Dive Brief:
- The Teamsters Union would like Bill Gates to step in and support cleanup efforts at the West Lake landfill, a shuttered landfill in Bridgeton, MO that contains buried radioactive materials.
- According to CBS St. Louis, Chuck Stiles, the Assistant Director of the Teamsters Union Solid Waste Division, said the organization is putting the pressure on the mogul because he is the majority shareholder of the owner of the landfill (Republic Services).
- Stiles told CBS St. Louis that it is "inconsistent" for Gates to stay silent on the issues at West Lake since he is usually outspoken about combating environmental and health risks.
Dive Insight:
West Lake landfill has consistently battled problems due to the nuclear waste buried at the site. For years, an underground fire at a nearby landfill has smoldered, making its way toward West Lake. Members of the surrounding community have been on edge while the situation plays out. Steps have been taken to prevent the fire from reaching the nuclear waste: Republic itself constructed a firebreak while the Army Corps of Engineers will install an additional barrier. As of April 17, 2014, the EPA established an agreement with Republic to build a mesh barrier to protect the area during a proposed excavation.
