MORETOWN, Vt. -
"Why wouldn't they have want to do it already why wait until they have a huge threat," Moretown resident Martha Douglas said.
Douglass has lived near and worked next to the Moretown Landfill for years and says the smell has become unbearable
"They know that's one of those solid waste management rules don't have those offsite odors," Douglass said.
She's not the only one. Others in Moretown are upset.
So is the Agency of Natural Resources. It sent a letter to the landfill saying it has no confidence that Moretown landfill will be able to control offsite odors and is giving it until Monday to come up with a plan to fix it or the plant would have to shut down. But that plan still might not be enough.
"I don't want landfills operating if they're polluting our ground water and making it difficult for residents to live near the landfill," Governor Peter Shumlin said.
A representative with the company tells me they will likely change some management positions, introduce more engineering to prevent offsite odor and cover cell caps more often.
Governor Shumlin says there are benefits to keeping it open such as reduced property taxes.
"By about 450-500 bucks on average home. That's big money," Shumlin said.
The Moretown Landfill is one of only two landfills currently in the state but if it shuts down Governor Shumlin says Vermont's waste security is still in good condition.
"The good news is there's an excess of space in landfills, regionally and in Vermont," Gov. Shumlin said.
