Fort Fairfield’s Tri-Community Landfill has had an explosive problem with lithium batteries ending up in the garbage and catching fire. But a new recycling program should cut the risks.
The landfill experienced two fires over Sept. 14-16 and narrowly avoided a third on the 17th, all attributed to lithium batteries, Town Manager Tim Goff said during the Sept. 19 Fort Fairfield Town Council meeting.
It’s not the first time such fires have happened. In May, when the recycling pilot program was introduced, three others had been caused by chemical reactions from the batteries. Besides potential for injuries, the blazes can cause damages and downtime at the facility. The recycling effort could be in place next week, Goff said.
“We anticipate receiving the lithium battery collection recycling units here at the town tomorrow, so hopefully within a week we’ll have the program up and running,” he said. “That’s really the root cause of what we’re seeing with these fires out at the landfill.”
Introduced in May, the pilot program will provide specially designed, covered 55-gallon drums to store lithium power cells safely outdoors.
As the batteries settle in landfill refuse piles, they are compacted and buried, said Stev Rogeski, Aroostook Waste Solutions board member. Battery cases can break during compaction, and then rain and groundwater settle in, causing a chemical reaction that heats up the lithium.
Even if the batteries are dead, the lithium is still dangerous, he said.
“You literally can’t put water on lithium. That only makes it worse,” he said. “That’s why we’re going to explore some other extinguishing methods.”
When the new program starts, disposal will be free for residents. Aroostook Waste Solutions will only pay for shipping.
Public Works Director Darren Hanson updated councilors on summer paving work and reported the deteriorating concrete steps at the town office have been replaced. Crews discovered the old steps sat on blocks, which made them unstable, and installed the new set on a solid concrete base, he said.
Councilors voted to close the town office on Election Day, Nov. 5, so all town staff can assist at the polls.
The council also approved accepting a $5,000 grant from the Center for Tech and Civic Life, which will be used for equipment and training for town election officials.
The town also received a $5,000 gift from the Phyllis Gulliver Charitable Trust, Goff said.
Gulliver was born in Fort Fairfield in 1908 and taught English at the high school for many years. She set up the trust to benefit the school music program, St. Paul’s Church and the Fort Fairfield Public Library. The money will be used to buy books and periodicals for the library, he said.
In other business, Goff requested the council approve a tax writeoff from a property that no longer exists.
The owner of a trailer at 441 South Caribou Road died some time ago and left the property to family, he said. Real estate taxes owed on the trailer were $1,783.04. The structure has since been demolished and removed, so there’s nothing to pay taxes on, Goff said.
Councilors voted to cancel out the tax debt.
The town needs to set its mill rate for the coming year, Goff said, and suggested a tentative meeting date of Wednesday, Oct. 2. He will poll councilors and the town will issue a notice for the public once the date is finalized.
The next regular council meeting will be at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct.16.
