A rural Alabama community could soon receive garbage from 17 counties as waste giant seeks major expansion

Waste Management, the nation’s largest waste services company, is seeking approval to significantly expand operations at its Chastang Landfill in rural north Mobile County, a proposal that has sparked debate Monday over jurisdiction and oversight.

The company is requesting a permit to increase the amount of residential waste accepted at the landfill by nearly 190 percent, from 1,725 tons per day to 5,000 tons. The expansion would also allow the facility to accept garbage from 17 counties across south Alabama, not just Mobile County. The increased waste volume would generate additional revenue for the county.

The proposal came before the Mobile County Commission on Monday, where Commissioner Randall Dueitt questioned why the City of Mobile’s Solid Waste Authority supported the application early in the process. The landfill is located outside the city limits and is not governed by the city, although it would receive the city’s residential waste.

“This is just a statement, not really a question,” Dueitt said during a public hearing on the proposal. “I wonder how the City of Mobile, City Council and Mayor would feel if the county had a landfill in the city limits and our Solid Waste Authority approved a proposal that had no effect on county residents.”

Dueitt said the city’s Solid Waste Authority “passed a proposal that didn’t affect” city residents but directly impacts people living in unincorporated areas north of Mobile.

After the meeting, Dueitt declined to elaborate and referred questions to Commissioner Merceria Ludgood, who also declined to comment. Ludgood said she preferred to wait until after the Mobile County Solid Waste Disposal Authority Board meets at 11 a.m. Wednesday. Mobile County Commissioner Connie Hudson was absent.

County commissioners are scheduled to vote on the expansion request Dec. 8. If approved locally, the application will move to the Alabama Department of Environmental Management for final review and permitting.

Jaime Betbeze, a Mobile attorney representing Waste Management, said the city’s Solid Waste Authority voted unanimously to support the project during an April meeting. He said those members are also Mobile County residents who would benefit from the landfill’s expansion.

“Having competitive companies and more options for solid waste disposal helps keep solid waste costs down,” Betbeze said. “It would benefit all of Mobile County.”

Betbeze said the expansion is intended to help the Chastang Landfill remain competitive with EcoSouth Services’ facility located about nine miles south along U.S. 43 in Axis. That facility is permitted to accept up to 5,000 tons of waste per day and receives waste from 18 counties across south Alabama, Mississippi and Florida.

He said it is unlikely the Chastang Landfill would reach 5,000 tons per day except in an emergency. On average, the facility receives about 550 tons per day.

“We’ve done market studies showing that we expect to see an additional 150 to 200 tons per day based on the area we’re looking at,” Betbeze said.

Two members of the city’s Solid Waste Authority said expanding the landfill would benefit both the city and county. Under the proposal, the county would receive revenue from a 50-cent-per-ton fee assessed on waste brought in from outside Mobile County.

“The expansion of the service area ensures the continued economic viability of the landfill itself,” said Jim McNaughton, a representative on the city’s Solid Waste Authority.

Only one nearby resident spoke in opposition during Monday’s hearing.

Richard Hayward said he was concerned about declining property values and odors from an expanded landfill.

Betbeze said there is sufficient buffer space around the landfill to minimize any impact. The 367-acre property includes 153 acres designated for waste disposal. There are no plans to expand the landfill’s footprint, he said.

“You have a 214-foot buffer around the landfill,” Betbeze said. “If you drive down Highway 43, you would not see the landfill right now. The buffer required by regulation will always be there to protect surrounding neighborhoods. That won’t change at all.”