Dive Brief:
- In Lorton, VA, a balloon test was conducted to demonstrate to residents the height a landfill could reach if plans to expand the site are approved. Balloons were floated above the site to illustrate the height of the 395-foot debris pile, proposed wind turbines and the 70-foot berm.
- EnviroSolutions, the landfill's operators, submitted an application to the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors for approval. The company wants to extend the life of the landfill to 2032. A public hearing is scheduled for May 13, according to The Connection.
Dive Insight:
The test was a way for the community to get a visual idea of the height the landfill could reach if a revised application is approved by the local board. Many residents in the area are opposed to the expansion, citing previous dealings with the firm behind the expansion, EnviroSolutions. Nick Firth, the president of South County Federation, told The Connection that according to a 2006 application, EnviroSolutions was supposed to build a park on the landfill site when it closed in 2018. The company told The Connection that liability issues prevented them from establishing ownership of the park.
