GUEST COLUMN/Landfill still a threat

GUEST COLUMN/Landfill still a threat

Posted

We are a small part of the grassroots opposition to NCL Waste Inc.'s proposed 89-acre landfill in Madison County. Unlike the proponents of NCL's landfill, we are not getting paid by anyone. We are fighting for the people rather than a big garbage company.

The heavy-handed push for this unneeded landfill is uniting people from every kind of background. We are racially and ethnically diverse. We are rural, suburban and city folks. We are Democrats, Republicans and Independents.

People need to understand this issue is not going away anytime soon. We are thankful the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality Permit Board stood up for the people on a recent vote, but we must continue to make our voices heard with our local and state officials through personal contact, social media, email and phone calls.

Our message is simple.

Madison County doesn't need another landfill!!

It's environmental injustice. We are already doing our part!

The state's largest landfill has polluted this same community for decades.

It will hurt our economy, property values and roads.

There are serious environmental and health risks multiplied by an extra dump.

Don't put the interest of a big garbage company before the people's interest.

NCL cannot move forward without approval from the Permit Board, which voted in January to not approve NCL's construction permit for the landfill and approved another motion stating the permit application would not receive further attention until Madison County updates its solid waste needs assessment, last done in 2003.

This puts NCL in the awkward position of now needing the Madison County Board of Supervisors to update the County's needs assessment after NCL threatened to sue the County in December if they took the time to update this assessment. To date, there has been no action from the Madison County supervisors, but it's a safe bet the NCL lawyer is wearing them out.



Madison County simply does not NEED a third landfill, especially considering Canton plans to expand their existing landfill by 80 acres adding several decades of capacity. Even without a Canton expansion, NCL plans to bring in other people's trash to our community. Why would Madison County, with its growing economy, want all the risks associated with another landfill to pile up other people's garbage?

We are grateful the Permit Board put the people ahead of a big private garbage company. We have been saying over and over that this third garbage dump is not needed and finally somebody listened to us. Thank you, thank you Permit Board for giving us environmental justice! We need you to keep it up until this threat to our community is dead.

The Central Mississippi REALTORS® oppose this application and are fighting to protect the future of Madison County and the tri-county area. We need more groups and individuals to join the fight. You may visit www.stoptheNCLlandfill.com to help our effort.

It's always a good thing when government stands up for its people, but don't assume the other side has quit lobbying for their unneeded landfill. Join the fight for all of Madison County!



Katie Warren is president of Central Mississippi REALTORS®. Sylvia Thomas is president the North Livingston Homeowners Association






Powered by Creative Circle Media Solutions