The federal Environmental Protection Agency recently revoked a key, decades-old scientific finding that greenhouse gases pose a threat to public health. The finding that greenhouse gases pose a risk to the health of human beings was made in 2009 and, for the past 17 years, has been the bedrock on which the U.S. has built its fight against climate change.
This, coupled with the decision from the Trump administration to make oil drilling available in previously protected Alaskan Arctic lands, has made it apparent that we in Maine are now on our own if we wish to preserve the natural beauty and clean air and water of our state. If we are going to ensure that the Maine we know is preserved for the next generation, we in the Legislature must make the necessary investments to curb environmental threats we are facing right now.
While Maine has done well in investing in renewable energy projects that curb carbon emissions, another problem has been building for some time that is jeopardizing the quality of our natural resources. Maine is currently facing a major crisis regarding the amount of solid and liquid waste being produced in our state.
To prepare for the current legislative session, I and most of my fellow members from the Committee on Environment and Natural Resources visited Juniper Ridge Landfill in Old Town, the only state-owned waste-processing facility in Maine. This facility is filling up, and fast. Wastewater sludge, commonly referred to as biosolids, is one of the main reasons for this.
PFAS-infused biosolids are the main byproduct of the wastewater treatment process. Thankfully, it is no longer legal to spread these contaminated products on our farmlands, but Juniper Ridge is now responsible for handling nearly 90% of all biosolids in Maine. A 2024 report conducted by the Maine Department of Environmental Protection concluded that the amount of waste being sent there will exceed current facility capacity within the next two years, meaning the landfill will need to be expanded or other solutions will need to be found. I worry that if we were to expand Juniper Ridge, it would be expensive, time-consuming and counterproductive to our goal of protecting Maine’s land and waters.
One straightforward solution that would slow the need for expansion is investing in a sludge dryer. Sludge dryers are machines that dehydrate wastewater and biosolids, vastly reducing the actual volume of the material. These dryers have been proven to make waste management cheaper and waste storage a much easier endeavor — some models are even able to eliminate PFAS from the solids. Additionally, dried sludge is much easier to transport, should the waste need to be moved. Finally, and perhaps most importantly, because the biosolids are dehydrated, sludge dryers are one of the best methods to prevent wastewater runoff from leaking into and contaminating the surrounding landscape. With the situation rapidly approaching a major capacity issue, I proposed legislation at the beginning of this session to provide funding to Juniper Ridge for a sludge dryer. While that proposal unfortunately did not move forward, there is a bond issue still being considered that, if it were to pass, would help fund wastewater management efforts.
I will continue to advocate for and introduce legislation that will allow for the better management of Maine’s waste so we can protect the lands and waters that we call home. To stay up to date with these efforts, you can subscribe to my regular e-newsletter at mainesenate.org. If you ever have any concerns that you would like to see addressed or opinions you would like to share, please do not hesitate to contact me. You can email me at [email protected], or you can call my office at (207) 287-1515. I look forward to hearing from you.
Sen. Denise Tepler represents Maine Senate District 24, which includes all of Sagadahoc County, plus Dresden in Lincoln County.