Augusta council hears landfill diversion plan, rebranding update

Augusta city councilors got a presentation on a proposed landfill diversion agreement with Municipal Waste Solutions that would send the city's trash to a Hampden facility for recycling and gas production, extending the life of Hatch Hill. The council also received an update on a proposed city rebrand, including a new logo and color palette, with public feedback planned. No votes were taken at the informational meeting.

Key points

• City Manager Jared Mills presented a proposed agreement with Municipal Waste Solutions to divert Augusta's household trash to its Hampden facility, where recyclables are pulled out and organics are processed into natural gas.
• Public Works Director Leslie Jones said the city currently recycles about 200 tons of roughly 5,000 tons of curbside waste, and the new system could push that to more than 1,500 tons.
• Officials said tipping fees will rise under the plan, but that a vertical landfill expansion would have cost an estimated $15 million to $20 million, and the partnership delays that expense.
• Councilor Courtney Gary-Allen and others praised the plan, saying Hatch Hill would still accept construction and demolition debris, brush, metal, and universal waste.
• Annalee Morris-Polley and Communications Director Haley Govan presented a proposed rebrand, including a new logo featuring landmarks like the Coney Flatiron, City Center, the State Dome, and Memorial Bridge, plus a blue and green color palette.
• Govan said a public survey on the rebrand will go out, with physical copies available at locations like the library, and a new city website is tentatively set to launch around October 28.

Next steps

• An order on the landfill diversion agreement is expected at an upcoming business meeting, with the mayor noting it could come next Thursday.
• The city plans to bring the proposed hoop structure at Hatch Hill to the planning board, and officials estimated about a three-month timeline after council approval before the new trash system takes effect.
• A public survey and press release on the rebrand are planned, with a branding package and consistent fonts and logos to follow once the logo is finalized.

Read the full transcript