‘Dump the dump’: Southeast Gainesville residents continue fight to shut down landfill

It seems like a really bad idea to put this right next to the springs. Landfills should be out of town, not nestled in between neighborhoods and nature preserves.

Southeast Gainesville Florida residents fight to close landfill

Southeast Gainesville residents and local environmental groups are continuing their fight to shut down the Florence Landfill, a dump which many say threatens public health and safety.

The landfill, owned by Southeast Landholdings Inc., is over 48 acres and lies across the street from historic Boulware Springs City Park and the Alachua County Sweetwater Preserve. Residents of the neighborhood have expressed their concerns at recent meetings, including one on April 27 at the TB McPherson Center, saying the smell, dust and debris, and heavy truck traffic are a detriment to their quality of life.

Now, the landfill may be on track to expand from 35 feet tall to 70 feet.

...

Since January, the company filed for a legislative extension of the permit that would allow it to double the landfill's size as well as circumvent any public hearing process before the county. The governor’s office has since granted an extension on the permit.