California landfill expansion plan draws objections

A group of protesters gathered in Milpitas, California, in mid-September to show opposition to the proposed expansion of a nearby municipal solid waste (MSW) landfill.

The online report from San Francisco television station KPIX says the Milpitas residents are unhappy about a proposed expansion that will primarily serve residents of adjacent San Jose.

Area residents quoted by the TV station objected to odors emanating from the Newby Island Landfill and the landfill’s effect on their property values.

One neighborhood resident, who was not among the protesters, said most nearby property owners should have been aware of the landfill’s existence when they bought their homes.

The TV station also reached a spokesperson for Phoenix-based Republic Services, the Newby Island Landfill’s operator, who said the landfill is an asset to the area’s residents that allows them to dispose of waste in an environmentally sound way.

Many Milpitas residents, however, seem to be less willing to act as host to the facility. According to KPIX, the city council of Milpitas has voted to end its contract with the landfill before the end of 2016, and the city’s voters will have a chance to agree to that action in an upcoming election.