Residents In Burlington County Oppose Proposed Hazardous Waste Treatment Plant In Pennsylvania

A hazardous waste plant constructed by Elcon Recycling Services in the Haifa Bay area of Israel has been cited for numerous environmental violations, a group of concerned citizens learned during a rally against a proposed waste management plant in nearby Falls Township, Pa.

Additionally, philly.com reported earlier this year that proposals for bids in three areas of the Lombardy region of Italy were denied between 2011 and 2015.

And Elcon has not moved forward with the next phase of its plan to begin construction on the site since the spring.

However, a group of environmentalists warns that this doesn’t mean the company’s plan is dead as it continues to push ahead in its fight against the proposal.

The League of Women Voters of Burlington County hosted a public meeting in opposition to the proposed hazardous waste treatment facility on Monday night at the Palmyra Community Center.

The proposed 70,000 square foot Elcon facility would accept between 150,000 and 210,000 tons of highly toxic materials annually, according to Barbara Kutscher, of the League of Women Voters, which organized Monday night’s meeting. She says many of the materials are among the most dangerous chemicals in the world.

One of the largest concerns among opponents of the proposed facility is the possibility of an accidental spill, and the impact on the area’s drinking water, The proposed facility would be located about a mile away from the Delaware River, and no treated water would be released into the river.

Elcon has promised it will meet or exceed all state and federal requirements for contaminated material, and that alarms will prevent the overfill of tanks, according to levittownnow.com.

It also said it will not treat waste from radioactive activities or fracking. It intends to accept hazardous liquid waste streams by truck from a variety of industries.

Elcon representatives were not in attendance during Monday night’s meeting.

Jeff Tittel, Director of the New Jersey Sierra Club, was in attendance for Monday night’s meeting.

“This facility may be proposed across the River in Pennsylvania but it will have devastating effects on our side in New Jersey as well,” Tittel said. “The air and water pollution from this hazardous waste facility will come across the River right into our towns and communities. If there is a spill or a leak, the water supply intakes in both Trenton and Delran would be impacted, threatening the water supply for millions of people in Pennsylvania and New Jersey. We need to work together to stop this hazardous Elcon proposal no matter which side of the River we live on.”

He said that because of the tides on the Delaware River, the contaminants would be pushed into New Jersey’s drinking water.

Lise Baxter, an advocate for the Protect Our Water and Air environmental group, said that the tides would pose difficulties in getting the contaminants out of the water supply. She said it’s possible they could fester in the area for about a month.

Several towns in Pennsylvania and Burlington County, as well as the Board of Chosen Freeholders, have already adopted a resolution to oppose construction of the plant.

Towns in Burlington County that are opposed to the plant’s construction include Bordentown City, Bordentown Township, Wrightstown, Burlington City, Burlington Township, Florence, Mansfield and Delanco, according to the League of Women Voters. Several towns have also been approached about the resolution, but have not yet responded, including Cinnaminson and Moorestown, according to Kutscher.

Tittel said the transportation and storage of hazardous materials with the chance of an accident or spill is enough to deny the application.

He said between 17 and 25 trucks a day would be bringing in toxic chemicals to be burnt or toxic ash to be sent to a landfill. Baxter pointed out that the fumes from the trucks would also present possible air pollution concerns.

“The application lists almost 600 chemicals including lead, cadmium, and mercury,” Tittel said. “The waste from this facility will end up as vapor that we breathe in. When you burn hazardous waste like nail polish removers, pesticides and other toxic chemicals, you don’t get rid of it. Instead it is just changing forms releasing pollution and some toxins into the air polluting our environment. This region already has some of the worst air quality in the nation being ranked in the top 20 worst areas. Now air quality could get even worse with a giant smokestack belching toxins into the air.”

Other speakers included Lisa Tordo, who is also an advocate for the Protect Our Water and Air environmental group, and Delaware Riverkeeper Network Russell Zerbo, Advocacy Coordinator, Clean Air Council.
Assemblyman Herb Conaway was also in attendance. He advised residents on the best way to contact their local representatives and voice their opposition to the proposed plant.