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Springfield City Commission Dumps Contract With Waste Management

City Commissioner Kevin O'Neill speaking at the Commission meeting.
Kristin Stratman
/
Screen Capture
City Commissioner Kevin O'Neill speaking at the Commission meeting

Last week the Springfield City Commission voted not to continue its contract with the trash hauling company Waste Management.

Waste Management owns 55% of the Tremont Barrel landfill, where hundreds of thousands of gallons of toxic waste were dumped in the 1970s. The landfill sits northwest of Springfield, precariously close to an aquifer where local residents get their drinking water.

At the meeting, Springfield city commissioner David Eshop said Waste Management has ignored orders from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to clean the site up.

“Not one shovelful of dirt has been turned at the Tremont Barrel Fill,” said Eshop.

Commissioner Kevin O’Neill said refusing to contract with Waste Management should send a message that the city wants the company to take action.

“We shouldn’t be giving them any money from the City of Springfield as long as they keep us in jeopardy,” said O'Neill.

The commission voted to enter into a three year contract with Rumpke Waste and Recycling instead.