Dive Brief:
- Brevard County Commissioners in Florida have delayed hiring a lawyer to fight for the municipality to be able to build a landfill on property that Deseret Ranches was forced to sell to the county. The site, first proposed 25 years ago, has been an issue of contention with environmentalists arguing that the dump would deplete wetlands and disrupt wildlife habitat.
- Commissioner Trudie Infantini said the site is inappropriate because the highway, traversing between Walt Disney World and Brevard County, is considered a tourist attraction for its nature and beaches. Other objections include that the operation would impair the St. Johns River, and that if recycling were promoted, a landfill would not be needed until well into the future.
- Commissioners agreed to consider alternative sites to the open space in Osceola County. Deseret Ranches has offered to buy back the land.
Dive Insight:
Landfills are an essential part of U.S. infrastructure, but not too any people want one in their backyard — especially ranchers.
Though the lawyer has been put on hold, it appears Brevard County is still considering building the landfill on the property that once belonged to Deseret, that it had earlier justified as a public necessity. But Deseret objects to the notion of stockpiled garbage next door, especially after losing a large chunk of grazing area. Some commissioners have concerns too.
"Here's our landfill; welcome to Brevard County," Infantini said, describing how the project would likely be perceived by tourists, according to the Orlando Sentinel.
Audubon, FL's Charles Lee posed to commissioners that a landfill proposed over two decades ago could be a bad idea all these years later, and be rejected by the federal government. "You have a long, steep road ahead of you," Lee said, as reported in the Orlando Sentinel.
