S. Hadley operators to close landfill

SOUTH HADLEY, Mass. (WWLP) - Landfill operators in South Hadley have announced they'll soon close the dump they’ve been trying to expand.

The announcement was welcome news to the dozens of South Hadley residents who for years have been fighting the expansion. 

“I can't grow the grass even, if I grow any vegetables they become rotten,” said Mo Hinder outside her Eagle Drive home.

Hinder lives less than 1,000 feet from the South Hadley landfill.  She says living so close to the dump has affected the value of her home and quality of life.  She deals with constant mold, noise, vibrations and even rodents.

“A lot of creatures come like mice, rats, small snakes,” said Hinder on Friday afternoon. 

But all of that will soon be a bad memory for Hinder. On Tuesday, landfill operators hand delivered a letter to the town's select board saying that by next year the dump will close.

“I was in Boston and I couldn't believe how happy I was over there.  Everyone was asking what happened, what happened? And I said this is something personal,” said Hinder, who says she rarely mentions she lives next to a dump.

Her neighbors were also relieved. 

“We were calling and texting all of the neighbors.  We were very happy that we are hearing the operators would be leaving this landfill,” said Tosia Bara who also lives near the dump.  Bara  says the smell has forced her and her family out of the neighborhood on several occasions.

The state allows 600 tons of trash to be dumped in the South Hadley Landfill every day.  The decision to close is followed by more than a year of citations and complaints.  Recently, the state’s Department of Environmental Protection rejected Advanced Disposal's request to raise the vertical limit on what residents call “Mount Trashmore.”

Operators say it's become obvious that their proposed 16 acre expansion is not supported by the town.

“The news came a little bit unexpectedly. And from what I understand the landfill company, Advanced Disposal, has heard the voices of the people in this community,” said Toxics Action Center Community Organizer Jonathan Leibovic. 

Toxics Action Center recently designated the site one of the 'Dirty Dozen," for being one of the top 12 pollution threats in New England.  Leibovic says given the site’s numerous violations monitoring will continue even after it's closed.

Advanced Disposal also operates a landfill in Moretown, VT. A similar request to expand the dump there was rejected by environmental officials.