By Mark Scott
Sardinia, NY – Waste Management, Incorporated wants to expand its landfill in Sardinia, a small town located in the extreme southeast corner of Erie County. Wednesday night, the State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) will begin the process of deciding whether to allow the company to do so.
The Sardinia landfill has operated for decades. In fact, it opened before any environmental regulations were put in place. But now that its current owner Waste Management wants to expand it, the DEC will be carefully examining the environmental consequences. That process begins Wednesday with what the DEC's Steven Doleski says is a public scoping meeting.
"It's an opportunity for the public to provide input on environmental concerns and issues that they themselves, living in the area, have," Doleski said.
The DEC is likely to hear an earful from residents. Most are against the plan to expand the landfill. Doleski, the DEC's regional permit administrator, says one problem in particular is the smell.
"There is presently a concern about a nuisance odor from the landfill," Doleski said. "The department has been working hard to address that."
The Waste Management proposal calls for a 77-acre expansion with 56 of those acres being used for the actual landfill.
Doleski says the environmental review process could take up to two years to complete.
Wednesday's hearing begins at 6:30pm at the Sardinia Town Hall Community Center.