Commission plans full demolition of Maxwell Avenue incinerator, outlines contamination controls and timeline

The Sanitation Commission of the Town of Mamaroneck and Village of Larchmont presented plans on-site to remove the long‑vacant incinerator on Maxwell Avenue and said the entire structure — including the smokestack — will be demolished rather than a phased partial takedown.

Meredith, the Sanitation Commission superintendent, told residents the decision followed multiple inspections and consultant reports and that “the entire building will come down, the chimney as well.” She said initial work began after a 2022 inspection; a June 2024 follow‑up showed advancing cracking and interior corrosion that changed the project’s scope.

Commissioners and project managers said environmental testing by Omega Environmental Services and interior inspections by Kwono Engineering found hazardous materials in the building and that, because interior access is unsafe, the state has agreed the structure can be treated as a single contaminated unit. Dominic Kalje, the commission’s construction manager, described the approach: “We treat everything as contaminated, and the building coming down would be hosed as it’s coming down” to keep dust down; the team also plans truck wash‑down stations, perimeter air monitoring and a containment fence meeting or exceeding the state’s 25‑foot minimum.

Why it matters: presenters said a partial demolition would require costly temporary bracing and would leave an unsafe lower structure that has little reuse value. Rob Wasp, the town engineer, said inspections showed bowed walls and corroded steel framing, which supports the full‑removal recommendation. “There was an interior review that showed the walls had been bowing out, that the steel framework supporting the ceiling was fully corroded and partially collapsing in certain areas,” he said.

Details and timeline: project managers said they are assembling one combined bid package that will include structural plans, abatement specifications and geotechnical recommendations. Draft plans are expected by mid to late August, with public bidding anticipated in September and construction starting as early as October. The team estimated demolition would take about five months, with the smokestack removal staged and likely the slowest phase.

Costs and funding: Dominic provided a current budget estimate of about $1,600,000 to remove the structure, including consultant fees and soft costs. Meredith said the town previously advanced a bond resolution for its share, which was repealed and replaced in May 2025; the Village of Larchmont is expected to fund its share from available cash. Officials said precise financing splits and any lost rental revenue from the Verizon antenna — which may relocate to Thruway Authority property — remain subject to follow‑up discussions with Verizon.

Safety, monitoring and contingencies: the team said abatement work will follow New York State Department of Labor review and approval for licensed asbestos abatement plans and that the environmental consultant will perform daily perimeter air monitoring, with work to stop if levels exceed safe thresholds. If airborne contamination is detected, presenters said the plan is to halt work, address the exceedance and resume only after monitoring shows background levels have returned. Officials also confirmed they will include water‑filtration and manage washdown discharges per permit requirements and that additional measures such as scaffold protection over the on‑site fuel station are planned.

Resident concerns and operations: commissioners addressed questions about slope stability, erosion control, impacts to the adjacent Maxwell recycling operation, liability insurance and public oversight. Rob Wasp said the current design anticipates keeping the existing concrete foundation wall and using shoring or buttresses as needed to preserve slope stability. Meredith said the commission is working with its insurance agent to secure appropriate coverage and additional‑insured status for the commission, town and village, and that reporting will include daily on‑site management and monthly executive reports.

Next steps: project managers will finalize plans and bid documents, post the public bid, and return to the commission with details on insurance limits, Verizon revenue impacts and final contractor selections. The commission also agreed to hold additional sanitation commission meetings during the project to provide public updates. The meeting adjourned after public questions.