Residents in Benton County learn what some are calling a dangerous landfill in the heart of their community is finally on its way out. It鈥檚 been a long battle for Michael Melton.
鈥淔inally, we鈥檙e going to get some resolution,鈥� Melton said. 鈥淭his has been a seven-year problem.鈥�
He鈥檚 just one Camden resident who has been putting up with a landfill in his back yard for years.
鈥淩ight behind me it鈥檚 called 鈥榖lack mountain,’鈥� Melton said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 filled with hundreds of thousands of tons of aluminum salt cake.鈥�
He says not only is the stench overwhelming but it鈥檚 an eyesore that poses hazardous threats.
鈥淚t started out with this nauseous, ammonia smell, just breathtaking and burning,鈥� Melton said. 鈥淲e had children in the neighborhood throwing up. It鈥檚 been awful.鈥�
But Melton may finally get some relief after city officials say the company that owns the EWS landfill filed for bankruptcy.
City Alderman Randall Clark says the landfill is a threat to the whole county and the state is opening bids to hire a company to clean it.
鈥淎s a city alderman, we鈥檙e just working to try and keep the citizens safe,鈥� Clark said. 鈥淭hey are looking at closing the landfill and putting a cap on it and then will monitor it for the next 30 years as far as groundwater because it is close to the creek and the Tennessee River.鈥�
But some say getting rid of potentially dangerous waste isn鈥檛 easy.
鈥淚t will always be here, but hopefully covered properly so it won鈥檛 bother us anymore,鈥� Clark said.
After years of complaints and legal challenges, Melton says the community is finally getting some peace.
鈥淚t pays off to be persistent,鈥� Melton said. 鈥淚t was a long, hard struggle, but if you believe in your cause, then right will win.鈥�
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