Virginia is for dumpers
BY REX SPRINGSTON
TIMES-DISPATCH STAFF WRITER
Thursday, June 16, 2005
Other states sent Virginia 7.8 million tons of solid waste last year, up 18 percent from the 6.6 million tons shipped here in 2003.
Solid waste includes household garbage, construction debris, some medical waste, old tires and treated human waste called sludge. Most of the waste is dumped in large, mod- ern landfills.
The latest increase comes on top of a 22 percent jump the year before -- the biggest increase since 1998, the first full year for which the state compiled figures.
Virginia received 4.7 million tons of out-of-state waste in 1998.
The new figures come from the state Department of Environmental Quality's annual solid-waste report, released yesterday.
Out-of-state trash has long been an emotional issue in Virginia. Opponents say it tarnishes Virginia's image, and they say landfills getting the trash could leak some day and pollute waters.
Industry spokesmen say trash imports provide jobs and revenue for localities with landfills that take the waste.
The new figures indicate Virginia has retained its dubious distinction of being the No. 2 waste importer among states, behind Pennsylvania.
Pennsylvania received 10.5 million tons in 2003. Figures for 2004 have not yet been compiled, a state spokesman said.
An abundance of large landfills and relatively cheap dumping fees have made Virginia a prime destination for other states' trash.
Bill Hayden, a spokesman for the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality, said the big landfills feature underground liners and other safeguards "that contain pollution to the best extent possible."
"It's always possible that a landfill is going to leak . . . but overall we believe the safety of our landfills is good."
The report said most of the increase in out-of-state waste, about 920,000 tons, occurred at a Goochland County landfill that takes construction and demolition debris, such as old concrete.
That dump, simply called the 623 Landfill, is on state Route 623 in eastern Goochland.
Out-of-state waste is hauled to Virginia in trucks and on trains. Waste Management Inc., a major trash-disposal company, plans to barge trash up the James River to a port in Charles City County.
"What stands out is we haven't even started barging yet, and the numbers continue to climb," said Jim Sharp, director of Campaign Virginia, a group that fights out-of-state trash.
In addition, a proposed landfill off Interstate 64 in New Kent County would take some trash from outside Virginia.
Sharp called once again for federal legislation that would give states the power to limit trash imports.
Lisa Kardell, a spokeswoman for Waste Management, said no decision has been made on when to start barging. She said the company's landfills are "safe, state-of-the-art" operations.
The 1999 General Assembly passed laws to limit out-of-state trash, but courts struck them down as infringements on interstate commerce.
The new report shows the main exporters of waste to Virginia were Maryland (3.3 million tons), New York (1.9 million tons) and the District of Columbia (1.3 million tons).
Waste created by Virginians rose from 18.6 million tons in 2003 to 19.3 million tons last year.
While most of the waste is dumped into landfills, some is incinerated and some goes to places such as recycling centers.
Contact Rex Springston at (804) 649-6453 or rspringston@timesdispatch.com