Lexington City Council has given initial approval to sending a resolution to state officials in support of expanding the Central Kentucky Landfill. The future of the Scott County landfill has been contentious including litigation in recent years.
Scott County government officials in May told Lexington’s Council about their intent to see the landfill close the end of October. They cited odor and environmental concerns.
During this Tuesday’s work session, Waste Services of the Bluegrass’s Greg Elkins admitted the hauler had more than its fair share of violations, but that they had been corrected. “WSB has relied on assurances from Scott County since 2003 that we would have capacity to satisfy your waste disposal needs and that of our neighboring communities for many years to come. We have contracted with you and several of our surrounding communities based on those assurances,” said Elkins.
Scott County officials have said the state has agreed to the closure the end of October. Lexington Mayor Linda Gorton does not support the council resolution. “I felt, given all this information, it was not my place, to tell Scott County we wanted our garbage going there beyond what they had sent to the state as their plan,” explained Gorton.
Gorton said Lexington’s hauler, Waste Services of the Bluegrass, is under contract to deliver the city garbage, even if it means taking it somewhere else. Council Member Josh McCurn, who brought the resolution, said it’s important to represent Lexington residents’ interest, and that includes continued use of the landfill. A number of other central Kentucky counties use the Central Kentucky Landfill.
If you appreciate access to this important content during this global pandemic, please help us continue to provide public service journalism and information to Central and Eastern Kentucky communities. Please make your contribution to WEKU today.
