FOSTORIA, Ohio — The owners of the Sunny Farms Landfill in Fostoria say their operations must be expanded.
The three Seneca County Commissioners approved a resolution last week officially opposing the plan to expand the landfill. Win-Waste, the landfill operator, wants to bring in more garbage from out of state, going from the current 7,500 tons every day up to 12,000 tons.
"That 7,500 tons is 15 million pounds a day ... expanding to 12,000 tons, which is 24 million pounds," Commissioner Mike Kerschner said.
The commissioners said they are worried that the landfill hasn't achieved full EPA compliance yet. Currently, the landfill won't meet federal Clean Air Act requirements until the middle of 2023.
Kerschner felt they should show they can follow the rules before expanding.
"We are asking that [the landfill] not apply for additional space and ... try to get yourself in compliance or just get yourself into compliance with the space that you now have," Kerschner said.
In a statement from Win-Waste, Community Engagement Manager Ben Nutter said:
"Sunny Farms Landfill is in full compliance with the 2019 consent order and has never violated any health-based standard of H2S or SO2 for off-site emissions. The substantial investment in the gas treatment system is another example of WIN Waste Innovations' commitment to the communities we serve and the planet we share."
Still, Kerschner hopes the Ohio EPA will hear their concerns, along with those of both the city of Fostoria and the Seneca County Health District.
"If you get the county health department that says we're opposed, and if you get the Seneca County commissioner who say we're opposed," Kerschner said. "And if you get the city of Fostoria saying they're opposed, you would think at some point the EPA has to take a step back and say, 'What's going on over there, and what do we need to do to make these people feel more comfortable?'"
The Ohio EPA had planned a public Zoom meeting on Sunny Farms last night in which they did not plan to discuss the expansion.
As a result of the significant public interest in the expansion debate, the Zoom meeting was canceled and rescheduled for a public venue, where they hope to discuss it in-person.