The future of the Central Kentucky Landfill in Scott County continues to be debated. It became a topic of public discussion last week at a Lexington City Council meeting.
During public comment at Lexington City Council’s work session last week, two Scott County government officials spoke of their support to close down the landfill this fall. And Scott County Magistrate David Livingston said a Lexington Council resolution affirming expansion of the landfill is not neighborly. “You speak of regionalism but you want to allow our Scott neighbors to continue to suffer from this issue which you have one side of the story. If we are to care about our neighbors, you must care about yours as well including Scott County,” said Livingston.
Scott County Judge Joe Covington told Council the landfill presents major environmental and quality of life issues. Covington said the landfill has seen 70 notices of violations since January of 2019. Lexington Council Member Josh McCurn said the city has a contract with landfill operator Waste Services of the Bluegrass. “We started our contract with them in 2015 and there was intentions of them expanding the landfill then and we’ve had that in our consideration ever since we went into the contract,” said McCurn.
McCurn said there are significant fiscal implications of garbage disposal. Lexington Mayor Linda Gorton said if the Scott County landfill closes Waste Services of the Bluegrass is under contract to find another location to dump the city’s garbage. Gorton said it’s her understanding the state has indicated the landfill needs to close the end of October.
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