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GREATER NEW BEDFORD REGIONAL REFUSE MANAGEMENT DISTRICT

Landfill Construction Project Advancing

New Disposal Cell Would Extend Landfill’s Life Several Years, Saving Local Taxpayers Millions in Future Costs

NEW BEDFORD – Under a proposed construction project by the Greater New Bedford Regional Refuse Management District, the Crapo Hill Landfill is expected to have at least 11 years of total remaining disposal capacity, saving New Bedford and Dartmouth taxpayers millions in future solid waste disposal costs.

The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection recently issued the District a draft Authorization to Construct for its proposed construction project to build a new waste disposal cell within the landfill area originally approved by MassDEP. Adding a new cell – a constructed, multiacre basin lined with an impermeable barrier and other engineering controls to safely contain solid waste – would increase the landfill’s volume by about 750,000 cubic yards and add several more years of disposal capacity to the facility.

Taxpayers in New Bedford and Dartmouth currently save more than $3 million annually in municipal waste disposal costs through the landfill, with total estimated savings to date exceeding $81 million since the landfill opened in 1995.

“The Crapo Hill Landfill has already saved New Bedford taxpayers millions by allowing the City to dispose of its solid waste without expensive, long-distance transportation costs,” Mayor Jon Mitchell said. “With today’s tentative agreement, we are now poised to extend those savings. I thank Executive Director Anthony Novelli, the Board and the team at the District for their diligent work on this important project.”

“Many communities across Massachusetts do not have the benefit of a local landfill and face significant costs to transport municipal waste to facilities outside their communities,” Dartmouth Town Administrator Cody Haddad said. “Dartmouth is fortunate to have access to the Crapo Hill Landfill, which has provided a reliable and affordable option for decades. Extending the landfill’s capacity would help ensure that this important resource continues to benefit both Dartmouth and New Bedford residents.”

“Receiving the Draft Authorization to Construct is an important milestone for the District and our member communities, helping preserve reliable and cost-effective local disposal capacity,” said Anthony Novelli, Executive Director of the District. “At the same time, we are mindful of the need to significantly reduce the amount of waste being generated and disposed. The District will continue to work cooperatively with New Bedford and Dartmouth to expand efforts to promote recycling, food waste diversion, reuse, repair, and public education. These efforts are essential to extending the life of the landfill and reducing our communities’ long-term disposal needs. We appreciate MassDEP’s thorough review of the project and its continued coordination with the District throughout the permitting process.”

The District opened the Crapo Hill Landfill in 1995, providing New Bedford and Dartmouth with a reliable, affordable option for municipal waste disposal. While other municipalities across the state incur significant cost by shipping solid waste to out-of-area facilities, the landfill has allowed New Bedford and Dartmouth to dispose of solid waste locally, saving taxpayers an estimated $81 million. Without construction of the new cell, the landfill’s existing disposal cells are estimated to reach capacity in about four more years, after which New Bedford and Dartmouth would face significant additional costs associated with hauling and disposing of waste elsewhere. The proposed new cell would add seven additional years of capacity and help preserve an affordable local disposal option while the District continues planning for the longer-term solid waste management needs of New Bedford and Dartmouth.

The proposed construction project now enters a public comment phase. MassDEP will accept written comments regarding the project through Oct. 26, 2026. Any correspondence regarding this matter should reference Application No. 25-SW08-0001-APP. Public comments may be submitted to MassDEP in one of three ways: