Sludge creates a stink in Gardner

Sludge creates a stink in Gardner

By George Barnes TELEGRAM & GAZETTE STAFF
george.barnes@telegram.com

GARDNER — That a stench often hangs in the air near the Gardner sludge landfill was not debated Monday night, but finding a solution is the challenge for city officials. 

Before any of the 18 people attending a Board of Health meeting Monday night spoke, Health Director Bernard Sullivan and Board Chairman Dr. Donald Miller both acknowledged the West Street landfill gives off unpleasant odors. 

"I can attest to a significant problem of noxious odors at the site," Dr. Miller said, adding that he and Mr. Sullivan visited the landfill earlier Monday to get a firsthand sniff at the problem. 

Mr. Sullivan said the landfill is behind the city's now closed solid waste landfill. He said when the landfill was operating there were regular concerns about odor. There were always problems with the smell of sludge at the sludge landfill, but it has grown worse recently. 

The sludge, he said smells like a mix of nitrogen and hydrogen sulfide. 

"The odor is something akin to a pig farm," Mr. Sullivan said. 


The sludge landfill is roughly 25 to 30 feet high, and is nearing its approved capacity. It only takes in sludge from the city's wastewater treatment plant. Earth Tech, which operates the landfill for the city, is looking for permission to pile the sludge higher to extend the life of the landfill through 2018. 

Mr. Sullivan said that in the past the odors were around until cover material was placed over the sludge. He said a regular part of his job was to check at the end of the week to make sure it no longer smelled. He said now the smell does not go away. He said he is not certain why but a possibility is that the landfill is a mound now that it has grown vertically and the smells may be escaping. 

Alan Rousseau, who owns land southeast of the landfill, said the landfill stench has been a problem for years. 

"In recent years there are times when I can't use my property," he said. "It stinks to high heaven out there. That's unacceptable. That's totally unacceptable." 

Mr. Rousseau acknowledge it could cost the city to fix the problem but asked the board, "What's the price of clean air?" 

Mr. Rousseau said there are 563 residents in Gardner and Templeton living within a mile of the landfill. 

Who is affected depends on the weather, according to Mr. Sullivan. He said the smells are worse in certain areas, depending on the direction of the wind, with the worst often occurring from the east. 

Jen Parkhurst, who lives near the landfill, said the odors have been pervasive throughout her life. 

"It's repulsive at times," she said. 

Ms. Parkhurst said one time she had family members visiting from out of state and children playing outside noticed the odor. 

"They said, 'What's that smell? It's so awful,' " she said. 

Public Works Director Dane Arnold said he is looking into solutions to the problem, but also needs to balance the cost to the ratepayers. 

He said hauling the sludge out of town to another landfill could cost 10 times the $10 a ton it costs to deal with the 13 tons a day the city treatment plant produces. 

Mr. Arnold said efforts are being made to improve the wastewater treatment plant and sludge at the source. He said the city is also looking at how Fitchburg handles its sludge. He agreed with Mr. Sullivan that the way the landfill is now mounded up could be part of the problem. He said another part of the solution may be how future sludge is added to lessen the slope. 

Mr. Miller said the board now needs to consider what it has heard and possibly meet with others, including people involved in running the landfill. 

"You can expect discussion and you can expect action," he said. 

Mr. Sullivan added that the board cannot wave a magic wand and solve the problem, but will look at any options that could solve the problem. 

Contact George Barnes at george.barnes@telegram.com. Follow him on Twitter @georgebarnesTG