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City seeks short extension on biosolids disposal contract amid limited options
Summary
The city’s biosolids disposal contract with Casella Organics expires Oct. 1; staff said they expect a 30-day extension while they negotiate and evaluate Waste Management’s planned drying facility in Norridgewock, which could come online no earlier than the end of 2025.
Amanda Smith, the city’s director of water quality, told the Infrastructure Committee the city’s biosolids disposal contract with Casella Organics is slated to expire Oct. 1 and staff expect to receive a 30‑day extension while negotiations continue.
"Our biosolids disposal contract currently with Casella Organics is going to expire on October 1," Smith said. She said Maine’s recent LD 1911 legislation prohibited land application of certain biosolids, requiring landfill disposal for Bangor’s biosolids because of measured PFAS levels. That change sharply reduced available disposal options in the state.
Smith reported ongoing talks with Waste Management, which operates the Norridgewock landfill; Waste Management is planning a drying facility that would ease landfill disposal of biosolids and has indicated it may add PFAS treatment at the landfill in the future, but Smith said the company does not expect that drying facility online until at the earliest the end of 2025. Transport to Norridgewock would likely incur significant additional charges not included in Waste Management’s base price proposals, Smith said. For now, Smith said the city will continue negotiating with Casella while staff pursue alternative disposal capacity.
Smith said she expects to return to the Infrastructure Committee with the recommended contract documents for committee and council consideration once negotiations are sufficiently advanced.
