By Natalie De La Garza
Staff Writer
FORT FAIRFIELD — A tangible impact of Maine’s recent efforts to pay down old debts can be felt at the Tri-Community Landfill in Fort Fairfield, as the entity received its second reimbursement check last month.
Approximately five years ago, Tri-Community Landfill did some major projects to clean up the old part of the landfill, which was built in the 1970s. According to director of the Tri-Community Landfill, Mark Draper, the older part of the landfill was presenting some environmental problems. It had been closed and capped in the mid 1990s, but its 1970s design did not include the safety and security aspects like newer portions of the landfill have.
Between 2008 and 2011, Tri-Community undertook some large projects to clean up the old landfill, like installing a gas extraction system which greatly reduces greenhouse emissions and prevents landfill gas, which is primarily methane, from migrating underground. A plastic cover was also installed on the landfill, which previously had been only covered by soil.
“Those two projects, under State law, qualify for 90 percent cost sharing from the State,” Draper explained.
By the time the two clean-up projects in the older part of the landfill were completed, the State owed Tri-Community about $2 million — but the resources to pay the debt weren’t available.
“We had to do the projects, and we completed the projects knowing the State didn’t have the money to reimburse us,” Draper added, outlining three major accomplishments those projects brought about.
Adding an impermeable liner improved groundwater quality at the site, while the gas extraction eliminated or reduced the risk of landfill gas from migrating underground and reduced greenhouse gases.
“It was important that we completed those projects, and we did. Now, it’s a matter of the State starting to pay that debt for the costs we covered,” Draper explained. “If the State starts reimbursing us, that helps our costs and hopefully we can hold our tipping fees stable.”
From 2013-14, for example, Tri-Community received its first reimbursement check from the State and therefore did not have to increase their tipping fees.
Reimbursements are currently being funded by a $2 per ton fee on construction and demolition debris — the only waste stream formerly exempt from any handling fee. That fee, which the Maine Department of Environmental Protection led to have enacted in the 125th Legislature, went into effect on Jan.1, 2013.
The reimbursement Tri-Community received in August was for $83,583; Tri-Community is still owed $1,526,923 and, statewide, the recent round of reimbursements paid $401,678 of DEP’s $5,183,803 debt.
“Obviously the amount that’s owed (statewide) far exceeds the amount that the State is taking in, but at least it’s a mechanism that they’re beginning to make payments on their debt,” Draper said.
“Governor LePage and I know that what’s right for the environment is right for the economy,” said DEP Commissioner Patricia Aho. “I’m pleased that the program’s popularity has spread and that towns recognize the economic benefit of protecting the environment. If other communities would like to take part in this program, the department stands ready to offer assistance.”
