New Hampshire’s Department of Environmental Services has approved the expansion of the Mt. Carberry landfill, extending its life until at least 2041. With the current landfill expected to reach capacity in 2026-2027, the Androscoggin Valley Regional Refuse and Disposal District filed a permit modification to expand the landfill, adding almost 5 million cubic yards of capacity. A public hearing on the request was held at city hall in Berlin in December and the public had until Jan. 7 to file written comments.
The district has a total of 114 acres permitted for the landfill of which 67 acres are developed in Phases I and II. The application will allow the district to develop Phase IIIA using another 24 acres of the footprint as well as adding 12 feet above the current stage. While expanding the landfill, the district is not proposing to increase the amount of waste it takes annually. The district would continue to accept an average of 305,500 cubic yards of waste annually and there would be no significant change in traffic coming in and out of the landfill.
The April 22 decision is subject to a 30-day appeal period. Appeals must be filed directly with the N.H. Waste Management Council and fully state the grounds on which the party believes the decision is unlawful or unreasonable. The site development includes a new double liner system, new leak detection and leachate collection systems, extension of the existing leachate gravity sewer system and extension of the landfill gas collection system, new stormwater treatment ponds and drainage structures, and extension of the access roads. “This is just the beginning of the permitting,” said AVRRDD Executive Director Sharon Gauthier, noting it is a lengthy process that includes filing for final design approval and applying for permit modifications to design, construct, and operate the individual stages.