Dive Brief:
- The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection held a public hearing Tuesday to discuss the Lancaster County Solid Waste Management Authority's $56 million plan to raise the height of the Frey Farm Landfill in Conestoga by 50 feet. The expansion of the landfill will extend its life 18-20 years.
- The plan would also increase the volume of unburnable and non-recyclable waste that can be deposited in the landfill each day.
- DEP's review could take up to two years, while they consider both the benefits and the concerns of the expansion.
Dive Insight:
Several speakers mentioned the need for an expanded landfill, including Tom Baldrige, president of the Lancaster Chamber of Commerce & Industry. Baldrige said expansion was critical to 800 businesses and for the county to grow and prosper.
Other speakers complimented the appearance of the landfill. Nancy Smith, who has lived next to it since 1966, said, "We couldn’t ask for a nicer neighbor. It’s a beautiful landfill."
Yet, many residents were opposed to the expansion, noting concerns about truck traffic and zoning restriction violations.
"Nobody wants a landfill. Everyone needs one," said John Cox, president of Turkey Hill Dairy and neighbor to the landfill. Cox's statement rings true for landfill expansion debates across the nation — although many landfill expansions are strongly opposed by local residents, the benefits are often undeniable for both the community and the landfill itself.
