A Slate Belt landfill’s representatives explained why they think the community will benefit if the life of the trash facility is extended by two decades.
Representatives from Grand Central Landfill and Waste Management, which operates the landfill, held a public meeting Tuesday that more than 75 local residents attended.
Officials from the landfill in Plainfield Township are looking to expand its operation so that it can accept trash for another 20 years after its current facility shuts down.
Waste Management Senior Community Relations Specialist Adrienne Fors said the current landfill has about six more years until it will be at full capacity and no longer able to receive trash.
The landfill pays millions of dollars each year in taxes and fees to the surrounding communities and Northampton County, company representatives said. An expansion will keep that money rolling in.
Plainfield Township receives about $2.2 million in host fees each year from the landfill, according to Waste Management.
Nearby Pen Argyl and Wind Gap boroughs respectively receive $929,000 and $287,000 each year from the landfill.
The two boroughs also receive free trash services from Waste Management. Company officials estimate Pen Argyl households would pay about $234 per year and Wind Gap households would pay about $277 per year for trash services if the landfill closes.
Plainfield Township does not receive free trash services. The township receives more money into its general and capital fund than the two boroughs as per a previous agreement township supervisors made with the landfill.
The landfill also provides financial support to local business and organizations like the Wind Gap Ambulance Corps, Slate Belt Rising, Slate Belt YMCA and others. In 2021 the landfill paid $398,000 toward school and real estate taxes, company representatives said.
“Continued operation is continued benefits,” Waste Management Senior District Manager Adam DeRobbio said.
To expand, the township must agree to rezone 211 acres on the east side of Pen Argyl Road, which is across the street from the existing landfill.
The land proposed for expansion currently is zoned for farm and forest uses. Grand Central is seeking to change that designation to solid waste processing and disposal.
In July 2020, the township board of supervisors voted 3-0 to deny the rezoning application and did not refer the request to the township planning commission for review.
Multiple residents who had spoken in 2020 urged the supervisors not to allow the expansion due to concerns about truck traffic and foul odors emanating from the landfill. Many people said the negatives of living near the landfill outweighed any financial benefits.
Those same concerns were expressed at Tuesday’s meeting.
“Quite honestly, it’s disgusting,” one man said regarding debris that flies away from the landfill on windy days.
Landfill officials said there is nuisance mitigation plan in place to react to issues and asked that people report any issues with escaped debris, odors or any other nuisances. People can call the landfill’s hotline 888-373-2917 to report issues.
Waste Management Communications Manager John Hambrose said pandemic-related concerns about public meetings in 2020 did not allow the company to make its case for why the expansion is a good idea.
“We’re going to take another swing at this” Hambrose said.
More information about Grand Central Landfill and its proposed eastern expansion plan can be found at grandcentrallandfill.com.
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John Best is a freelance contributor to lehighvalleylive.com. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.
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