Arkansas residents Sue Waste Management Over Landfill emissions, Citing Health Risks
By Archyde News Service
TONTITOWN, Ark. — Residents of Tontitown, a city in Northwest Arkansas, have filed a class action lawsuit against Waste Management, alleging that air pollution from the Eco-Vista landfill is endangering their health and the local environment. The lawsuit, filed earlier this month, involves roughly one-third of Tontitown’s population.
Tontitown, located in Washington County, is known as Arkansas’ “Little Italy,” celebrated for its vineyards, wineries, and Italian heritage. However, it’s also home to Northwest Arkansas’ only landfill, Eco-Vista, which is undergoing expansion.
“These plants are causing issues with these vapors because they’re burning gas off of the landfill,” said Kenneth Lovett, a plaintiff in the lawsuit.
The plaintiffs claim that the Eco-Vista gas plant, which converts gas emitted from the landfill into renewable energy, does not adequately filter harmful chemicals from its emissions. Lovett suggested a liquid filtration system, known as a scrubber, would be a more effective solution than the current charcoal filter.
Health Concerns and environmental impact
Air testing conducted last year by the Arkansas Center for Toxicology and Environmental health revealed elevated levels of several volatile organic compounds (VOCs), including acrolein, benzene, carbon tetrachloride, chloroform, and naphthalene. These levels were flagged as perhaps posing a health risk to local residents.
“Acrolein was tested at 4900 percent, benzene at 209 percent over the EPA RSL limit,” Lovett said, referring to the Environmental Protection Agency’s regional screening levels (RSLs). RSLs are benchmarks used to assess the potential for health risks at contaminated sites, but they are not legally enforceable.
A 2024 report by the Arkansas Department of Health concluded that Tontitown residents living near the landfill may be at risk and recommended further testing. The lawsuit states that residents in the vicinity of Eco-Vista have reported experiencing a variety of adverse health effects, including nausea, dizziness, and headaches.
“The citizens were actually having—some of them have gone to the hospital with these health issues,” said Tontitown Mayor Angela Russell. While Russell is not a party to the class action lawsuit, she lives adjacent to Eco-Vista and has shared photos of dead birds and dying trees on her property.
“I ended up going to the hospital last December. The emissions were so bad in my bedroom that it was causing me to have dizziness, nausea, just very confusing. It was just amazing how it affects your body,” Russell said.
Leachate and Karst Concerns
residents also allege that red dye testing indicates liquid from the landfill is leaching into nearby creeks. The porous karst geological formation beneath the landfill is a particular concern, with some claiming that one of the landfill’s cells was constructed without a liner.
“We need a landfill, but it can’t be on top of a karst, limestone formation, and it needs to be away from a population center,” said State Rep. Steve Unger, (R) District 19.
According to residents, problems began as early as 2021, but intensified in 2023 with the construction of the renewable energy gas plant. They express frustration with what they perceive as a lack of accountability from Eco-Vista.
“They’re not a good neighbor. They were having meetings with us until March of 2022. They stopped all communication with us,” Lovett said. “They know what’s going on, they know there’s an issue, and they continue to do it. They don’t care who they hurt, they don’t care when they hurt them.”
“I really wish that Waste Management would just cut their losses,cover this up with dirt,and look for a place that a geologist would say is safe to have a landfill—and that is not up here,” Unger said.
Waste Management’s Response
Waste Management has declined to comment on the pending litigation. “Waste management declined to be interviewed, saying it does not comment on pending litigation. In lieu of an interview,we have emailed them some questions and are awaiting a response.”
Plaintiffs have been informed that the first court date is scheduled for September.
While residents express concern over potential health impacts and environmental damage, landfill operators often argue that modern landfills are designed with multiple layers of protection, including liners and leachate collection systems, to prevent groundwater contamination. They maintain that gas collection systems, like the one at Eco-Vista, are essential for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and producing renewable energy. However, the effectiveness of these systems depends on proper maintenance and adherence to environmental regulations.
