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The choice before us on LD 1911 could not be clearer: Do we finally stop spreading contaminated waste on farmland, in gardens, and on landscaping, a practice that has ruined family farms, continues to threaten health, and will cost the state millions upon millions to clean up? Or do we allow the companies that have ended up profiting on contamination continue to do so?

“In recent months, we’ve heard the stories from farmers that have been heavily impacted by PFAS contamination. We’ve heard first-hand accounts from farms across the state that have had their businesses and livelihoods upended, in addition to dealing with the stress and health impacts of the dangerously high levels of PFAS that have been found in their products, their soil, their water, and their bodies. 

Following their opposition last month to LD 1911, Casella Waste Systems took things a step further this morning and decided to a hold a press conference calling for an amendment to the bill that would actually move Maine backwards, allowing TEN TIMES MORE PFAS to be in compost and sludge destined for our farms and gardens than the current screening standards. The current standards, which even Maine DEP described as ‘indisputably outdated,’ already fail to address the recent tightening of Maine’s drinking water standards. It’s unconscionable that Casella and their allies, in face of the widespread hardship from contaminated farmland and drinking water, want to actually increase the amount of PFAS they are allowed to spread on farmland.

Casella has continued to suggest that there is not the capacity to landfill sludge instead. Yet, the experts from the Maine DEP that are responsible for overseeing waste disposal testified before the legislature’s Environment & Natural Resources committee that landfill capacity for in-state sludge is available.  

Additionally, Casella has argued that landfilling may be more expensive and increase costs for sewer districts. While the ENR committee has committed to looking for additional funding to help offset the costs, this argument ignores the costs of continued application of even higher amounts of PFAS to our land. It ignores the cost of polluted land and water, the cost of polluted wildlife, fish and game and the impact that has on the state’s tourism, not to mention the cost of destroyed health and lost businesses. The state will be spending hundreds of millions to address PFAS pollution. Increasing that very significant tab to let sewer districts shave a buck or two off a monthly bill makes no sense. The drastic cost difference between what the farmers are having to pay for healthcare and loss of livelihood versus the price that municipalities would have to pay for disposal is simply incomparable. 

Casella operates the Hawk Ridge composting facility, which is a significant beneficiary of the current loopholes that allow PFAS contaminated sludge to be composted and then distributed to farmers, landscapers and homeowners. LD 1911 is a threat to Casella’s facility and thus a threat to the profit that Casella makes at the expense of the Mainers who are left to deal with the burdens of contamination.  

The choice before us on LD 1911 could not be clearer: Do we finally stop spreading contaminated waste on farmland, in gardens, and on landscaping, a practice that has ruined family farms, continues to threaten health, and will cost the state millions upon millions to clean up? Or do we allow the companies that have ended up profiting on contamination continue to do so?”