HQWD Rescinds Proposed FY26 Budget Over Sludge Disposal Changes

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — Contaminated sludge is off the table for the Hoosac Water Quality District.

 

The HWQD's board on Wednesday voted to rescind its approved $1.5 million budget after Casella  Waste Management withdrew its option to truck untreated residential sewage from other communities to the Williamstown facility and then distribute the composted product elsewhere.

 

Secondly, said Bradley O. Furlon, district manager, the state has extended the wastewater district's ability to compost its own sludge by two years.

 

"With these two changing developments ... I feel that it's not feasible to go with any of the Casella options. It's not feasible with budgeting to go with either of the Synagro options," said Furlon. "Right at this moment, it's most feasible to continue to compost our own sludge, as we've been operating for the past four years at the district."

 

Processed human solid waste has been found to contain perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS, which have been linked to cancer. The district's budget had included an option to take possibly contaminated waste from Casella, which would then sell it elsewhere, with an estimated savings of $500,000.

 

The Williamstown Finance Committee had unanimously endorsed the budget, with the Casella option, but the Select Board voted two weeks ago against recommending it to the annual town meeting. The city of North Adams is the other partner in the wastewater district.

 

The new developments were a relief to the 30 or so attendees at Wednesday's meeting, held in City Council Chambers because of the expected audience. But they also expected more to be done to prevent the dispersion of PFAS.