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The Clean Winner: Approve Angelo's Recycling System

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By THERESA WALDRON, Special to the Tribune

Published: December 7, 2007

I apologize for this last-moment input concerning the expansion of the Shady Hills garbage incinerator. I do, however, believe there is still time to make the correct decision.

For years the Sierra Club has publicly stated the need to replace outdated, polluting and inefficient incinerators that have virtually contaminated the many areas they were built to service. You undoubtedly have, through the years, read and seen reports on the damage done by these outdated garbage disposals.

As public representatives, Pasco County commissioners know what is going on in their county. Air, water and much land have been contaminated already by this incinerator. Why would you consider expanding this polluting machine while extending the time span for increased pollution?

Our society has advanced far past the use of incinerators, and now is the time to move forward. In your midst is a profitable, nonpolluting option to bring your county to the top of the list in smart, innovative thinking - the Angelo's Aggregate Materials' project proposed near Dade City.

Being a leader in the correct direction for the future of Pasco County is a most desirable spot. We as a society cannot afford to continually destroy, at every corner, our very limited resources. Air and water cannot be replaced.

Just a few items for thought before the county commission formally decides whether to expand the Shady Hills incinerator:

1. Did you know that the mercury and nitrogen spewed from the smoke stacks of garbage incinerators will contaminate areas many miles from the point of expulsion in relativity to the height of the stack?

Though you may not see the damage locally now, it will affect you either through mercury in fish and nitrogen in the waters, suffocating fish and altering habits forever, and in your vegetables, air and all the way down the chain of life as necessary creatures are eliminated from the production of our food chain.

2. If the Angelo's Aggregate Materials' system is chosen, the citizens of Pasco County would be ensured cleaner air, water, roads, healthier children, less taxes and perhaps money for other more important expenditures to benefit them.

People are yearning for the opportunity to change their communities into cleaner and healthier environments. You have the power to make that happen.

3. The Angelo's system has clearly documented its effectiveness. It has shown the commissioners more positive means of handling the ever-increasing amount of refuse, not to mention handling future levels of mass increases because of population growth.

4. We have reviewed Angelo's specifications quite thoroughly, though we are not engineers or planners, and we do believe there is no apparent risk of contaminating the Green Swamp, as some opponents have stated.

With the levels of clay naturally existing on the site and additional layers of impenetrable, rubber-like lining being applied, this appears to be very well engineered for an extended life span. It makes very good financial sense as well.

In summary, we, the Executive Board of the Naturecoast Group of the Sierra Club, do overwhelmingly advocate for the Angelo's Recycling Center to be approved in east Pasco County for the relief of past damages to local waters, air and land and the avoidance of any further pollution to these areas.

The writer, who lives in Lecanto, is an executive member of the Naturecoast Group of the Sierra Club.

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