ALLENTOWN, Pa. — Lehigh Valley Planning Commission is asking Plainfield Township to “re-examine” its zoning amendment proposals to increase solid waste tonnage per day at Grand Central Sanitary Landfill.
The commission also reviewed a proposal to expand the size of the Waste Management-operated landfill during its full commission meeting Thursday.
The ordinance now limits disposal to an average of 1,200 tons per day over any calendar month, with a maximum of 1,500 tons per day.
The amendment increases those limits to an average of 2,750 tons per day over any calendar month, with a maximum of 3,000 tons per day, to reflect the landfill’s current operating volumes as permitted by the state Department of Environmental Protection.
"I don't think it's a great idea."Charles Elliott, Lehigh Valley Planning Commission
The amendment aligns local regulations with existing DEP authorizations and aligns with FutureLV: The Regional Plan by providing environmentally responsible and economical solid, electronic and hazardous waste disposal and recycling.
Board member Charles Elliott opposed the zoning amendment proposal.
“I don’t think it’s a great idea,” he said.
'Trying to protect the public'
Elliott suggested amending the LVPC staff review letter to include: “LVPC invites the township to examine the question if its proposed ordinance is pre-empted by the state’s Solid Waste Management Act.”
Pennsylvania's Solid Waste Management Act prohibits waste facilities from exceeding specific daily volume limits defined in their operating permits.
The limits apply to municipal, residual and hazardous waste facilities and violations can result in significant penalties.
Jane Mellert, a former Plainfield Township supervisor, opposed the amendment. During the meeting, she read from a letter she had sent to the LVPC members.
She cited a number of reasons, including Pennsylvania ranking among the Top 5 states getting out-of-state trash, and the poor air quality in the Lehigh Valley, caused, in part, by landfill gases.
“We’re just trying to protect the public as much as possible,” Mellert said.
Landfill Expansion
Also Thursday, LVPC voted to accept the staff review of the expansion proposal.
The proposal consolidates 18 parcels into a 210.9-acre lot and expands the existing landfill at 1963 Pen Argyl Road.
The proposed landfill area is about 95 acres.
“This [expansion proposal] is very concerning. There’s been an appeal to it and it’s going before the [township] zoning hearing board.”Jane Mellert, former Plainfield Township supervisor
The site proposed for landfill expansion is bounded by Pen Argyl Road to the west, Delabole Road to the south, Bocce Club Road to the north and a rail right-of-way to the east.
The existing landfill operation is to the west, Pen Argyl is to the north and exurban and agricultural areas are to the east and south.
The project site contains 111.9 acres of woodlands. The site plan indicates that 54.7 acres of wooded areas would be removed and 57.2 acres retained in the development process.
“This [expansion proposal] is very concerning,” Mellert said. “There’s been an appeal to it and it’s going before the [township] zoning hearing board.”
Mellert told the LVPC board an expanded landfill is likely to create traffic problems in the area.
“That area is very accident prone,” she said.
