Expansion Work Underway at Regional Waste Systems' Ash Landfill

State-of-the-art environmental technology integral part of the 20-acre expansion project

PORTLAND, Maine - Calling it “another step toward stabilizing trash disposal costs for member communities,” Regional Waste Systems General Manager Kevin Roche and RWS Board members celebrated the groundbreaking of the 20-acre expansion of the RWS ash landfill on Monday. The landfill features a state-of-the-art, double-liner system which provides maximum protection for the ground water and soil surrounding the landfill site.


“The double liner system is made up of several layers including clay, sand drainage, synthetic drainage and two thick plastic liners,” Roche said. “In total, this double-liner system is more than 7½ feet deep. It provides ultimate protection for the soil and ground water surrounding the landfill.”

The expansion will include four phases. RWS is expected to begin using the initial 7.5 acres of the landfill expansion in 2007. The RWS Board of Directors, made up of representatives of the 21 member communities, approved the expansion in an August meeting.

“I want to congratulate the RWS Board members for their commitment to the environment,” said RWS Board Chairman Jeffrey Jordan. “This is a $6.8 million investment that will go a long way toward fulfilling our plan to stabilize trash costs for our member communities.”

“This investment is a good move,” Roche added. “As we watch the rising cost of fuel, RWS will no longer need to pay high fees to transport our waste elsewhere. We will travel a short distance and dispose of our ash here at this expanded landfill.”

Earlier this year, the RWS Board of Directors also approved two other moves aimed at significantly lowering costs for member communities. In June, the Board negotiated and signed a new power contract with Constellation Energy Group that is expected to generate more than $1 million a year in additional revenue. And one month earlier, the RWS Board gave unanimous approval to a bond refinancing plan that will generate an estimated $2.17 million in savings and lower the organization’s annual debt payments without extending the bond maturity dates beyond 2014

Two other RWS board members were on hand for the groundbreaking. District 2 Board Member Len VanGaasbeek, representing Limington, Hollis, Waterboro, Lyman, and Ogunquit, and District 5 Board Member Carol Fritz, representing Cape Elizabeth and Falmouth.

Regional Waste Systems is a non-profit solid waste management corporation that is owned and operated by 21 cities and towns (Bridgton, Cape Elizabeth, Casco, Cumberland, Falmouth, Freeport, Gorham, Gray, Harrison, Hollis, Limington, Lyman, North Yarmouth, Ogunquit, Portland, Pownal, Scarborough, South Portland, Waterboro, Windham and Yarmouth), and also has six associate member towns (Baldwin, Hiram, Naples, Parsonsfield, Porter and Standish).

For more info, visit the RWS web site at www.regionalwaste.org.


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