By Jessica Taloney Reporter
Published: Mon, February 11, 2008 - 5:17 pm
Jessica Taloney
"We don't want to become known as the dump of Alabama," said Smith, who lives just four miles from the Allied Waste Timberland Landfill, the largest dump in all of Alabama. Smith is fighting a proposal to build another landfill even closer to his house.
The proposal, submitted to Escambia County Commissioners, requests permission to build a dump on 143 acres of land off Highway 41 south of Brewton. Though the proposal is for a construction debris dump, not a landfill for household garbage or hazardous waste, Smith says you never know what you'll really get.
"If it says landfill we'll be opposed to it. Everbybody in the community will," said Smith.
But, the man behind the proposal, Steven Creamer, says it's not fair to compare his plan with nearby dumps.
"Construction debris has no smell," said Creamer, who says his proposal also includes a recycling center.
"Some of the community didn't really realize what I was trying to do," he said.
But, public pressure proved too strong, and Creamer withdrew his request Monday morning. In a letter to county commissioners, Creamer wrote "I understand the situation I am up against.... Due to public perception, I am withrdrawing my request for a period of time."
Creamer says he's leaving the door open to eventually bring his landfill proposal back up, but neighbors tell News Five, they'll fight it again if he does.
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