FAQ: Landfill Emissions and Public Health
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| What are the primary health concerns related to landfill emissions? | Exposure to volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from landfills can lead to various health issues, including nausea, headaches, dizziness, respiratory problems, and, in certain specific cases, more serious long-term health effects. |
| what are RSLs (Regional Screening Levels) and are they enforceable? | RSLs are benchmarks used by the EPA to assess potential health risks at contaminated sites. While they provide guidance, they are not legally enforceable limits. |
| How do landfills attempt to mitigate air pollution? | Landfills often use gas collection systems to capture methane and other gases, which can then be flared or converted into renewable energy. They also employ liners and leachate collection systems to prevent soil and water contamination. |
| What is a karst formation and why is it a concern for landfills? | A karst formation is a type of landscape formed from the dissolution of soluble rocks such as limestone. These formations are characterized by sinkholes, caves, and underground drainage systems, which can make them vulnerable to groundwater contamination from landfills. |
| What can residents do if they suspect landfill emissions are affecting their health? | Residents should document their symptoms, consult with a healthcare professional, and report their concerns to local environmental agencies and elected officials. Participating in community monitoring programs, if available, can also provide valuable data. |
Interview: Expert Insights on the Eco-Vista Landfill Lawsuit and Health Risks
By archyde News service
Introduction
archyde News Service recently spoke with Dr. Evelyn Reed, a leading environmental toxicologist, to gain further insight into the recent lawsuit filed by Tontitown residents against waste Management and the health concerns stemming from the Eco-Vista landfill.
Interview with Dr. Evelyn Reed
Archyde News: Dr. Reed, thank you for joining us. Can you provide some context on the volatile organic compounds (VOCs) mentioned in the lawsuit and their potential impact on human health?
Dr.Reed: Certainly. VOCs are a diverse group of chemicals that easily become vapors or gases. Exposure to certain VOCs, as highlighted in the air testing near the Eco-Vista landfill, can lead to a range of health effects. Short-term symptoms like nausea, dizziness, and headaches are common, while long-term exposure could increase the risk of developing more serious illnesses. The specific health impacts depend on the type of VOC, the concentration, and the duration of exposure.
Archyde News: The lawsuit mentions exceeding EPA RSLs (Regional Screening Levels) for certain VOCs. Can you explain the importance of these levels and their limitations in the context of this case?
Dr. Reed: RSLs are benchmarks used by the EPA to assess potential health risks in contaminated areas. Thay help to provide a framework, but it is crucial to understand a few things about them. They are not legally enforceable limits. An exceedance, like what was measured for acrolein and benzene, indicates a potential risk that needs to be addressed.It’s a trigger for further investigation, including more detailed exposure assessments and potentially health studies, but the RSLs are not, in and of themselves, a definitive cause for health problems.
Archyde News: The residents are concerned about the landfill’s impact on the local environment. What are the biggest environmental risks associated with landfill emissions and leachate, especially in a karst environment like the one in Tontitown?
Dr. Reed: In the case of emissions,the air pollution from the landfill has the potential to lower air quality,leading to local smog and impacting air quality. The second risk associated with the landfill is the quality of local water.The Karst environment, which is a natural underground system, is especially concerning due to its porous nature. Leachates from the landfill can easily seep into underground water sources. The primary threat, if this leachate were to contaminate groundwater, woudl be the long-term risks associated with human consumption and ecosystem hazards.
Archyde News: The plaintiffs have suggested that the current gas plant filtration may not be adequate. What option filtration systems would be considered a more effective solution for harmful chemicals from the landfill emissions?
Dr. Reed: The current carbon filtration the plant is currently equipped with certainly aids in waste management. Liquid filtration systems, specifically scrubbers, are used to extract various gaseous compounds from an exhaust stream. Scrubber systems involve spraying a liquid solution through the emissions to remove pollutants, which is a more involved method vs the carbon filters they have. It ultimately depends on the exact composition of the emissions and what the goal of the management is. This would then determine the best and most cost-effective solution.
Archyde News: What advice would you offer to residents in Tontitown who are worried about potential health risks from the Eco-Vista landfill?
Dr. Reed: First, I would strongly encourage the residents to document any symptoms, as there are plenty of resources online and at the health office on record-keeping and record practices that can be helpful. Then,any concerns should be addressed with their healthcare providers and reported into official channels,this includes local environmental agencies. If possible, they should try to join community monitoring programs, if available. While not always perfectly accurate, they can aid in developing useful data.
Archyde News: Waste Management has declined to comment on the pending litigation. What are the typical challenges in such legal cases, and what factors could influence the outcomes?
Dr. Reed: Legal cases involving environmental contamination can be quite complex. Establishing a direct link between the landfill emissions and the adverse health effects reported by the plaintiffs can be a challenge. The outcome often hinges on the strength of the scientific evidence, the credibility of expert witnesses, and the legal arguments presented by both sides. Expert data can aid in this regard, and hopefully, both sides will be able to provide as much evidence possible for everyone to judge fairly.
Archyde News: Thank you, Dr. Reed,for your insightful perspective. This has been very informative.
Dr. Reed: My pleasure.
Conclusion
The Eco-Vista landfill case highlights complex environmental and health challenges. As the litigation proceeds, the community and the public will closely monitor developments.
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