OEPA plans to monitor landfill odor
The Times-Reporter
EAST SPARTA - Mike Settles, Ohio Environmental Protection Agency Northeast District spokesman, said Thursday that the OEPA plans to monitor the odor issue at Countywide Recycling & Disposal Facility beginning Saturday.
OEPA Director Joseph Koncelik set a deadline for Countywide to have the stench eliminated by today after he termed it a nuisance in September.
Bolivar and Wilkshire Hills area residents complained for months about the odor.
“It’s hard to say what a nuisance is because it is so subjective,” Settles said. “We did get an e-mail from Mr. (Tim) Vandersall this morning that indicated they were having trouble with its gas delivery system and one of the larger flares was malfunctioning. (Vandersall) said they were using a smaller flare but because the landfill was not operating up to full capacity, apparently, some of the odor is still there.”
Countywide could face potential fines if it is deemed not to be in compliance with the director’s orders to eliminate the odors.
Meanwhile, Settles confirmed Thursday that Countywide was fined $8,228 for accepting hazardous waste last April from Republic Engineered Products Inc. of Canton.
Republic, meanwhile, was fined $8,400 for delivering waste – known as bag-house dust – to Countywide.
Calls to Vandersall, Countywide general manager, and Republic Engineered Products were not returned Thursday.
Samples from the waste tested positive for lead – about 190 milligrams per liter, or 38 times the minimum level needed to be considered hazardous, according to the OEPA.
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