Waste Management Redoing Environmental Study

The Department of Environment and Conservation is forcing Waste Management to redo an environmental study for the landfill in White County.

County Executive Denny Wayne Robinson said the study was originally conducted by the county during the negotiation process to sell the county’s landfill. Robinson said members of the state department initially agreed to accept the county’s study but have since changed their minds.

“During the original negotiations, White County had done the phase one environmental,” Robinson said. “And so when the application went through and it was in Waste Management’s name and not White County’s name, they (were) like hey, you need to, phase one needs to be done by Waste Management since they’re the ones applying for the permit.”

Robinson said the study is necessary for the landfill to become a Class I disposal facility in the future. Robinson said the new study will push Waste Management’s efforts toward a Class I permit back by two to three weeks.

“They’re not looking to get that part open until a year or so later anyway,” Robinson said. “So it’s not something we can’t absorb.”

Robinson said the solid waste committee had to give Waste Management approval to conduct the study but they do not need to take the matter to the county commission.

“Just the committee has to agree that y’all are good with them applying for the permit and that it’s within our plan for disposal of solid waste,” Robinson said.