Residents again air landfill concerns
The Times-Reporter
CANTON TOWNSHIP – More than 100 people came Thursday to an Ohio Environmental Protection Agency information session about odors from Countywide Recycling and Disposal Facility in Pike Township, Stark County.
The landfill was declared a public nuisance by Joseph Koncelik, OEPA director, on Sept. 6. Landfill officials were given a Dec. 15 deadline to fix the problem. The landfill, north of Bolivar, is owned by Republic Services of Ohio.
Kurt Princic, environmental manager of the Northeast District of the OEPA, said the meeting’s attendance shows the concern of residents, and the OEPA finds the situation unacceptable.
Dan Aleman, administrator of the Canton City Health Department Air Pollution Division, told those attending to keep a log of the smell through Nov. 30 and to call the department at (330) 489-3385 with complaints after Dec. 4.
It is believed that 200,000 to 300,000 tons of aluminum dross/salt cake waste was taken into the landfill until 2001. Other aluminum waste has been placed in cells still in use, but that process was stopped in July. The affected acreage has a rapid decomposition of waste, which is believed to be causing the odor.
Bill Skowronski, district chief of OEPA’s Northeast District, said the U.S. EPA was to begin testing next week, but funds that were to be available for the testing are no longer there.
“We will look for a different laboratory to do independent testing. The OEPA pays for it,” Skowronski said.
Countywide has placed a plastic tarp over the affected area where the gas is taken to flares so it can’t escape into the air. So far, 144 gas extraction wells have been installed, but not all wells are hooked up. A berm has been installed around the affected area, and a sweet misting system has been added.
Chris Beebe of Pike Township said his family has smelled the landfill on a regular basis for two years.
“We keep records and make a note every time it smells and it is frequently very bad,” he said.
Richard Kincaid of Bethlehem Township said he has resided in the area for 40 years.
“We had friend from Schoenbrunn coming to our house for dinner on Nov. 9. When I arrived home at 5, there was no smell, but by 6 p.m. the odor was so strong it gagged our friends,” Kincaid said.
