A hazardous waste landfill in Wayne County is preparing to take tons of contaminated soil and groundwater from a site in New York where the atomic bomb was developed back during World War II.
Semi-trucks will transport the radioactive waste along public roads and highways to the Wayne Disposal Facility just off I-94 in Van Buren Township. Some people nearby don’t want to be anywhere near it.
“It’s very scary,” said Debbie Cartwright, who lives nearby. “It’s in my backyard. It’s going to be in my backyard, from right across the expressway.”
The waste will come from the Manhattan Project, dating back to the 1940s during WWII. Hundreds of weapons were tested and created including the atomic bomb.
The Department of Transportation has strict rules regarding the transport of radioactive and hazardous waste.
The waste will be transported load by load in about 25 semi-trucks per week, and plans are to follow all county, state, and federal rules to ensure the transfer is safe.
Cartwright is just wondering why residents weren’t allowed to have any input or even be told about what was happening in their community.
“We weren’t notified at all,” Cartwright said. “We found out through the newspaper. I don’t know if there’s anything we can do. What can complain and voice our opinion, but what are you going to do?”
Multiple state and county leaders are now reacting.
“This is not the first time Wayne Disposal Inc. and Michigan Disposal Inc. have taken in hazardous waste from other states — like always, it is absolutely necessary to protect our community’s right to safety.”
Representitive Reggie Miller
Wayne County Commission Chair Alisha Bell said, “The Wayne County Commission is deeply concerned about the constant dumping of toxic waste in our County and welcomes conversations, in conjunction with the CEO, to search for avenues that give the County a voice in these dumping decisions.”
Lastly, Wayne County Executive Warren C. Evans said, “It is, in part, because of this environmental injustice our residents suffer higher rates of asthma, lung cancer, heart attacks, strokes, and other downstream consequences. This is why we strongly oppose the transport and disposal of these hazardous materials into our communities.”
Read Evans’ complete statement below