Dive Brief:

• A string of telephone calls has residents in St. Louis County confused. A group tied to Republic Services has been telephoning out-of-state residents to hear their opinions about what should be done with the radioactive waste buried at the West Lake landfill in Missouri.
• It is unclear why the group is speaking to residents who do not live in the area. Some community members speculate the reasoning behind the calls is to increase opposition to hauling the waste across state lines.
• Republic Services has issued a statement addressing the calls. "The calls, actually 5 to 10 minute live conversations, are part of a much wider educational effort the company is supporting to help the public understand the risks associated with excavating and transporting nuclear material across the state. A consideration of such risks are part of a public conversation that some opposition groups seems determined to stifle." 

Dive Insight:

The nuclear waste buried beneath the controversial West Lake landfill site has been a source of concern for the community. A seemingly never-ending string of issues keeps public fears at heightened levels, including a fire burning at the nearby Bridgeton landfill that may eventually find its way to the West Lake site.