There's a fire burning in North County. Deep underground at the Bridgeton Sanitary Landfill, it's been smoldering for more than two years. In January, it intensified.
We're not talking about giant raging flames. The Arizona-based company that owns the landfill, Republic Services, calls what's happening a "reaction," rather than a fire. Essentially, garbage is decomposing more rapidly than usual, letting off heat and gases that cause a noxious odor. And it's getting worse, with temperatures in the affected area rising to 190 degrees and one section of the landfill collapsing as a result.
The increasingly foul stench has become a major issue for nearby residents, who complain of being driven indoors by the strong aroma of rotting eggs. The Missouri Department of Natural Resources has been testing the air quality in the area, and has found elevated levels of hydrogen sulfide, which can cause headaches and irritation.
Republic Services says it has spent millions in an attempt to fix the problem. The company is drilling wells to remove the gas, and plans to add a plastic cap over the landfill to contain the odor. In public statements, the company's representatives have tried to minimize concern, saying that all landfills settle as they decompose and that the fire doesn't pose a major public health risk. As the Post-Dispatch noted, that's easy to say when you live in Arizona, far from the pungent smell.
Meanwhile, the DNR has accused Republic Services of several environmental violations at the landfill. Last week, at the DNR's request, Missouri Attorney General Chris Koster filed a lawsuit against the landfill owner to ensure that the fire is properly addressed.
This isn't the first time that air-quality issues have landed Republic Services in hot water. According to a report by KMOX, the company has paid millions in fines for underground fires, Clean Water Act violations, and odor problems. In 2009, Newsweek ranked Republic Services near the bottom of a list detailing the environmental track records for hundreds of corporations.
And here's the really scary part: Next door to the Bridgeton Sanitary Landfill is the West Lake Landfill, a federal Superfund site containing radioactive waste from World War II. The EPA says that the landfill fire is 1,200 feet from the radioactive material. St. Louis Public Radio has reported that the temperature in the "narrow neck" between the fire and the radioactive waste is increasing. In February, temperature gauges registered 140 degrees. Anything above 130 is considered unsafe.
Republic Services says they're confident the fire won't spread to the area containing the radioactive material. Again, that's easy to say when you're in Arizona, far for the potential ramifications.
How will this all turn out? Hopefully, the lawsuit will force Republic Services to stop making excuses, and add some urgency to the company's efforts to solve the problem. None of us want to find out what will happen if this "reaction" is allowed to continue.
