Greensboro community meeting turns contentious over proposal to use local landfill

Greensboro residents voiced frustration with city officials about a proposal to move contaminated soil from Bingham Park to a local landfill at a community meeting on Wednesday.

The plan, if approved, would involve moving more than 11,000 truckloads of dirt to the White Street Landfill.

The site is the closet and most cost-efficient of three disposal options, but has had a contentious history with residents successfully lobbying to have it closed to household waste two decades ago. It now only accepts construction debris and yard waste generated within Guilford County.

The park and landfill, at around six miles apart, are both near communities of color.

Milton Peele has lived near the landfill for over 40 years. He says he was disappointed in how the city conducted the meeting and believes they were trying to avoid tough questions.

"I think the city is more concerned about the cost instead of how much it impacts the community," Peele said.

Officials have said using the White Street Landfill to dispose of the waste will lead to its closure sooner and shorten the remediation project's timeline.

Mayor Nancy Vaughan says she was part of the decision to close the landfill to household waste, and understands this is a hot-button discussion.

"I made a pact with the community, it will stay closed to municipal solid waste. This is different, and it is not something that is airborne that could hurt the community as it's being transported," she says. "That is something we would never do."

Vaughan says her decision will ultimately be based on costs, safety and health concerns. 

Greensboro is continuing to host tours of the White Street Landfill. A proposal is expected to come before the city council in July.