BIDDEFORD — In just a few days, on Dec. 31, the downtown waste incinerator is scheduled to burn trash for the last time, but residents shouldn’t notice a big change ”“ at least at first.

On Nov. 30, the City of Biddeford closed on the deal to purchase the Maine Energy Recovery Company waste-to-energy incinerator from its parent company, Rutland, Vt.-based Casella Waste Systems, for $6.65 million and pay for it over 20 years.

As agreed upon, the facility is set to close at the end of the year.

Next year, the incinerator will be torn down. All that will remain is the smokestack in order accommodate cellular telephone antennae. Leases with the cellular companies will be used by the city to pay for part of the purchase cost.

Casella spokesman Joe Fusco recently confirmed the Dec. 31 closure, saying, “That’s the plan.”

According to Fusco, there will be no waste operations Jan. 1 due to the holiday, but starting Jan. 2, Maine communities that have contracted with Maine Energy, as well as some commercial haulers and others in southern Maine that have contracts with Casella, will bring waste to a transfer facility in Westbrook.

That facility is on schedule to be completed in time to accept waste once Maine Energy is closed, he said.

Where the waste will be disposed of once it is sorted at the Westbrook transfer station has not yet been determined, said Fusco, in a telephone interview last week. He said it will be taken to one of Casella’s other waste disposal facilities, but declined to be more specific.

Next year, the company hopes to receive permission from the Department of Environmental Protection to bring waste from Westbrook to be disposed of at the Juniper Ridge landfill. In order to do so, a license amendment is needed for the state-owned landfill, which is located in Old Town and operated by Casella.

Before considering whether to grant the amendment, a public hearing will be held sometime in the early part of the new year, according to DEP spokeswoman Samantha DePoy-Warren. A date for the hearing has not yet been scheduled.

When Maine Energy closes, Biddeford residents shouldn’t notice any difference in their waste pick-up, said Public Works Director Guy Casavant, at least for the first half of 2013.

Residents can dispose of waste as usual, he said, and it will be picked up according to the current schedule.

There will be some changes for the Public Works Department, however. City workers currently transport waste only a short distance to the Biddeford incinerator. Once that facility closes, Public Works crews will have to make longer trips to Westbrook.

While residents won’t see a change at the beginning of the year, they will notice significant changes beginning July 1.

For the first time, a curbside, single-sort recycling program will be instituted in Biddeford, replacing the current system in which residents must take their recyclable material to the city’s transfer station on Hill Street.

The recycling program was one of the components of the Maine Energy purchase. As part of this program, residents will be given two containers, purchased by Casella: A 35-gallon container for trash, and either a 65- or 96-gallon container for recyclables, said Casavant.

The sizes of the different containers are designed to encourage the reduction of trash and increase recycling, he said, which would save the city money.

For those who have extra waste, said Casavant, they will most likely have to pay extra in the form of purchasing special garbage bags.

Currently, city staff and Casella personnel are working out the details of the recycling program.

Casavant did note that residential pick-up for trash, which will continue to be picked up by the city, and recycling, which will be handled by a Casella company, would take place on the same day.

For the new programs to go forward, he said, city staff would present several ordinance changes to the city council for approval.

Casavant acknowledges the recycling program will be a big change for residents.

Educating citizens about the upcoming program will be important, he said, and noted that as part of the deal Casella has agreed to give the city $5,000 for education efforts.

Since 1996, said Casavant, he has been researching curbside recycling at the request of several city councils.

“I’m glad to see it come. It’s long overdue,” he said.

While it may be difficult for some residents at first, he noted that next-door neighbor Saco has a successful program.

“Ultimately, it’s a good thing,” said Casavant. “It’s the right thing to do.”

— Staff Writer Dina Mendros can be contacted at 282-1535, Ext. 324 or dmendros@journaltribune.com.