The following is a speech I gave opposing the reopening of the White Street Landfill at the Tuesday, June 2, Greensboro City Council meeting. If you would rather watch the video and listen to my lack of voice feel free to watch the video above.
“As a concerned citizen, and a candidate for the District 2 City Council seat, I ventured out to the Nealtown Farms neighborhood last night in an effort to make residents aware that the idea of reopening White Street to municipal waste had once again come up.
To put it lightly, the many folks I spoke with were less than thrilled – outraged might be the best way to explain it. It is my hope that Greensboro can grow to be a respected city that is not known as “the city that flip-flops on life altering decisions,” but that is exactly where we are headed if you overturn a previous council’s decision to close the White Street Landfill to municipal waste. If for a moment you think the pollution that comes from a landfill does not affect ones quality of life you are greatly mistaken.
Late this afternoon I read an air pollution alert on the News & Record’s Web site. It stated that, “The Triad is under a Code Orange notice today for air quality. The Code Orange forecast means people who are sensitive to air pollution should avoid moderate exertion outdoors. Sensitive groups include children and the elderly who are active outside, people who work or exercise outdoors and those with heart conditions and respiratory ailments such as asthma, bronchitis and emphysema.”
Upon reading this I couldn’t help but think of the elderly man that I met last night as he was sitting on his front porch. As I approached him I quickly noticed that he was hooked up to an oxygen tank that helped him breathe. After a short conversation I learned that he moved to Greensboro from Connecticut several years ago and was under the assumption that the landfill was going to be permanently closed. I can only imagine that today’s poor air quality combined with the pollution fuming from a fully functional landfill would make it almost impossible for him to sit on his front porch – and enjoy life.
Then there is the mother of two that I met as her children played in the front yard. She told me about the huge vultures that used to fly around when she first moved to the area and the landfill was still open. Why did she move by a landfill you may ask? Because she was told that it would be closing for good.
Then there is the guy I was talking to over on Phillips Avenue. I said, “Let’s assume that the city could save $7 million a year and potentially lower your property taxes by opening the landfill. What would you say to that?” Without hesitation he told me that he would rather pay the taxes because the neighborhood already deals with enough negativity. Low income housing, prostitution, drugs and crime are a few of the things he highlighted.
I do understand that by reopening the White Street Landfill that the City could save money, but there are other ways to save money as well. For example, has a cost analysis been done to see what the city would save if all apartment complexes were required to offer recycling? This would easily cut down on the amount of trash that is hauled to Montgomery County. Councilman Barber is indeed someone that I respect, but adamantly disagree with on this “business decision” as he calls it. You aren’t just constructing a building and looking for the lowest bid – you are dealing with people’s lives and I hope that as an elected official you can be compassionate and leave this landfill closed to municipal waste.”
In addition to the recycling item I mentioned, I’d also like to know how much revenue the City might lose after home values in the areas surrounding the landfill drop. I’m also curious to know if various council members will also be focusing on the coliseum since it is known for losing money on an annual basis. Scrutiny is good, but it should happen across the board.
I’m curious to know if the same push is being made to find out what the city can do to increase revenue. I’ve got one idea, but need to do a little research before I draw any conclusions.
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What is the scientific link between landfills and ozone?
By no means am I attempting to act like I am a scientist. Ozone alerts combined with the natural pollution that comes from a landfill seems as if it would be a bad situation, especially for the elderly man I referenced. I think everyone pretty much understood what I was getting at.
Ryan
What pollution comes from the landfill?
From epa.gov,
“Surface emissions – Possibly the biggest health and environmental concerns are related to the uncontrolled surface emissions of landfill gas into the air. As previously mentioned, landfill gas contains carbon dioxide, methane, VOC, HAP, and odorous compounds that can adversely affect public health and the environment. For example, carbon dioxide and methane are greenhouse gases that contribute to global climate change. Methane is of particular concern because it is 21 times more effective at trapping heat in the atmosphere than carbon dioxide. Emissions of VOC contribute to ground-level ozone formation (smog). Ozone is capable of reducing or damaging vegetation growth as well as causing respiratory problems in humans. Finally, exposure to HAP can cause a variety of health problems, such as cancerous illnesses, respiratory irritation, and central nervous system damage. Thermal treatment of NMOC (including HAP and VOC) and methane through flaring or combustion in an engine, turbine, boiler, or other device greatly reduces the emission of these compounds.
Odors – The final concern related to uncontrolled landfill gas emissions is their unpleasant odor. Compounds found in landfill gas are associated with strong, pungent odors. These smells can be transmitted off-site to nearby homes and business. Unpleasant odors can lower the quality of life for individuals that live near landfills and potentially reduce local property values.”
Those are problems with uncontrolled landfill gas. Is it your understanding that when it was accepting household waste it emitted uncontrolled gas? Do you know how the amount of air pollution from the landfill compares to the amount of air pollution that will be emitted by the jets FedEx plans to fly in operation of its hub? Do you find the FedEx hub objectionable for its air pollution?
Roch,
No, but it is also not my assumption that it was letting out the smells of fresh fruit and things that were perfectly healthy. Again, I’m not a scientist nor am I an expert. Just trying to use a little common sense here.
I don’t know the comparison of landfill pollution vs. jet pollution. If you do a study on that I’d be interested to know the findings.
Ryan
Glibness! That’s a great quality for a candidate.
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