FLORENCE: Officials respond to odor issue

During the March 5 meeting, township officials told the public the winter has caused increased odors from the Waste Management Landfill located in Tullytown, Pennsylvania.

by Amy Batista, Special Writer
FLORENCE — It was revealed last week that potholes and shoveling snow are not the only onerous byproducts of a harsh winter.
   During the March 5 meeting, township officials told the public the winter has caused increased odors from the Waste Management Landfill located in Tullytown, Pennsylvania.
   Thomas Sahol, assistant township administrator, said he was told high humidity gases are being extracted within the landfill, and that when the gas reaches the surface where the pipe is exposed it is “freezing on that lining.”
   When that happens the pressure in the landfill starts to increase and as it increases it starts to seep from the cap liner that covers the landfill, Mr. Sahol explained.
   ”It’s just a horrible odor that doesn’t smell like the trash can,” Mr. Sahol said, referring to it as almost like a gas-like smell.
   He said Waste Management is aware of the issue, which he was told is fairly common.
   ”It goes right to the heart of what their issue is,” he said. “Apparently, it is a landfill gas that is escaping, not an odor.”
   Since the onset of the odor, he said, 50 additional gas extraction wells have been installed in the area where the highest pressures are to try and minimize the amount of gas that is escaping the landfill.
   Waste Management has also installed nine new dewatering wells and six more that they are going to be installing to get the water level down, Mr. Sahol said.
   ”They are putting 24 acres of temporary capping,” he said, adding it is just under 1/8 of an inch thick. “That actually completely encapsulates the landfill and stops additional moisture from getting into that open area.”
   Mr. Sahol relayed that Waste Management officials expect warming temperatures will help them to keep the gas vacuum wells open and operating the way they should be.
   ”If anyone has a concern they wanted to voice they can call Waste Management directly,” he said.
   Mr. Sahol further said he was apprised in a meeting with the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection last week that Waste Management is currently initiating work at the landfill that is expected to be completed in the next four years.
   ”They were approved by the Pennsylvania DEP to tow into the existing landfill and tie and fill in to bring up the elevation up consistently across the whole landfill base on the other side,” Mr. Sahol said.
   He added that the landfill will not be any higher than what is currently at the site.
   Resident Robert Fitzpatrick raised the issue about odors at the meeting.
   ”I do have one concern the smell that is coming through the town and you’ve got to smell it too,” said Mr. Fitzpatrick, adding it’s not something impossible to smell.
   ”If you’re not use to it, it hits you pretty hard,” he added.
   He further suggested the issue could have a negative impact on home values in town, and that he had already lost out on selling his own home.
   ”I was attempting to sell my houses and my property values are shot,” Mr. Fitzpatrick said, adding that one interested person who came by and noted the smell in the air.
   Mr. Fitzpatrick said he was “surprised” to find out that he was the only one who has come to a council meeting to address the topic so far.
   Mayor Craig Wilkie noted that the council will be monitoring the issue, and said the parties are working together.
   ”Obviously we’ve reached out to them and we hear what they are doing and we will continue to work with them until we get to the point where we can’t work together,” Mayor Wilkie said.
   Mayor Wilkie noted that the town responded to a similar issue back in the ‘90s.
   ”We will never tolerate it,” he said. “We will continue to work with them. When there have been issues they have tried to address them.”
   To report odors, residents can call the Waste Management odor complaint line at 609-499-0500 or residents can also contact the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection hotline by calling 1-877-WARNDEP.