BANGOR DAILY NEWS • March 4, 2023
Casella Waste Systems operates the state-owned Juniper Ridge Landfill in Old Town, which handles sludge from about 30 communities. The company said it must significantly reduce the amount of sludge it accepts because it didn’t have enough bulky waste to mix in with the more liquidy waste. The Maine Department of Environmental Protection has presented Casella with multiple solutions, including locating potentially large volumes of bulking material in Maine that would be needed to safely continue to landfill sludge. The current situation, with communities wondering if and when their sludge will be picked up, is untenable. With viable alternatives on the table, this problem can be alleviated in the short-term. Lawmakers, Casella, DEP, wastewater treatment facility operators and municipalities must quickly work together on predictable, reliable and cost effective ways to dispose of sludge for the longer term.