‘This garbage will destroy us’: Pike Co communities protest potential private landfill
META, Ky. (WYMT) — Pike County residents are voicing concerns after the fiscal court signed an agreement that could mean significant changes to the way solid waste flows throughout the county.
The Pike County Fiscal Court officially entered into a host agreement with American Land Reserve, LLC Tuesday. The private company, a subsidiary of USA Waste and Recycling, is proposing to construct and operate a landfill in the Myra community.
County officials have claimed that if approved by the state, the landfill would provide 50 permanent jobs and save the county money. They say it would also address years of concerns about the county’s current landfill, which they say is currently operating on borrowed time and will not be viable in the years to come.
The proposed private landfill would be open to accepting solid waste not only from within the county, but other counties and states. It would use railways, roadways and other forms of transportation to bring the waste in.
Community members are concerned about the impacts of the proposal.
Rodney Johnson has lived in Myra his entire life. The 73-year-old says his neighbors feel blindsided by the agreement since it was not publicly discussed in detail before the county signed the paperwork during a special called meeting last month. Instead, it was unanimously voted through and signed after a lengthy executive session.
“I don’t think Pike County should be a dumping ground. I know our community’s against it,“ said Johnson. “I’m looking to gather more facts about it, but I’m definitely opposed to any private-owned landfill coming in here accepting garbage from across our nation.”
That community response led to one commissioner sharing an apology video on social media, saying he was voting to bring in jobs and a sustainable landfill but did not realize it was a polarizing project.
Judge-Executive Ray Jones was unable to discuss the agreement this week, but told WYMT there is a lot of misinformation being shared on social media. He plans to dive into the agreement and the county’s reason for accepting during the next fiscal court meeting.
Community members have started a Change.org petition asking someone to intervene in the agreement.
“This landfill. This garbage will destroy us. And I don’t know what I can do to help stop it,” said Johnson. “But whatever I can do I’m willing to help stop it. ‘Cause we sure don’t need it.”
Ray Ratliff is the founder of the group ‘The future of Eastern Kentucky’. He worked to create the online petition and took paper versions to nearby businesses.
Ratliff said the voices of those impacted are crucial. So, he encouraged anyone with an interest or concern to attend the next fiscal court meeting to hear what leaders have to say and share their thoughts with those elected to represent them.
“Everybody might not get the to express their opinion, but if they’re there in support or opposing it, that’s their right. They need to do that,” Ratliff said.
The fiscal court is hosting a special called meeting Monday, during which Jones plans to dive into the agreement with those in attendance. That meeting is set for 10 a.m. in the Pike County Court House.
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