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Eddie Nachamie is a student at the University of Maine studying ecology and environmental sciences, who resides in Orono at the Terrell House Permaculture Living and Learning Center. He leads the Permaculture & Gardening Club at UMaine and works in the Agroecology Lab at UMaine and for the University Forest.
Pedaling through Old Town, I always spot one “hill” that isn’t a hill at all. It’s the 179-acre Juniper Ridge Landfill — the largest in the state — and it’s still growing.
I think about Juniper Ridge on my way home to the Terrell House Permaculture Living and Learning Center. Here, we work together to live more sustainably and host workshops on gardening, food preservation, and waste reduction. Yet, just about eight miles away, this landfill threatens, I fear, everything we strive for — not just in principle, but in reality.
Recently, the Department of Environmental Protection preliminarily approved Casella’s plan to expand Juniper Ridge by 61 acres, adding 11.9 million cubic yards of waste, and potentially bringing even more out-of-state trash.
We rely on the same water supply as families in Old Town, where concerns about contamination from the landfill are growing. Toxic forever chemicals found in the leachate at Juniper Ridge far exceed state drinking water standards. These chemicals, known as PFAS compounds, can cause increased risks of cancer, hormone disruption, and weakened immune systems.
I can’t help but wonder: Can we afford to keep sending waste to Juniper Ridge? How safe is the water that nourishes our gardens — and the food that ends up on our plates? When will it be too late to know?
During rainstorms, water soaks through the piles of trash, mixing with waste and chemicals. As it sinks deeper, it turns into toxic leachate that can seep into the ground, groundwater, and nearby rivers.
Some of my friends won’t eat what they catch anymore. State health advisories warn us about the high concentration of toxic chemicals in some fish: “No more than one meal per month of smallmouth bass.” Should we chance making it worse?
The Penobscot River sits only a few miles from the landfill. It has been the heart of this region for over 10,000 years. The people of the Penobscot Nation have long fought to protect these waters through their stewardship. Juniper Ridge was just built in the 1990s — a recent addition to the landscape. For generations, people lived, worked and thrived without its ever-growing presence. A future without its expansion is possible and necessary.
To proceed with the expansion, Casella must build a system to filter forever chemicals out of the leachate. But the equipment they plan to use is unknown, so it’s uncertain if it will actually clean up pollutants.
Instead of expanding Juniper Ridge, I believe the company should focus on implementing filtration technology to keep the community safe, and stop growing their operations.
Mega-landfills don’t just store trash and waste; they spread it, creating potential harms to human health, our homes, and the lives of future generations.
Landfills like Juniper Ridge trap pockets of methane, a highly flammable gas, as organic matter in waste breaks down. When too much builds up, all it takes is a spark.
In May 2023, a fire at Juniper Ridge sent toxic smoke and ash into the air, forcing nearby residents to endure burning eyes, sore throats, and dangerous air pollution. Penobscot Nation Chief Kirk Francis reported that tribal members suffered health effects from the smoke, underscoring what I see as the landfill’s growing threat to surrounding communities.
Casella’s expansion would extend the lifespan and risks of this landfill by another 11 years. This, to me, isn’t progress — it’s a threat to our health and environment.
The Penobscot Nation has led this fight for decades. Now, Mainers statewide are joining them, saying enough is enough.
On April 28, Maine lawmakers held hearings on several bills that will decide Juniper Ridge’s future. This is our moment to speak up. Call or email your elected officials today and urge them to back measures that halt expansion and give communities a real voice. Tell them loud and clear: We don’t want more out-of-state trash in Maine.
We have the power to protect our air, water, and neighbors. Let’s show up, speak up, and stop Juniper Ridge from growing any larger.
