Angelo’s Aggregate Materials has a fortune riding on the approval of their landfill. It requires millions of dollars to permit, construct and maintain a landfill.
Part of this investment will be used to persuade the state, county and the public to allow them to build their facility. They stand to lose hundreds of millions of dollars in profits if the project is defeated.
Angelo’s has made a number of claims to push their agenda. These claims have either contradicted their Florida Department of Environmental Protection application, weren’t mentioned anywhere in their filing documents, or can’t be confirmed at all.
What Crisis?
In 2007, Pasco County negotiated a five-year contract with Osceola County to handle any excess waste.. That means we have time to look at the options and plan for the future. Also, because of the economic slowdown, we have much more time.
That’s time to make sure that future plans are good for taxpayers as well as the environment.
Combined with a well-planned, user-friendly recycling program, the waste management system could become even more efficient. Why should Pasco County be rushed into allowing (and competing with) a private landfill that we don’t need?
Rubbish on Rails?
Angelo’s initial plan stated that less than 10 percent of the garbage accepted by the private landfill would come from Pasco. So where would the other 90 percent come from?
Angelo’s is planning to create a large 1,069-acre facility. The goal is to maximize the amount of waste it can accept. Based on its size and access to rail lines, this site will be capable of accepting waste from far beyond the local region.
According to information from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, there is an ongoing trend to transport municipal solid waste further from home (about 500 to 600 miles on average) to larger mega-landfills.
It’s all a matter of cost.
Angelo’s has publicly denied having any plans to accept waste from outside the area, even though their own business plans require it. The uncertainty alone poses a risk.
Having railway access in place just makes it easier for them to import waste. More waste. More money. More risk.