From the newsroom

What should Bellingham do with its human waste: incineration or landfilling?

Neither sounds like an appealing option, but some community members are arguing that temporarily trucking the city's waste to an eastern Washington landfill is more economical and environmentally friendly than continuing to invest in waste-burning infrastructure.

But the city says, basically, that the ship has sailed — because Bellingham decided in 2022 to move away from a full process overhaul, system upgrades are essential to bring the plant into compliance with clear air regulations, and landfilling is actually more expensive in the long run.

It's a complex question and will have major repercussions for city residents, businesses and ratepayers for decades down the road. 

Today's news

At Bellingham's Post Point Resource Recovery Plant, sludge from the wastewater treatment process is currently burned. Some community members are asking the city to shut down its incinerators and switch to landfilling the sludge while exploring other options. (Finn Wendt/Cascadia Daily News)

Environmental group asks Bellingham to landfill, not burn, sludge from Post Point

Tour Whatcom County's severe weather shelter on Nov. 12 

Inslee says 'there will be hell to pay' if World Cup games moved out of Seattle

'Tough choices:' Bellingham pivots to small World Cup Fan Zone watch parties in lean budget year

International soccer players come to WWU for an education — and to develop as athletes

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What's the Deal With?

City crews took two letters off the Mount Baker Theatre sign after they became loose due to wind. (Charlotte Alden/Cascadia Daily News)

What's the Deal With: The missing letters on the Mount Baker Theatre tower?

Have a suggestion for a "What's the Deal With?" Email us at newstips@cascadiadaily.com.

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