Plan to expand Juniper Ridge Landfill advances following Superior Court decision

Maine’s Largest Landfill Expansion Approved Amid Tribal and Environmental Justice Opposition

Old Town, Maine — The state’s plan to enlarge the Juniper Ridge landfill, the nation’s biggest waste‑processing site, has received judicial clearance after a Penobscot County Superior Court judge rejected an appeal by the Penobscot Nation and the Conservation Law Foundation. The decision means the expansion will likely move forward, adding 12 million cubic yards of capacity to the 61‑acre site.

The Juniper Ridge landfill in Old Town sits just northwest of the Penobscot River and the reservation islands of the Penobscot Nation. It already handles more than half of all municipal waste destined for landfills in Maine. The proposed expansion would increase its total capacity by 12 million cubic yards, effectively making it the state’s most significant waste‑management facility.

Under Maine law, the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) must conduct a “public benefit assessment” before approving landfill expansions. The assessment evaluates whether a project delivers a clear advantage to the state without disproportionately harming a particular group. In October 2024, the DEP determined that the Juniper Ridge expansion met these criteria, issuing an official approval.

The Penobscot Nation, represented by Tribal Chief Kirk E. Francis, and the Conservation Law Foundation (CLF) have opposed the project on environmental justice grounds. Their concerns center on the potential for increased odors, fire risk, and other environmental hazards that could adversely affect tribal lands and surrounding communities. In addition, the tribe points to the historical and cultural importance of the Penobscot River, which has sustained their people “since time immemorial” and continues to serve communities across Maine.

A January 2026 judge had previously overturned the DEP’s first public‑benefit determination, ordering the agency to more thoroughly consider cumulative harms to the tribe. That decision was appealed and the matter returned to court in July 2026. The current ruling, delivered by a Penobscot County Superior Court judge, denied the appeal and upheld the DEP’s approval, effectively allowing the state’s expansion plan to proceed.

“We have fought pollution, injustice, and decades of harm to heal the Penobscot River,” said Chief Francis in a statement released Tuesday. “We are not asking the state to undo generations of harm overnight. We are asking it not to take us backward. Our cultural survival is tied to the health of the Penobscot River, and there is too much at stake to keep adding to the harms it already carries.”

CLF Vice President for Environmental Justice Alex St. Pierre described the ruling as “a setback” and cautioned that the decision “can’t bury” the concerns raised by the Penobscot Nation and residents. “The knowledge, persistence, and power of these communities have already shifted the conversation – and that momentum will carry forward until justice is served,” he added.

Both the Penobscot Nation and CLF have stated they are reviewing the court’s decision and exploring next steps, though no specific plan has been announced. A spokesperson for the DEP did not respond to a request for comment on Tuesday evening.

The expansion would make the Juniper Ridge landfill the largest in the state, with the added capacity allowing Maine to consolidate much of its municipal waste in a single site. Environmental advocates argue that the project could have significant impacts on water quality, air quality, and the health of nearby communities, particularly those on or near tribal lands.

The Penobscot Nation’s leadership emphasizes that their opposition is rooted in protecting the river and the surrounding environment that have been vital to their culture and well‑being for generations. They contend that the state’s decision fails to fully account for the cumulative environmental risks that the expansion would impose on their people.

As the court has confirmed the state’s approval, the next phase will likely involve the DEP’s implementation of the expansion, subject to the state’s regulatory framework and any conditions set by the court. The outcome of the ongoing legal battle remains uncertain, with the Penobscot Nation and CLF continuing to monitor developments and prepare for potential future challenges.

The case underscores the broader tension in Maine between expanding waste‑management capacity and addressing environmental justice concerns for indigenous and local communities. It also highlights the role of public benefit assessments in balancing state infrastructure needs against the rights and well‑being of affected populations.