Moretown landfill re-opens, pending appeal of state order

MORETOWN — The Moretown landfill off U.S. Route 2 that was denied recertification because of odor complaints is accepting limited amounts of trash while it appeals the state’s order that would shut it down.
Advanced Disposal recognized there were problems and fixed many of the items the state cited in its decision to close the landfill, said Mary O’Brien, company spokeswoman.
“We’re aggressively pursuing our appeal process, and we’ve filed for an expedited hearing,” O’Brien said. “We know that there were problems at the site, but we believe the state based their decision on conditions before we began substantial improvements.”
The closure of the Moretown landfill would leave Vermont with only one working landfill in Coventry.
The company has spent more than $1 million since late last year in upgrades to the Moretown facility’s water- and gas-collection systems. In January, the landfill stopped accepting out-of-state sludge that was thought to be a significant source of the odor that drew so many complaints.
In addition to asking for permission to continue operating, Advanced Disposal is also seeking permission to expand into a new area.
“We firmly believe that Moretown landfill is a vital economic asset that benefits all including the state of Vermont, the town of Moretown and the businesses and residents who rely upon the site for a cleaner and greener community,” said the company’s regional Vice President Dave Lavender.