The decision leaves Vermont with just one commercial, lined landfill, located in Coventry.
A press release issued by Advanced Disposal, the owner of the landfill, stated the company was “extremely disappointed” with the decision and expects to appeal it.
A fact sheet released with the state’s decision stated that trash can be hauled to landfills in New York, Massachusetts, and New Hampshire, and that there are currently three small, permitted landfills in Vermont that have not yet opened. The state’s other main landfill is located in Coventry south of Newport.
Moretown Landfill dropped its trash intake by 80 percent late last year, forcing trash haulers to take the garbage elsewhere anyway.
The state’s decision comes after years of environmental violations at the landfill. In the last year and a half, there were more than 300 complaints about odors from neighbors. Despite Advanced Disposal’s efforts to control the odors, those complaints didn’t decline.
Groundwater pollution has also been a concern at the landfill. Arsenic, manganese, and iron exceed state standards in a number of locations on and around the landfill property.
The Agency of Natural Resources (ANR) told the landfill to clean up its act several times in the last year. Advanced Disposal recently installed a new cover on portions of the landfill and repaired leaking methane gas wells to control the odors—spending what it says was more than a million dollars on improvements. ANR told the company it intended to deny the landfill’s recertification in December.
“It is a disservice to the local community and to the entire state to not recognize and promote the improvements that have been made on the site,” said Dave Lavender, the regional vice president of Advanced Disposal.
Martha Douglass, who lives half a mile from the landfill and is the spokesperson for the grassroots Citizens for Landfill Environmental Accountability and Responsibility, is happy about the state’s decision.
“We are excited,” she said. “It does feel like a nice mini-victory. It feels like ah, they were listening.”
But Douglass is cautious, too. She’s concerned that the landfill might seek to open a fourth cell at the site along Route 2 —the recertification was regarding cell three. She’s also worried that the odor and groundwater pollution problems might continue after the landfill’s closure.
The landfill has a multi-million dollar bond to pay for closing and managing the landfill for the next 30 years. The state will oversee the closure process and require the landfill to manage odors and groundwater pollution after closure.
“It’s a step in the right direction, but it’s a step. It’s not the end of it for us,” said Douglass. “I’ve been through this long enough to know that just because it’s what is expected doesn’t mean that’s what’s going to happen.”
Advanced Disposal announced this week that it would close its South Hadley, Mass., landfill next year after years of violations, fines, and complaints from neighbors, according to WGGB/ABC News.
Advanced Disposal acquired both the Moretown and South Hadley landfills in September of last year from Interstate Waste Services. Officials from Advanced Disposal said the Moretown Landfill was in disrepair when they arrived. Advanced Disposal and Interstate Waste Services are both owned by Highstar Capital, a privately traded investment firm.
The Moretown Landfill pays over $500,000 as a host fee to the town of Moretown, which significantly lowers local tax rates.
