Finance committee approves nearly $3.9M biosolids contract as PFAS rules tighten land‑application

The Nashua Finance Committee approved a three‑year contract with Waste Management of New Hampshire on June 17 to manage biosolids produced at the city’s wastewater treatment facility, in a contract not to exceed $3,894,445.

Wastewater Superintendent Dave Boucher told the committee the plant produces "about 8,500 wet tons per year." He said regulatory pressure related to PFAS has reduced opportunities to land‑apply biosolids on farmland, pushing vendors to landfill treated solids and increasing disposal costs. "This company actually owns landfills, so our product would now be going to a landfill," Boucher said, adding that the vendor will handle permitting and other regulatory tasks once the material leaves the facility.

Boucher explained the city solicited bids and that the selected firm was the low bidder. Committee members asked whether the vendor was the same as prior contractors and how costs compare; Boucher said the previous vendor was Resource Management, and that rising regulatory and disposal costs explain most of the change from the prior contract.

The committee approved the motion by roll call. The contract is structured as an operational services agreement; implementation steps include vendor coordination on permitting and disposal. The committee did not record substantive public comment on the item during the meeting.

Next steps: staff will complete contracting and manage implementation; potential long‑term changes in biosolids handling tied to PFAS rules may require future committee review.