Would a landfill help or hurt New Kent County?
Landfills are a tempting way for a county to make money if it has no other options. But they come with a price. A landfill brings health, odor and environmental hazards, and makes attracting development more difficult. An article in the Richmond Times Dispatch (August 26, 2007) indicated that Hanover and Caroline Counties have closed their landfills due to leaks or the cost of complying with environmental regulations. The landfill in Western Henrico, often cited as a good example of landfill with nearby development, will be closing in the next few years. To find out about the problems of nearby landfills in Charles City and King and Queen, pick up your local paper or step outside and smell the air. But, shouldnt each county be responsible for disposing of its own trash? The high cost of constructing a landfill makes a local landfill impossible. The only practical solution is a regional landfill serving a large area. Today Pennsylvania and Virginia lead the nation in the importing of tr
