Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Solid Waste topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Municipal Waste Hub outlines Hampden hub-and-spoke plan, says permit bars out-of-state waste
Summary
Michael Carroll, executive director of Municipal Waste Hub, told the Bucksport council the organization has rebranded, reopened the Hampden plant as a transfer station and is ramping operations toward mid‑April; he said the facility’s permit does not allow out‑of‑state waste and described a hub‑and‑spoke model for member towns.
Michael Carroll, executive director of Municipal Waste Hub, told the Bucksport Town Council that the group — formerly the Municipal Review Committee — has rebranded and is moving the Hampden processing facility toward full operations.
Carroll said Municipal Waste Hub purchased the Coastal Resources of Maine facility from bondholders in 2023, partnered with Innovative Resource Recovery (which holds 90% ownership) and reopened Hampden as a transfer station last April. He described a plan to expand front‑end material recovery (a MRF), ramp up optical sorting and add anaerobic digestion capacity to convert organics and pulp fiber into pipeline natural gas. “We are on track to achieve full operations on the front end of the facility,” Carroll said.
Carroll outlined a hub‑and‑spoke network in which strategically located member transfer stations would act as regional spokes delivering waste and recyclables to the Hampden hub. He said the model will let the organization consolidate truckloads, handle construction and demolition debris, tires, bulky items, and improve recycling capture. Innovative has deployed what Carroll described as “over 20 million” in capital and added a transportation fleet to connect spokes to the hub.
On questions from councilors and members of the public, Carroll said the facility’s permit prohibits accepting out‑of‑state municipal solid waste: “We’re not allowed to take any. Permit does not allow it.” He characterized Municipal Waste Hub’s role as serving member municipalities and said Bucksport’s waste is contracted to the Hub through existing agreements. Carroll also confirmed that certain residuals must go to Crossroads under a separate contract.
Carroll gave a tentative schedule for equipment testing and ramp‑up: dry runs planned within days of his presentation and goal throughput in the range of 300–400 tons per day. He said full commercial MRF operations were expected by mid‑April and that a larger anaerobic digestion phase would come online later (projected end of 2026 into early 2027).
Carroll noted Municipal Waste Hub’s acquisition last year of the former Jay mill site (rebranded JAYCO) to serve as a spoke location and to provide a disposal site for construction and demolition debris; he said the site came with closure funds and that the Hub will not accept out‑of‑state waste. He also described a scholarship program for member communities and outreach materials aimed at improving source separation.
The presentation concluded with audience questions about technology provenance, the resumption of electricity generation at the Orrington/PERC site, and logistics for Bucksport waste. Carroll said Innovative limited technology risk by partnering with proven operators, and he repeatedly emphasized member oversight through a retained 10% ownership stake that he said gives Municipal Waste Hub representation on the MWS board.
