Out of sight, out of mind?

Not when it comes to garbage,
at least, not in Ohio.

In fact, our state is distinguishing itself…as a leading importer of out-of-state waste. (PDF)

Why? State officials (PDF) cite three factors:

• Ohio’s ample landfill storage capacity–currently more than 20 years, and soon to be 30 years
• Ohio’s low waste disposal fees—lowest in the Great Lakes region; and
• Ohio’s direct highway and rail routes to nearly 100 waste havens.

Another dirty secret: until late 2004, Ohio law gave a green light to burying construction and demolition debris (C&D) waste immediately adjacent to a home, water well, lake, river, or park. The law even allowed C&D landfill operators to stop monitoring groundwater for contaminants the moment their landfill closed.

Grassroots landfill reform group, Club 3000, launches new website: www.ohiolandfills.org