Community Corner

Advocates, Residents Urge Representation in Bridgeton Landfill Concerns

With stir of a possible settlement, complaints of the landfill's odor grows and range from Hazelwood to as far as St. Charles.

The Missouri Coalition for the Environment and residents of Maryland Heights and Bridgeton gathered Monday morning to press officials for more information on the Bridgeton and West Lake landfills.

With more construction scheduled to start at the site May 20 and the Bridgeton Landfill odor expected to increase, residents and the coalition want more action from state agencies.

Ed Smith, Safe Energy Director for the coalition, showed that Republic Services, owner of the landfills, currently only offers to relocate residents in Spanish Village, Terrisan Reste Mobile Home and some of Carrolton Village Condominiums, which are within a one-mile radius. Smith and others said the “stink zone” is much greater than one mile.

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“If Republic Services’ offer that only moves only a few neighborhoods is an indication of a settlement between the Attorney General and the landfill owner, the deal with exclude thousands of people who have become prisoners in their own homes,” he said in a press release. “People impacted by the landfill deserve a seat at the negotiating table.”

There has been no confirmation that a settlement has been reached.

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Smith showed a non-scientific study of people who complained about the odor, which mainly had respondents from the West Lake Landfill Facebook page.

The map showed a three-mile radius that affects residents, schools and hospitals in Maryland Heights, Bridgeton, Hazelwood and even reports as far as St. Charles. Specifically in Hazelwood, the map showed schools affected such as Garrett Elementary and Hazelwood West Middle School.

Smith said that protection is needed for those families and residents living near the landfill, and that they need representation in these dealings in the future.

Dawn Chapman, a Maryland Heights resident and cofounder of the West Lake Landfill Facebook page, said that the data lag being provided by state agencies, such as the Department of Natural Resources, regarding the air quality and other hazards of the landfill is not good enough.

“It’s a lot like turning on tornado sirens after the tornado has hit,” she said. “I want to be able to make informed decisions for what’s best for my family.”

Chapman said she lives a mile and a half from the landfill site and praised Attorney General Chris Koster for his work on this issue as “the people’s” attorney. Koster filed a lawsuit against Republic and the landfill in March.

A hearing was scheduled for the lawsuit Monday afternoon in St. Louis County Circuit Court in Clayton.

She said that she just wants to know more about his negotiations with Republic and what’s happening behind closed doors and wants more representation of the people behind the closed doors.

“We are fighting,” Chapman said. “We should not have to fight this hard to stay healthy and stay safe.”

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To check out other articles related to Bridgeton Landfill, check out:

  • Bridgeton Landfill Court Dates Set
  • Pipe Construction Halted at Bridgeton Landfill
  • Missouri Looks at Lawsuit Against Bridgeton Landfill
  • Update: Missouri Attorney General Files Lawsuit Against Bridgeton Landfill Owner
  • Hold Your Nose: Bridgeton Landfill Gets Stinkier This Week


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