9/16/2016 8:35:00 AM
Letter to the editor
concern over sludge landfill expansion
The Gardner City Council will hold an informal meeting on Monday, Sept. 19, at 6 p.m. in the City Council Chamber, Room 219, City Hall. The agenda is: “Presentation Relative to the DPW Plan to Upgrade the Dewatering Equipment and Pursuit of a New/Expanded Sludge Landfill (Calendar #9686).” The Gardner DPW is recommending an expansion that would add 8-9 acres to the existing 11-acre sludge landfill off West Street. The expected lifespan of the new landfill will be 46 years (from 2018 to 2064).
This expansion will have a significant long-term impact to Gardner/Templeton residents and businesses. We ask that the City Council hold a public hearing, in order to solicit input from residents, prior to making a decision on this resolution.
Why is this important to Gardner-area families?
Clean air – The existing sludge landfill has been a consistent source of terrible odors. This stench appears during dumping operations and certain weather conditions. There are approximately 270 homes (with over 500 residents) and 12 businesses within a mile of the site. These odors impact use of our abutting property, thousands of visitors to the four area cemeteries (St. John’s, Notre Dame, Wildwood and St. Joseph’s), and Gardner’s new Cummings Otter River Conservation Area.
Property values – Having an active landfill in proximity to your property will have a negative impact on your property value. Anyone looking to purchase property can see this landfill on a Google map.
Destruction of Gardner’s forest land – This expansion will destroy existing forest that provide a wildlife habitat and contain unique natural eskers (ridgelines formed by glaciers) that provide a border to the conservation area.
Risk of liner leakage – This site is within the Templeton Zone II Wellhead Protection Area. Templeton’s Otter River well and many private residential wells are within the one-mile radius of this site. Over time, landfill liners present the risk of leakage and groundwater contamination.
Sludge import – This potentially opens the door for Gardner to take in sludge from other communities for additional revenue in the future.
Bottom line: These landfills are a poor solution. According to MassDEP, 80 percent of Mass. communities are using alternatives to landfilling sludge. For example, Athol closed their sludge landfill about 15 years ago and now has their sludge hauled away for incineration.
Longtime residents will probably recall the massive expansion to the solid waste landfill, at the same site, that occurred from 1995 to 2005. The solid waste landfill emitted terrible methane-type odors. Eventually, this landfill was closed in 2005. City leaders had the wisdom to implement a very cost-effective trash-disposal program for the city.
Let’s phase out the sludge landfill and not put another generation of Gardner and Templeton residents through the adverse impacts of landfill operations in Gardner. Let’s choose a high-quality alternative at the lowest possible cost. Both residents and visitors to our city expect and deserve clean air around the clock, 365 days a year.
If you have any questions, please email us at rousseaua@verizon.net. Learn more about this important issue by attending the City Council informal meeting on Sept. 19.
Alan & Sue Rousseau Gardner
Documents for City Council Informal Meeting Packet 9/19/16
Letter to the editor
concern over sludge landfill expansion
The Gardner City Council will hold an informal meeting on Monday, Sept. 19, at 6 p.m. in the City Council Chamber, Room 219, City Hall. The agenda is: “Presentation Relative to the DPW Plan to Upgrade the Dewatering Equipment and Pursuit of a New/Expanded Sludge Landfill (Calendar #9686).” The Gardner DPW is recommending an expansion that would add 8-9 acres to the existing 11-acre sludge landfill off West Street. The expected lifespan of the new landfill will be 46 years (from 2018 to 2064).
This expansion will have a significant long-term impact to Gardner/Templeton residents and businesses. We ask that the City Council hold a public hearing, in order to solicit input from residents, prior to making a decision on this resolution.
Why is this important to Gardner-area families?
Clean air – The existing sludge landfill has been a consistent source of terrible odors. This stench appears during dumping operations and certain weather conditions. There are approximately 270 homes (with over 500 residents) and 12 businesses within a mile of the site. These odors impact use of our abutting property, thousands of visitors to the four area cemeteries (St. John’s, Notre Dame, Wildwood and St. Joseph’s), and Gardner’s new Cummings Otter River Conservation Area.
Property values – Having an active landfill in proximity to your property will have a negative impact on your property value. Anyone looking to purchase property can see this landfill on a Google map.
Destruction of Gardner’s forest land – This expansion will destroy existing forest that provide a wildlife habitat and contain unique natural eskers (ridgelines formed by glaciers) that provide a border to the conservation area.
Risk of liner leakage – This site is within the Templeton Zone II Wellhead Protection Area. Templeton’s Otter River well and many private residential wells are within the one-mile radius of this site. Over time, landfill liners present the risk of leakage and groundwater contamination.
Sludge import – This potentially opens the door for Gardner to take in sludge from other communities for additional revenue in the future.
Bottom line: These landfills are a poor solution. According to MassDEP, 80 percent of Mass. communities are using alternatives to landfilling sludge. For example, Athol closed their sludge landfill about 15 years ago and now has their sludge hauled away for incineration.
Longtime residents will probably recall the massive expansion to the solid waste landfill, at the same site, that occurred from 1995 to 2005. The solid waste landfill emitted terrible methane-type odors. Eventually, this landfill was closed in 2005. City leaders had the wisdom to implement a very cost-effective trash-disposal program for the city.
Let’s phase out the sludge landfill and not put another generation of Gardner and Templeton residents through the adverse impacts of landfill operations in Gardner. Let’s choose a high-quality alternative at the lowest possible cost. Both residents and visitors to our city expect and deserve clean air around the clock, 365 days a year.
If you have any questions, please email us at rousseaua@verizon.net. Learn more about this important issue by attending the City Council informal meeting on Sept. 19.
Alan & Sue Rousseau Gardner
Documents for City Council Informal Meeting Packet 9/19/16
So expanding a sludge landfill doesn't need a new site assignment? since when?
ReplyDeleteIs the parcel of land for the expansion of the sludge landfill located in Templeton ?
Bring back the stench for another 48 years!
Doesn't seem to pass the sniff test.