Resident warns of rising biosolids disposal costs, questions city permits and timeline for incinerator repairs

A West Haven resident and frequent commenter raised concerns about the city’s wastewater biosolids handling and the long‑term status of the incinerator at the municipal treatment plant.

Rich Shebert told the council that a CDM Smith study evaluated options for handling dewatered sludge and concluded that upgrading the existing incineration system offered the lowest capital and operating cost compared with alternatives such as anaerobic digestion or drying/gasification. Shebert said the city produces roughly 1,900 dry tons of dewatered sludge annually and that the incinerator has been out of service since February 2017; since then the city ships biosolids to an outside contractor.

Shebert said disposal costs have risen from roughly $670,000 per year (circa 2019) to more than $1.1 million and suggested the cumulative taxpayer costs during the shutdown run into the millions. He asked whether the city had applied for required state air permits and what the timeline and cost estimates are for repairing or replacing the incinerator. “Before you can put your shovel in the ground you have to have the permits,” Shebert said, and he urged the city to clarify permitting status and project plans.

Council members and city staff acknowledged the need for clarification; Shebert’s remarks prompted committee members to ask for an update on permitting, disposal contracts and options for capital funding. The council did not take formal action during the meeting but listed biosolids and incinerator status as an outstanding operational question for staff to address.