City Council
Warwick tries to keep trash from piling up in Hazelwood.
A Hazelwood recycling facility sits 300 feet from homes and has a longstanding rat problem, a council member said. Its current owner is seeking a 2019 state permit to convert it to hold raw garbage. Now, she has proposed barring such sites within 500 feet of homes, businesses, schools, and parks. Next, the bill goes to the planning commission for its approval.
Written by Inform Up Staff
Council Member Barb Warwick of Greenfield is trying to keep Hazelwood residents from living 100 yards from tons of garbage.
Warwick proposed legislation that would define solid waste transfer stations and standards associated with them in the city code. The code currently only has parameters around recycling centers. Solid waste transfer centers are holding facilities for raw garbage.
Under the legislation, waste transfer facilities would not be allowed within 500 feet from residential, commercial, school or park property lines or on floodplains. They would also have to be enclosed.
Warwick said the recycling facility in Hazelwood is 300 feet from residential dwellings and has a longstanding rat problem, among other health code violations.
In 2019, its then-owner received a state permit to convert the facility to solid waste transfer. The previous owner did not use the permit. The current owner, Republic Services, is requesting its transfer. The legislation would prevent Republic Services, or any future companies, from converting the facility.
Council agreed to send the bill to the planning commission for its approval.
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