NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — Waste treatment plan supervisor Brad Furlon warned the Finance Committee last week to expect a future 500 percent increase in sludge disposal.

 

"Even though the district is still has the approval of suitability to apply compost to land, we no longer do it, primarily because of the contaminant, PFAs," he said. "Compost plant supplies is a $200,000 increase this year. There's no way around this cost whatsoever. ...

 

"Unfortunately, these costs are going to go up. They expect this sludge disposal cost in the next five to 10 years to increase 500 percent."

 

PFAs, or per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, are considered "forever chemicals" because of how long it takes for them to breakdown. They are used in numerous products and have become endemic in air, soil and water.

 

The Hoosac Water Quality District, a shared regional waste treatment system between North Adams and Williamstown, had planned to accept sludge from other communities and sell off the resulting compost through waste hauler Casella. But that proposal ran into opposition; Williamstown has a citizens petition on its annual town meeting warrant this year that would prohibit the use of contaminated compost. 

 

The district is still producing compost, which has to be removed. 

 

"We had a backlog of about 2,500 yards of compost that was on site," Furlon said. "We worked on a plan to dispose of our compost. Even though the district is still has the approval of suitability to apply compost to land, we no longer do it, primarily because of the contaminant, PFAs. ... the most feasible way and economical that we looked at was to be able to take our compost to a landfill in Ontario, N.Y."

 

The composted sludge is being used there to cover a landfill. If it were to be dehydrated into "cake form," it would cost 6 to 8 times more to disposed of, he said. 

 

Furlon said the only ways to dispose of the sludge is compost, landfill and incineration. 

 

"Composting is pretty much going to be dead before long because of PFAs," he continued. "Incineration? There's no room for incineration, so before long, all of the sludge in this whole country is going to go to landfill. ...

 

"I have data going back six, seven years, but we were only required to start testing in 2024 so the data really only started around 2024 and you have 60 or 70 years of using this chemical before that."

 

The total budget is $3,285,668, up about 10 percent or $351,128 over this year's $2,934,540. Of that, $2.4 million is for operations and about $900,000 for capital costs. North Adams' portion is $2,198,341 and Williamstown $1,087,327. A section of Clarksburg is on the system and is charged through North Adams. 

 

Other factors in the budget are up over which he has not control, Furlon noted, such as electricity, chemicals, fuel oil and wood chips for compost. The electrical line is up $21,000 toward upgrading motor controllers and transformers throughout the plant; this $300,000 project is largely covered by a $201,000 grant through Mass Save and National Grid. 

 

The Finance Committee also heard from Superintendent James Brosnan on the $13 million draft budget the Northern Berkshire Vocational Regional School Committee approved March. North Adams total assessment is $1,185,849, up about $114,000 over this year. 

 

The next Finance Committee meeting is Wednesday, May 6, at 5:30 p.m. in Council Chambers. The school budget is on the agenda (the School Committee holds a public hearing on Tuesday, May 5, at 5:15), along with debt and pension review.