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Frequently Asked Questions
What is a C&D Landfill?
According to Florida Statute 403.703 - Construction and Demolition material “means discarded materials generally considered to be not
water-soluble and nonhazardous in nature, including but not limited to steel, class, brick, concrete, asphalt roofing material, pipe, gypsum
wallboard (see research) and lumber from construction or destruction of a structure” etc. With the amount of material going into a landfill on
a daily basis from the huge containers, there is no way to monitor everything that goes into the landfill and therefore household trash being
deposited into C&D Landfills is a growing problem.
So what’s so bad about a C&D Landfill?
Visit The Issue page on this site and click the link to our “Research Paper”. This paper contains comprehensive research done on C&D
landfills that we submitted to FDEP as a preliminary document of evidence of the effects of C&D Landfills. These landfills for years were
thought to be relatively “harmless” but continuing research shows how these landfills may be more harmful than municipal landfills. C&D
landfills are far more prone to fires and explosions – the proposed Croom Landfill is surrounded by forest, rural farms and homes. The
breakdown of the gypsum wallboard creates hydrogen sulfide gas which smells like rotten eggs. This will penetrate very large areas and has
a history of getting so bad that it makes people violently ill. Chinese wallboard is still being researched but all indications are that it is
extremely toxic and causes many health issues including cancers.
Will this landfill have a liner?
No. The Department of Environmental Protection has not required this landfill operator to have a liner. Both the DEP and the operator are
depending on the clay barrier at the base of this site to act as a liner and provide assurance that nothing toxic with leak into our aquifer
(water system). This is what is referred to as “leachates”. Please research Hernando County’s Maintenance Compound for proof of how they
relied on a clay barrier and are now trying to clean up the toxins in the ground thus costing us, the taxpayers, a lot of money and many
citizens are without clean water.
What is leachate?
See our Glossary link for a comprehensive list of many of the terms you’ll hear regarding this landfill. Leachates are all the liquids that seep
through the debris and settle in the bottom of the landfill site. They then carry toxic substances and disease-carrying organisms to the clay
barrier and eventually seep into our water supply and poison our wells so we have no usable water for ourselves, our animals, and all the
wildlife in the area.
Where is the proposed C&D Landfill?
At the end of Wildlife Lane (Trail 18 of the Withlacoochee State Forest) bounded by 60% of State Forest Lands. This site will be visible from
the I75/SR50 corridor thus being a “welcoming sight” for all our potential tourists.
Are the roads to and from the landfill rated for commercial use?
No. State Road 50 is always under repair and there is no light at the intersection of SR50 and High Corner Road. High Corner Road is a rural
two lane (17’8” wide) road with no shoulders in some areas, major drop offs, fences and telephone poles within 1-3 feet of the road,
overhead lines, several school bus stops and hills that create blind areas. Wildlife Lane, as previously mentioned, is Trail 18 of the forest and
is partially paved then transitions to lime rock that washes away after every rain and is ridden with potholes. The end of Wildlife Lane is not
passable as Mother Nature has reclaimed it over the last 15 years. The landfill operator is requesting an easement to destroy this portion of
the forest trail in order to complete the road.
Will this affect my property values?
Yes. The already depressed values will drop further whether you are close to the site or not. This landfill will affect the entire County. The
residents nearest the site will be affected first. When there is groundwater contamination a much larger area will be affected. When the
smell is so horrific that people do not want to hike, bike, trail ride, or camp the forest and tourists do not frequent the businesses at
I75/SR50, the County will loose revenue. The County will not be attracting people to come to Hernando County either to live or to visit and
thus property values will plummet. Much research indicates that areas surrounding landfills die economically rather quickly due to the
profound effects of landfills.
The owners of the landfill say this is good for the economy and commerce. Is it?
It is very good for THEIR economy. This is a private enterprise owned by people who do not live and spend their money in Hernando County.
They reside in Pasco and Hillsborough. It may provide some tax dollars to the County but they will be spent in maintaining roads and
litigating possible lawsuits from injured residents/tourists, fires, etc. A landfill that drives people away from the area and thus shut
businesses down is by no means good for commerce.
Why doesn’t the County stop this landfill?
They say there is nothing they can do. This is because in 1998 there was a Permanent Mandatory Settlement made placing an “overlay” on
this property for use as a construction and demolition landfill but because it was not technically “rezoned”, the property is still zoned M for
mining. Despite the County saying there is nothing it can do, they went back to court in 2009 and made three modifications to the original
Permanent Mandatory Settlement that was supposedly not allowed to be altered. These changes significantly changed both the County and
the landfill operator’s requirements - none to the benefit of the residents of Hernando County. The County also claims there is nothing they
can do to restrict travel over inadequate roads. They say it’s all up to DEP. DEP says it’s all up to the County……
What can I do if I oppose this landfill?
Spread the word. Not only to those in our County but to all the people that love to spend time in this County hiking, biking, riding horses,
camping, or just visiting.
- Go to our Contact page and sign up to be put on our database so you will be sure to get all the updates.
- Contact your County and State government officials and let them know you do not support a landfill in this location. Go to the Get Involved
page and click on the “Contact Your Officials” to get all the contact info for these officials.
- Check out our Get Involved page to see where you can help. Volunteer to chair your own great fundraising event.
- Most importantly” support the effort to defeat this landfill by donating to assist in paying the legal fees necessary to continue this campaign
against the landfill operators and the County. Encourage your friends, family, and people who love this area to contribute as well. We have
been told by the County, DEP, and various environmental organizations that the only way to defeat this landfill is with a good attorney. We
have one, please help pay for a few hours of his time.
