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The trash plant fire in Orrington is causing unhealthy particle pollution in Greater Bangor.
The Maine Department of Environmental Protection has issued an air quality alert for the region, saying that emissions from the fire are producing very high levels of particle pollution.
People should take extra caution outdoors if they encounter reduced visibility or the smell of smoke.
Under the air quality alert, people with heart or lung disease, older adults, teens and children, and those working outdoors should avoid prolonged or heavy exertion, and take more frequent breaks. People should consider moving activities indoors or otherwise rescheduling them.
It is the second fire in less than two years at the trash plant. The last fire burned for about 10 days in October 2024.
The facility had been shuttered after a foreclosure in 2023 but it said it would start accepting trash again in August. It is licensed to operate as a solid waste transfer facility, meaning it can accept trash, consolidate it and bring it to another location, according to the Maine Department of Environmental Protection.
BDN writer Marie Weidmayer contributed to this report.