HAMPDEN – A public meeting about Pine Tree Landfill’s public benefit application will be held at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 5, at Reeds Brook Middle School.

Officials from the state Department of Environmental Protection will be on hand to present information and answer questions. The meeting specifically will cover the public benefit application, which is a precursor to Pine Tree’s separate application to increase capacity at the landfill.

Pine Tree has been directed to prove that the proposed increase would benefit the public before the DEP will further consider the project.

Landfill officials are being asked to show that the proposal would address local and state waste capacity needs.

That means comments on odor or the visual impact of the landfill will not be considered now, according to a DEP official. Such comments will, however, be saved in the event that the application to increase capacity moves forward.

Written comments on the public benefit application can be sent to Cyndi Darling, Maine Department of Environmental Protection, 106 Hogan Road, Bangor 04401, or e-mailed to cyndi.w.darling@maine.gov.