What is a C&D Landfill?
According to Florida Statute 403.703 - Construction and Demolition material “means discarded materials generally considered to be not
water-soluble and nonhazardous in nature, including but not limited to steel, class, brick, concrete, asphalt roofing material, pipe, gypsum
wallboard (see research) and lumber from construction or destruction of a structure” etc. With the amount of material going into a landfill on
a daily basis from the huge containers, there is no way to monitor everything that goes into the landfill and therefore household trash being
deposited into C&D Landfills is a growing problem.
So what’s so bad about a C&D Landfill?
Visit The Issue page on this site and click the link to our “Research Paper”. This paper contains comprehensive research done on C&D
landfills that we submitted to FDEP as a preliminary document of evidence of the effects of C&D Landfills. These landfills for years were
thought to be relatively “harmless” but continuing research shows how these landfills may be more harmful than municipal landfills. C&D
landfills are far more prone to fires and explosions – the proposed Croom Landfill is surrounded by forest, rural farms and homes. The
breakdown of the gypsum wallboard creates hydrogen sulfide gas which smells like rotten eggs. This will penetrate very large areas and has
a history of getting so bad that it makes people violently ill. Chinese wallboard is still being researched but all indications are that it is
extremely toxic and causes many health issues including cancers.
Will this landfill have a liner?
No. The Department of Environmental Protection has not required this landfill operator to have a liner. Both the DEP and the operator are
depending on the clay barrier at the base of this site to act as a liner and provide assurance that nothing toxic with leak into our aquifer
(water system). This is what is referred to as “leachates”. Please research Hernando County’s Maintenance Compound for proof of how they
relied on a clay barrier and are now trying to clean up the toxins in the ground thus costing us, the taxpayers, a lot of money and many
citizens are without clean water.
What is leachate?
See our Glossary link for a comprehensive list of many of the terms you’ll hear regarding this landfill. Leachates are all the liquids that seep
through the debris and settle in the bottom of the landfill site. They then carry toxic substances and disease-carrying organisms to the clay
barrier and eventually seep into our water supply and poison our wells so we have no usable water for ourselves, our animals, and all the
wildlife in the area.
Where is the proposed C&D Landfill?
At the end of Wildlife Lane (Trail 18 of the Withlacoochee State Forest) bounded by 60% of State Forest Lands. This site will be visible from
the I75/SR50 corridor thus being a “welcoming sight” for all our potential tourists.
Are the roads to and from the landfill rated for commercial use?
No. State Road 50 is always under repair and there is no light at the intersection of SR50 and High Corner Road. High Corner Road is a rural
two lane (17’8” wide) road with no shoulders in some areas, major drop offs, fences and telephone poles within 1-3 feet of the road,
overhead lines, several school bus stops and hills that create blind areas. Wildlife Lane, as previously mentioned, is Trail 18 of the forest and
is partially paved then transitions to lime rock that washes away after every rain and is ridden with potholes. The end of Wildlife Lane is not
passable as Mother Nature has reclaimed it over the last 15 years. The landfill operator is requesting an easement to destroy this portion of
the forest trail in order to complete the road.
Will this affect my property values?
Yes. The already depressed values will drop further whether you are close to the site or not. This landfill will affect the entire County. The
residents nearest the site will be affected first. When there is groundwater contamination a much larger area will be affected. When the
smell is so horrific that people do not want to hike, bike, trail ride, or camp the forest and tourists do not frequent the businesses at
I75/SR50, the County will loose revenue. The County will not be attracting people to come to Hernando County either to live or to visit and
thus property values will plummet. Much research indicates that areas surrounding landfills die economically rather quickly due to the
profound effects of landfills.
The owners of the landfill say this is good for the economy and commerce. Is it?
It is very good for THEIR economy. This is a private enterprise owned by people who do not live and spend their money in Hernando County.
They reside in Pasco and Hillsborough. It may provide some tax dollars to the County but they will be spent in maintaining roads and
litigating possible lawsuits from injured residents/tourists, fires, etc. A landfill that drives people away from the area and thus shut
businesses down is by no means good for commerce.
Why doesn’t the County stop this landfill?
They say there is nothing they can do. This is because in 1998 there was a Permanent Mandatory Settlement made placing an “overlay” on
this property for use as a construction and demolition landfill but because it was not technically “rezoned”, the property is still zoned M for
mining. Despite the County saying there is nothing it can do, they went back to court in 2009 and made three modifications to the original
Permanent Mandatory Settlement that was supposedly not allowed to be altered. These changes significantly changed both the County and
the landfill operator’s requirements - none to the benefit of the residents of Hernando County. The County also claims there is nothing they
can do to restrict travel over inadequate roads. They say it’s all up to DEP. DEP says it’s all up to the County……
What can I do if I oppose this landfill?
Spread the word. Not only to those in our County but to all the people that love to spend time in this County hiking, biking, riding horses,
camping, or just visiting.
- Go to our Contact page and sign up to be put on our database so you will be sure to get all the updates.
- Contact your County and State government officials and let them know you do not support a landfill in this location. Go to the Get Involved
page and click on the “Contact Your Officials” to get all the contact info for these officials.
- Check out our Get Involved page to see where you can help. Volunteer to chair your own great fundraising event.
- Most importantly” support the effort to defeat this landfill by donating to assist in paying the legal fees necessary to continue this campaign
against the landfill operators and the County. Encourage your friends, family, and people who love this area to contribute as well. We have
been told by the County, DEP, and various environmental organizations that the only way to defeat this landfill is with a good attorney. We
have one, please help pay for a few hours of his time.