Stay in the Know - Subscribe to Our Newsletters
Join a network of more than 90,000 waste and recycling industry professionals. Get the latest news and insights straight to your inbox. Free.
Alabama Landfill Company Sues Residents for Expressing Environmental Racism
1 Min Read
Some residents of Uniontown, Ala., are being sued for $30 million by Green Group Holdings LLC, the owner of Arrowhead Landfill, for complaining about noise, rodents and odor, which the company says is libel and slander. Green Group claims that those issues were resolved in 2011, when the company acquired the landfill.
In response to county commissioners approving permits for the Arrowhead Landfill in 2007, the residents formed a group called Black Belt Citizens Fighting for Health and Justice, which filed a federal complaint against the Alabama Department of Environmental Management for reissuing permits to landfill operators in both 2011 and 2012.
This lawsuit is hurting the population of Uniontown, where the demographic is 90 percent African American and the median household income is $15, 054, according to the 2010 Census.
Atlanta Blackstar has more on the lawsuit:
Residents of Uniontown, Alabama, were outraged when county commissioners first approved permits for the Arrowhead Landfill in 2007. The 1,300-acre dump is the largest in the state, accepting up to 15,000 tons of solid waste daily from communities and industries in 33 states. In 2009, the Alabama Department of Environmental Management allowed the Tennessee Valley Authority to deposit 4 million cubic yards of toxic coal ash from its Kingston power plant spill in the landfill, Earthjustice notes.
Citizens have complained about the noise level, rodents and terrible odor. They also believe the coal ash is contaminating the air and water supply, causing a myriad of health problems for locals.
About the Author
You May Also Like
.png?width=300&auto=webp&quality=80&disable=upscale)