With a state proposal to ban dumping food waste at commercial landfills, South Hadley officials are eying the possibility of siting an industrial-size anaerobic digestion facility at the town landfill.
SOUTH HADLEY — With the state proposing a dumping ban on food wastes at commercial landfills beginning next year, town officials here are eying the possibility of siting an industrial-size anaerobic digestion facility at the South Hadley landfill.
Board of Health member Suzanne Cordes proposed the idea.
She made the pitch at a meeting this month with Selectmen Chairman John Hine, Town Administrator Mike Sullivan, Public Health Director Sharon Hart, Public Works Director Jim Reidy and Ted Boulais, a member of the South Hadley Solid Waste Advisory Committee.
An anaerobic digest facility (AD) functions to transform organic waste such as food and compost into energy. The biological process involves placing the waste into an airtight, zero-oxygen container, where microbes inside decompose the waste to produce gas that can produce energy.
In July, the state announced a proposal to ban food waste from landfills that would take effect next year.
“Banning commercial food waste and supporting the development of AD facilities across the Commonwealth is critical to achieving our aggressive waste disposal reduction goals,” state Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Rick Sullivan said in a statement July 10.
“These policies and programs will continue the Patrick Administration’s commitment to growing the clean energy sector in Massachusetts, creating jobs and reducing emissions.” The state wants the food ban to begin on July 1, 2014, according to Sullivan.
Town officials say that siting an anaerobic facility on Industrial Drive at the landfill could have merit.
There is “the potential that it may actually produce some money –- because the big users in 2014 are going to have to look for a place to move their food waste product,” Sullivan told the selectboard at last week’s meeting. “We are learning what might be the best model for South Hadley.”
He said much research needs to be done and that any potential issues about the possibility of odors from such a facility must be vetted.
“We are going to do our due diligence and look for expertise” prior to making any decision, Sullivan said.
Easthampton has received a $38,000 grant for research.