01-03-2025
Tontitown residents respond to Waste Management statement regarding landfill
TONTITOWN, Ark. (KNWA/KFTA) — Tontitown residents responded to a statement released by Waste Management regarding the Eco-Vista Landfill's air permit application.
The statement comes from Senior Communications Specialist Jennifer McKay and states as follows:
The Eco-Vista Landfill (Eco-Vista) has submitted this Air Permit Renewal Application (Renewal) because all facilities required to obtain these Air Permits must submit Renewals at least six months prior to expiration of the existing Operating Permits. The safety and environmental protection of WM Eco-Vista employees, customers and communities is our highest priority and we meet or exceed strict regulatory criteria in accordance with our operating permits. Eco-Vista systems are designed and monitored by a team of experts and we are confident that they are protective of the environment and community health.
Senior Communications Specialist Jennifer McKay
Timeline: Tontitown's landfill controversy
After hearing the statement released by Waste Management, Tontitown City Council Alderman Tim Burress felt that the corporation's comment was laughable.
'It is laughable that they would say that their highest priority is the safety and welfare of the environment and the people in this area,' said Burress.
He believes that their actions have said otherwise and that the city of Tontitown has no confidence in ADEQ's ethical actions.
'Waste management has been a terrible neighbor. They break our ordinances, our noise ordinances. They have trash that's strewn all over. They're supposed to cover their waste every night with dirt cover,' said the alderman.
Burress is not the only resident who believes Waste Management does not exhibit 'neighborly' traits.
Potentially toxic chemicals found in Tontitown's air in latest round of testing
Tontitown resident Mark Calcagni spoke at the public hearing on Feb. 27 held by the Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality.
Many residents, like Calcagni, voiced frustrations and concerns about the landfill and the believed effects on the city.
After hearing Waste Management's statement, Calcagni expressed dissatisfaction with what was said in a statement:
After hearing WM's statement, I feel they have not been the best neighbor as they have operated without regard to the health and safety of the area. We have constantly complained of odors and gases and finally got on the radar of the Arkansas National Guard to test the air and they performed two air tests that showed harmful chemicals in the air and ADEQ tried to dis-prove those tests as they found 5 harmful chemicals that exceeded EPA levels and two of them are carcinogens Acrolein which was 4,900% above EPA Regional Screening Levels and Benzene that was 209% above EPA Regional Screening Levels. Both very dangerous. If ADEQ gives WM an air permit it would be like giving whiskey to an alcoholic that has flunked three AIR DUI tests. Sad as that agency is supposed to protect people, wildlife, and the environment. I guess ADEQ does not want to bite the hand that feeds them as ADEQ gets almost 2 million a year from WM-Eco-Vista Tontitown.
Tontitown resident Mark Calcagni
The ADEQ informed residents at the meeting that the public hearing is a part of the application process for Eco-Vista Landfill. You can learn more about the public hearing here.
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