Don’t Give Us Trash
"Find out ALL the facts."
- Phyllis Smith, Former Executive Director of the Greater Dade City Chamber of Commerce
Angelo’s 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 when 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 the document, or can’t be confirmed at all.
What Crisis?
It is true that our waste to energy facility is reaching its’ capacity, but that doesn’t mean we don’t have options. In 2007, Pasco County negotiated with Osceola County to handle our excess waste for five years. That means we have time to look at the options and plan for the future. Pasco County has time to make sure that future plans are good for taxpayers as well as the environment.
"Don't be in the business of putting landfills in my backyard."
-Bill Dean
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? Currently Pasco County recycles about 1% of its municipal solid waste stream. More aggressive goals of 10%, 20% or more should be established for our residents by the County to reduce the demands at our disposal facility. Other progressive communities do it, why shouldn’t we?
Rubbish on Rails?
Angelo’s initial plan stated that less than 10 percent of the garbage accepted by the site would be from Pasco. So where would the other 90 percent come from?
Angelo’s is planning to create a huge 1069-acre facility. The goal it to maximize the amount 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 US Environmental Protection Agency, there is an ongoing trend to transport municipal solid waste further from home (500-600 miles on average) to larger mega-landfills. It’s all a matter of cost. Many regions have found that it is cheaper to transport their waste to another area than to build a facility of their own.
Angelo's has denied publicly having any plans to accept waste from outside the area even though their own business plans require it. Nothing has been put in writing to prevent importing waste at a later date. Having railway access in place just makes it easier for them to import waste and stay beyond the regulatory control of county or state government.