The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) announced on Apr. 16 that it has fined Oxford Transfer Station, LLC, a subsidiary of Casella Waste Systems, $20,208 for violating state solid waste regulations at its facility located at 200 Leicester Street in Oxford.
The penalty follows a September 2024 inspection by MassDEP during which inspectors observed significant dust escaping from the open doors of the receiving building. The company did not have an operational misting system to control dust and odors at the time, resulting in air pollution inside the building. Additionally, MassDEP said that Oxford Transfer Station failed to provide written notification within 24 hours about a disruption to its operations as required by state rules.
“Transfer stations play an important role in the disposal of our trash, and they have a responsibility to comply with solid waste regulations that protect the environment and public health,” said Andrea Briggs, acting director of MassDEP’s Central Regional Office in Worcester. “Timely reporting ensures that potential risks are addressed quickly, and corrective and preventive measures are taken.”
Under a consent order with MassDEP, Oxford Transfer Station agreed to pay the penalty and submit an application for installing both a misting dust and odor suppression system as well as a backup system. The company must also provide an operations plan detailing how staff will use these systems consistently for all trucks releasing waste loads. In addition, documentation regarding discussions with the Town of Oxford about modifying the facility’s site assignment must be submitted to MassDEP.
The Central Regional Office provides regulatory oversight and compliance assistance across central Massachusetts while advancing public access to environmental information according to its official website. It serves 77 towns and cities with nearly 900,000 residents according to agency data, covering Worcester County as well as parts of Middlesex and Norfolk counties as stated by MassDEP. The office also manages safeguards for major river basins—including oversight of key watersheds such as Wachusett Reservoir—and offers visitor parking outside its main entrance according to department resources.
Looking ahead, compliance actions like these reflect ongoing efforts by environmental regulators in central Massachusetts—where agencies oversee critical water resources—to ensure proper management practices among local facilities.
