RUSTBURG — For many residents near the Region 2000 landfill on Livestock Road, the stench of it hits them in the face as they are leaving for work or taking children to school.
Many local officials took up the issue and spoke during a public hearing by the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality Wednesday evening. The hearing was for an amended environmental permit, specifically related to air pollution, by the landfill that would include the lateral expansion.
“This issue is serious. … I smell it at my home and place of business,” said Jenna Fulmer, speaking for Delegate Matt Fariss.
Rustburg Supervisor Eric Zehr asked the DEQ not to “get lost in objectivity” but consider the people who step outside their house and are faced with the stench.
He said later in the hearing DEQ has an opportunity and duty to protect his family and neighbors.
Spring Hill Supervisor James Borland said after Tuesday’s supervisors' meeting, he drove down Calohan Road on the way home.
“The smell was so tremendous … we smelled it in our car,” he said.
The landfill is near Borland’s district and in an area of increased potential for economic development. He said if they could go back, they would deny the expansion.
“We’re all for it being transferred somewhere else,” he said.
Robert Day, of Calohan Road, said DEQ is either not paying attention to odor complaints or doesn’t care.
“Based on the volume of complaints, you don’t care,” he said.
His son recently tried to sell property near the landfill but could not sell it even below property value, Day said.
First National Bank President Todd Hall said he continues to be concerned about emissions and acceptance of wastewater treatment plant sludge as the odor is offensive and septic in nature.
He added the “pungent smell hit me in the face” as he left for work Wednesday.
“If a for-profit business had this kind of impact, it would be reprimanded,” he said.
The authority has said it looked into changing the pH of the sludge and had good results with odor control.
Many other long-time residents said they lived through the county-only landfill with few problems but since it became regional the smell has increased.
Judy Doering, a local real estate broker who lives on Savage Drive, said the authority has failed to control odors at the current level.
“The value of surrounding area is now compromised ... our air and water are at risk,” she said.
Region 2000 applied for modification of its permits to include the lateral expansion, a piece of land to be filled in between two working sites at the landfill.
The changes would allow it to operate at a higher design capacity and increase emission limits at the landfill.
To address the copious amounts of odor complaints, the authority has introduced a mist deodorizing system and landfill gas collection system.
The authority is soliciting bids for the construction of the expansion until Jan. 13.
