MAINE PUBLIC • October 28, 2025
Operators of the Juniper Ridge Landfill said they are moving ahead with plans to treat landfill leachate for PFAS, but some advocates said that doesn't justify an expansion of the facility. Jeff Ward, with Casella Waste Systems, which operates the state-owned landfill in Old Town, said it is assessing options to use foam fractionation to filter the leachate. The company uses the technology at a facility in Vermont and is working to scale up the process for Juniper Ridge. Ward said Casella plans to file permits for the treatment system next year, and have it operational in 2027. Nora Bosworth with the Conservation Law Foundation said the leachate should be treated, but no system will do enough to address the broader pollution concerns for the Penobscot River and the surrounding communities.