Gardner MA Landfill Expansion Update
Ivan Ussach, the MRWC Director stated in a Press Release that “alternatives to Gardner’s proposed sludge landfill expansion are looking better than ever.” Complete Press Release, CLICK HERE.
One of the alternatives suggested is the construction by the City of a Hydrothermal Carbonization facility which according to Ussach, the City could recoup the cost of investment in 5 -10 years, after which it would be profitable. Ussach once again stated that the City of Fitchburg is in the process of converting a treatment plant into a facility for processing biosolids and may be able to handle other communities’ sludge including that from Gardner.
Here is the information and the current proposed plan from the City of Gardner regarding the Sludge Landfill Expansion. View website
Mayor Nicholson responds: We spoke with Gardner Mayor Michael Nicholson about the issue and he stated, “We’re working with the Massachusetts Environmental Protection Agency…..we’re working right now to hire the consultant that the state requires us to use to statutorily and mandatorily respond to everything that Ivan, Allen Russo, Gardner Clean Air, all those people who submitted those comments…we are open to alternatives and have been from the start. It’s just we need to find alternatives that are fiscally sound and responsible as well. You look at places like Greenfield who are now giving up their efforts at looking into anaerobic digestion, just because it’s just simply not feasible with the cost….It’s just something, whatever alternatives are there, we give them a serious look only if we can actually afford it.”
Here is an article regarding Sewage Sludge Treatment which describes alternatives from around the world and the various processes. (Note that the City of Gardner had so far rejected other alternatives due to projected cost to ratepayers) See article re Sewage Sludge Treatment in general.