Lafayette, LA— Concerns about the environmental and health impacts of a proposed landfill expansion in Cade came to the forefront at a public hearing hosted by the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) on Thursday. Community members, frustrated by the current state of the landfill, voiced their fears over its potential expansion, which has already raised alarms among local residents.
Jake Ercheverria, a newcomer to Cade who moved to the area from Arizona with his family, shared his unsettling experience with the landfill’s waste. Ercheverria explained how he frequently finds pieces of Styrofoam and other debris in his backyard, a problem that he says has become more common since moving to the area. “I come home to Styrofoam in my backyard, and it’s very disheartening when my kid is coming out waving the long strip of packaging as if it was a toy,” Ercheverria said.
Howard Rattlaff, a longtime Cade resident, expressed his growing frustration with the impact the landfill has on his daily life. “There’s dust that comes off, and it’s just getting progressively worse,” Rattlaff stated. “The threat of expanding the dumpsite, or landfill, feels real threatening to the community.” His remarks reflect a broader unease that has emerged among residents who live near the landfill.
The public hearing was convened following Greenpoint’s application for a solid waste permit modification in March of the previous year. The general manager of Greenpoint, Sean Day, had requested permission from the DEQ to expand the landfill’s height in order to accommodate additional waste, as the facility is nearing its capacity. However, many residents, including Rattlaff, strongly opposed the proposal. “The response that we’re hoping for is that this request not be granted,” Rattlaff added during his remarks.
While residents expressed concerns about the landfill’s expansion, Sean Day sought to reassure the community. He clarified that while the landfill’s height would increase, its overall footprint would remain unchanged. “We’re still within the footprint of the landfill, the footprint of the landfill is not changing,” Day explained, attempting to ease worries about the extent of the expansion.
The issue of odors and air quality was also raised during the hearing, particularly by Cade resident Earl Walker, who has lived next to the landfill for over 20 years. Walker, who has long struggled with the effects of the landfill on his health, emphasized the toll it has taken on him and his family. “Nobody listens to us, and you know this is wrong. We’re not asking for anyone to pick us up; we’re just asking for y’all to let us live,” Walker said. He noted that while he doesn’t hold animosity toward Greenpoint itself, the proximity of the landfill to his home has made it impossible for him to avoid its impacts. “I have to inhale this, I have to smell that,” Walker lamented.
In response to the concerns raised about dust and odors, Sean Day acknowledged that dust is indeed produced at the site but emphasized that the company is working to manage it. “Do we make dust? I’m sure we do, but we do our best to contain it to the site,” Day said. He further explained that occasional odors stem from challenges in accessing certain areas of the landfill during periods of heavy rain, which can prevent timely remediation.
Although the hearing allowed both the community and Greenpoint representatives to present their views, the final decision on whether the permit modification will be granted has yet to be made. The hearing officer will submit the gathered feedback to the DEQ, which will then take it into consideration as part of the decision-making process.
As the debate over the landfill’s expansion continues, local residents remain hopeful that their voices will be heard, and their concerns taken into account when the DEQ makes its final ruling. The outcome of the hearing could have lasting implications for the future of the landfill and the well-being of the community.