Staff Writer

 Biddeford and Saco residents last week delivered a clear message to state officials: Maine Energy Recovery Co. stinks.

Residents of both cities spoke out against what they called nuisance odors from the Biddeford trash incinerator during a Maine Department of Environmental Protection hearing on the company’s proposed air emissions license renewal. 

The facility’s license expired in 2005, but state law allows the company to continue to operate under its old license as long as it applied for a new one. The meeting at Biddeford City Hall allowed the department to collect public input on the license, which regulates volatile organic compounds (VOC) in a different way than it did previously.

Biddeford Environmental Code Officer Brian Phinney said the draft license would permit the plant to release more VOCs than it does currently, which will lead to more odors. Residents and city officials have complained about the odor from the Lincoln Street facility for much of its 24-year history. 

Eric Kennedy of the Maine Department of Environmental Protection said the license will not allow Maine Energy to increase VOC emissions. The company is not required to install new technology to remove VOCs because of the cost, he said.

Phinney said VOC emissions have been an “issue of contention” for years and expressed disappointment it took the department eight years to address the city’s concerns.

“Although we’re pleased the department has taken action, we’re disappointed it took so long,” he said.

Phinney said Maine Energy’s data shows it routinely lacks negative pressure as required by the license. Negative pressure ensures the air and odors inside the facility are burned during the combustion process.

During the meeting, residents described seeing the doors of Maine Energy standing open, which they say indicates the building is not always under negative pressure. They also described finding their cars coated with ash and being routinely disturbed by the strong smell of trash. Many said they no longer report odors because they feel nothing is done.

Chris Betjemann, who owns several downtown Biddeford buildings, said he has to explain to potential tenants why the area smells.

“It’s gotten better, but it still stinks,” he said. “It affects my business, it affects my life.” 

Phil Radding, who lives on Main Street in Biddeford, said he feels people no longer report nuisance odors.

“I think we’ve gotten to the point where people just don’t bother anymore. We’ve become known as the garbage city,” he said.

John Read of Saco said he believes there are many empty storefronts in the two downtowns because of the presence of Maine Energy.

“Unfortunately in Saco we don’t have some sort of hood to avoid the smell of MERC,” he said.

Peter Morelli, economic development director for Saco, said the new license is a rare opportunity to address concerns or continue with “stinky mornings and summer nights.”  He asked the department to take steps to ensure Maine Energy empties its tipping floor – where waste is stored before it is incinerated – more often.

“It’s not like they have to take all this waste all the time,” he said. “They can say no when it’s going to sit around.”

Biddeford mill owner Doug Sanford said the city has watched Maine Energy evolve to accept more waste “at the cost of our community.” He said the community is poised for revitalization but odors could hold it back.

“We as a community need to stand up. It’s time to take back our community. We struggle with our pride,” he said. “We don’t need to be embarrassed anymore by someone else’s business. We don’t want anybody else’s waste.”

Tom Kircher of Biddeford said he would like to see more information about VOCs released from Maine Energy.

“I think the citizens of Biddeford and Saco have a right to know what those compounds are,” he said. “(Maine Energy) has a responsibility to the environment and the people and the ecosystem they’re situated in.”

Biddeford resident Richard Rhames said the “friendly little local incinerator” pitched to the city in the early 1980s “morphed” into something else entirely. He pointed out the facility trucks in trash from out of state.

“Biddeford is struggling through the gentrification process. Biddeford is well poised for gentrification, but a regional trash burner sits in the middle of it and the trash burner stinks,” he said.

Rhames said the department has an opportunity to protect the health and welfare of the public.

“You have the opportunity to fix that. I’m not optimistic, but thanks for coming,” he said.                  

Biddeford City Council President Bob Mills said trucks that bring trash to the facility leak and “cover the city in stench.”

“The odor is something we can relate to. For me, it’s always been the dioxins, heavy metal and mercury” that may be emitted from the plant, said Biddeford Mayor Joanne Twomey.

Twomey said she worked with Maine Energy for nearly a year to get it out of downtown. She said she will appeal the license if it is approved by the Department of Environmental Protection.

“I want an air license that has teeth in it, that is enforceable,” she said.

The Department of Environmental Protection will accept written comments on the draft license through July 25. There currently is no timeline for finalizing the license.