Westford Landfill

The Westford landfill was sited on land deeded to the Town of Westford. It ws used as a town dump before environmental regulations.

The parcel is known in town records as 25-15 (map 25, parcel 15). In the map below it is marked with a pink circle.

The issue of the old town dump has taken on new importance with the attempt to site a solar farm at this location in 2015.

Chronology

• Oct 1972: Solid Waste Disposal Committee Report Possible contamination of Town Wells; Discussion of moving well field
• Oct 4, 1977: Report of the Westford Sanitary Landfill Committee (pdf page 4) State pressures Westford - Landfill found to be not in compliance. Improper filling of landfill, specifically Huge pits that were dug/filled over a several month period in an unlined Landfill that sits directly on a town aquifer. The State demanded that the Landfill area be zoned Industrial. (Illegal to have a Landfill in a Residential Zone)
• May 16, 1978: minutes of Westford BOS (pdf page 7) After hours dumping in Westford landfill was reported, keys to Landfill were handed out to private haulers which resulted in after-hour unsupervised dumping.
• May 23, 1978: minutes of Westford BOS (pdf page 8) Selectman voted to change gate locks and re-issue keys to private haulers (Violators) which allowed the continuation of illegal after-hours dumping in Westford Landfill. They requested that the Westford Landfill not be entered before 6:30 a.m. This request was ignored.
• May 17, 1978: Report of the Westford Sanitary Landfill Committee (pdf page 4) Sanitary Landfill Committee addresses after hours dumping - they suggested that new locks be installed to prevent this after-hours dumping activity.
• May 14, 1981: Article in the Westford Eagle: Threat to Town Well System?
• May 21, 1981: Article in the Westford Eagle: Dump -- Potential Well Threat (pdf page 4)
• June 1, 1981: Article in the Lowell Sun: Site of Landfill at Issue (pdf page 5)
• June 4, 1981: Article in the Lowell Sun: Selectmen to Check Dump Complaints
• June 4, 1981: Article in the Lowell Sun: Westford Wellfield Pollution Possibility Studied by Town (pdf page 2)
• June 4, 1981: Article in the Westford Eagle: Fear for TownWells (pdf page 3)
• Oct 7, 1982: Westford Eagle Headline: MIT Admits PCB Dumping in [Westford] Landfill (pdf page 2)
• ???: Article in the Lowell Sun: PCB Dumping Down-played (pdf page 4)
• Oct. 1982: Hydrogeologic Study for Westford Wellfield prepared by Goldberg-Zoino & Associates
• July 10, 1984: minutes of Westford BOS (pdf page 10) Problems with commercial refuse haulers that have been dumping in the Westford Landfill. Highway Superintendent requests manifest from private haulers.
• Jan. 29, 1985: Westford Landfill is inspected by the state.
• Feb 5, 1985: minutes of Westford BOS (pdf page 11) 55 gallon 1.1.1-trichloroethane drum found in Landfill Wetlands
• Feb. 7, 1985: Article in the Westford Eagle: DEQE Official Refutes contamination Claims (pdf page 4)
• Feb. 7, 1985: Article in the Westford Eagle: No threat of contamination from rusty water: engineer
• Feb. 7, 1985: Letter in the Westford Eagle from Christine Pude (pdf page 2): Discusses finding a barrel in the landfill with label saying 1,1,1-Trichloroethane
• Actual 1,1,1-Trichloroethane Label from Wetlands (pdf page 3)
• Page from Guide to Polutants in the Home (pdf page 4)
• Feb 12, 1985: minutes of Westford BOS (pdf page 12) Residents raise questions about well field testing and permit from DEQE for Westford Landfill. DPW Superintendent was directed to contact DEQE to inquire of any permit requirements for Westford Landfill
• Feb. 14, 1985: Article in the Westford Eagle: Questions Surround Investigation of Toxic Materials Barrel at Landfil. (pdf page 5)
• Feb 19, 1985: minutes of Westford BOS (pdf page 13) More questions about well testing and State permit for Westford Landfill (Residents show anger toward landfill operation without a permit).
• Feb. 20, 1985: MA sends a letter to the Westford Board of Health. The key sentence is In addition, a review of the Department's fles indicates the [Westford] landfill is being operated without approved plans.
• Feb 26, 1985: Reply to the State by the Westford Board of Health, saying the BOH does not operate the landfill (pdf page 3)
• Feb 26, 1985: minutes of Westford BOS (pdf page 16) Selectman acknowledge DEQE letter for show cause hearing
• Feb 28, 1985: Article in the Lowell Sun: DEQE Probe Reveals Landfill Violations
• Feb 28, 1985: Article in the Westford Eagle: Landfill in Violations of State Regulations (pdf page 2)
• Mar. 5, 1985: minutes of Westford BOS (pdf page 17) Selectman prohibit/limit dumping of construction and demolition debris
• Mar 7, 1985: Article in the Lowell Sun: DEQE Threatens Westford Landfill Actions (pdf page 3)
• Mar. 12, 1985: Senator Edward Kennedy urges the state of Massachusetts to test the Westford landfill leachate. (pdf page 6)
• Mar. 22, 1985: Letter from the state giving the conditions under which Westford can close and cap the landfill. (pdf page 4)
• Apr 5, 1985: Article in the Westford Eagle: Protecting Westford's Precious Commodity: its Aquifer (pdf page 4)
• Apr 5, 1985: Article in the Westford Eagle: Spring, Summer Testing Slated for Landfill Wells (pdf page 4)
• Apr 18, 1985: Article in the Westford Eagle: One-Day Commercial Dump Permits Climb (pdf page 5)
• May 30, 1985: headline in the Westford Eagle: Strong Vote Favors Curbside Pickup [refers to Westford Town Meeting
• July 9, 1985: Hydrogeologic Study for Westford Wellfield prepared by Goldberg-Zoino & Associates
• July 24, 1985: Article in the Lowell Sun: Chemicals in Westford's Wetlands believed to be coming from Landfill
• ???: Article in the Lowell Sun: Town Wells Okay, but Monitor Closely: Report (pdf page 2)
• ???: Article in the Boston Globe: Auditor's Landfill Ruling is Based on Local Mandates Law in Prop. 2½ (pdf page 5)
• Oct 2006: Inventory of Town Owned Land (pdf page 2) (in which the map above was taken)
• Apr 2009: Westford Master Plan (pdf page 27) (mentions environmental hazards, including the old Westford landfill)
• Mar 19, 2015: Letter by Steve Young urging a no vote on Prop. 20 at Westford Town Meeting
• Mar 28, 2015: Westford Town Meeting (pdf page 12) (in which Prop 20 is postponed to the fall)

Six photos taken 3/31/15:

Stony Brook Landfill (adjacent to Town well field)

Photo credit: Steve Young, 2015

A few pdf files come from the Town of Westford website, the rest of the pdf files come from Steve Young, file arrangement and html by David Holladay. All requests to republish this material should be directed to Steve Young.

Last update: July 13, 2015.