Foul odors remain problem at southern Stark landfill
The Akron Beacon Journal
BOLIVAR -Progress is being made to curtail the foul odors from a major landfill in southern Stark County, but the problem persists.
That assessment came from Ohio Environmental Protection Agency staffer Kurt Princic in a report Friday on the Countywide Recycling and Disposal Center to the Stark-Tuscarawas-Wayne Solid Waste Management District.
Tests continue to show the smells, although offensive, do not exceed levels that would create health issues for residents of southern Stark and northern Tuscarawas counties, he said.
``I don't see anything alarming,'' he said.
Republic Waste Services of Ohio, the company that owns and operates the landfill next to Interstate 77 in Pike Township, is confident that it can meet the EPA's deadline of Friday to eliminate or reduce odors.
On Sept. 26, the EPA declared the dump to be a public nuisance and ordered changes.
Republic Waste general manager Tim Vandersall said that the company will ``do whatever it takes to completely resolve these odors.''
``We will not stop on Dec. 16 if there's still work to be done,'' he said.
Princic said the EPA will be out next Saturday and the following weeks to determine whether the company has complied with EPA orders and whether the odors have been eliminated.
The EPA and the Stark County Health Department could both act against Countywide.
The company has expanded the gas-collection system to comply with the Ohio EPA's orders. That includes 167 gas wells that collect, then burn landfill gases at five flares.
The gas system can handle 10 times more gas than before, Vandersall said.
A plastic liner has been installed over 21 acres to keep gases from escaping. Nine acres are still to be addressed, he said.
Reactions caused by the mixing of water and aluminum foundry waste were believed to be the cause of the odors last spring.
In other action, the three-county district got its first look at a management plan drafted for the district by the Ohio EPA.
In mid-2004, the EPA stepped in after the three counties failed for 4 ½ years to win approval of their own management plan. The plan was due in August 1999.
Key elements include the district providing $700,000 to establish a curb-side recycling program in Canton next year and starting incentive-based recycling programs in the three counties.
Canton City Council is to vote on its recycling plan Monday.
Under the new plan, communities can earn up to $45 a ton for material recycled in curbside programs and up to $40 a ton for material at drop-off centers.
Those incentives are expected to boost recycling and help communities pay for the recycling effort, said EPA staffer Andrew Booker.
The plan also calls for the district to start a similar incentive-based program for composting yard wastes
The EPA would also have direct oversight of district finances and operations.
The Ohio EPA is pleased with the plan, Booker said.
The district scheduled a meeting for 3 p.m. Dec. 21 to approve the plan.
View related articles:
Recycling plan makes progress
Manager says Countywide is working hard to eliminate stink
