Why is a Construction and Demolition Landfill (Dump) still operating in Southeast Gainesville neighborhoods?

● Over 25 years ago it was declared by the county as an incompatible land use to surrounding residences in a residentially zoned neighborhood, yet still operates and increases in height today.

● ENVIRONMENTAL INJUSTICE– neighbors directly to the northwest, west, and southwest of the dump have been historically marginalized from decision making regarding this dump’s operation and continued permitting

● WATER QUALITY– this landfill is unlined, has no leachate collection system, and threatens the groundwater quality impacting neighboring wells, Boulware Springs, and Paynes Prairie. All Florida Construction and Demolition Debris Landfills built after 2010 are required to have liners and leachate control systems. FDEP (Florida Department of Environmental Protection) and ACEPD (Alachua County Environmental Protection Department) data indicate secondary drinking water standards violations already exist: neighbors report the spiked levels of iron in the water stain laundry, sinks, tubs, and appliances.

● ODOR– hydrogen sulfide gas (rotten eggs) seeps into nearby neighbors homes from sundown to sunrise, which studies report emit from decomposing drywall/gypsum at C&D landfills.

● PARTICULATE MATTER– airborne “dump dust” coats nearby neighbors vehicles, homes, plants, and pets

● NOISE– extremely loud industrial equipment crushing and grinding hauled-in waste Monday-Friday.

● TRAFFIC/ROAD DEGRADATION– semi-trucks hauling huge uncovered dumpsters cause road wear, potholes; spew hazardous construction debris potentially harming neighbors vehicles.

● DAILY OVERSIZED TRUCK TRAFFIC VIOLATES FLORIDA STATUTES– no county collector roads under 22 ft in width are to be used as major routes for heavy truck traffic. The dump is located off of county collector road 2043 (SE 15th St.). All access points to the dump are on roads around 20 ft in width starting on county collector road 2043 at SE 14th Ave/SE 15th St. all the way around the Kincaid Loop up to SE University Ave/SE 27th St

● ALACHUA COUNTY IS NOT DEPENDENT ON THIS LANDFILL– Alachua County Solid Waste Director stated in a July 2023 County Board Meeting on Construction and Demolition Debris Facilities in Alachua County that if the Florence C&D Landfill was to close in 2024, Alachua County has the capacity to handle C&D for 20 years before needing to build another C&D landfill. Instead of dumping in a Southeast Gainesville neighborhood we encourage Florence Recycling and Disposal to improve C&D debris recycling: reducing landfill waste and promoting deconstruction over demolition. If Alachua County improves C&D debris recycling a new C&D landfill may not need to be built in 2044.

● MAJORITY OF ALACHUA COUNTY DEVELOPMENT IS IN WESTERN ALACHUA COUNTY, BUT THE WASTE IS DUMPED IN OUR SE NEIGHBORHOOD– the bulk of the waste is trucked across town from the west to the east to be dumped in our neighborhood, where there’s not much new development.

Help us urge the county to RIGHT THIS WRONG!