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Modesto Bee Editorial Wednesday, July 10, 2002  See Also: 7/10/02 Modesto Bee Press Coverage 7/9/02 Modesto, CA: Stanislaus County Residents & Greenaction Press Conference in Modesto Challenges Giant Dump Proposal: read the Press Release and Background Info in Fight Against Proposed Giant Garbage and Sewage Sludge Dump 7/9/02 Modesto Bee Press Coverage
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County needs to rethink landfill plan Editorial, Modesto Bee Should Stanislaus County spend $236 million expanding the Fink Road Landfill so it can import garbage from other counties? Opponents, including several Modesto officials, say no. There are better uses for the money, they contend, and no need to quadruple the size of the dump in the West Side foothills west of Patterson. While The Bee thinks some expansion of the landfill may be warranted in the future, we agree with Jocelyn Reed, Modesto's solid waste manager, and Councilman Denny Jackman that the county's present plan undermines recycling efforts. There is no need to expand the landfill from its present 219 acres to an eventual 831 acres, even over 55 years. Recycling incentives and efficiency will reduce the need for vast landfill operations in the future. And surely there will be more progress in waste-to-energy efforts to which the county and city already are committed. There are certainly many good uses in these tight financial times for any money not spent on excessive expansion of the landfill. Transportation improvements -- for safety, convenience and economic development -- rank near the top of the list. In the meantime, Stanislaus County has landfill space for years to come and plenty of time to figure out how to put excess land to its best use. |