waste Systems’ CEO displayed an ironic mastery of half-truths (“Managing municipal biosolids is a complex issue that requires collaboration,” March 23). The company failed its own headline advice when it abruptly halted acceptance of wastewater sludge. This $1 billion waste corporation operates the state-owned landfill in Maine. Its suddenly manufactured crisis stressed out municipal leaders. We agree with Casella that the state should help municipalities deploy available technologies to dewater sludge to reduce by half the volume requiring landfilling. But a rollback of state law to allow the company to import construction waste from Massachusetts should stay off the table. Other wastes are available to bulk up sludge disposal. ~ Michael Belliveau, Defend Our Health, Portland