An agreement has been reached between the Environmental Justice Community Action Network (EJCAN) and GFL, the owner of North Carolina’s largest landfill, addressing decades of pollution and environmental justice concerns in the predominantly Black and Latino neighborhood of Snow Hill.

The agreement, filed in U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina by the Southern Environmental Law Center (SELC) on behalf of EJCAN, represents a significant step toward mitigating the harmful impacts of the Sampson County Landfill in Roseboro.

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Maia Hutt, a staff attorney at SELC, says Chemours sent toxic PFAS, or "forever chemicals," to the landfill for decades. PFAS are chemicals linked to harmful health impacts, including cancer, and don't break down in the environment or the human body.

"They're not taking it anymore, but that sludge was coming to Snow Hill for decades, and it's impacting the community's water and air," Hutt said. "When you don't address these issues on the front end, they will come out somewhere, and where we tend to see those impacts lies with the most vulnerable communities."

The agreement is designed to address the following facets of the harm caused to the Snow Hill community:

  • Reduction of PFAS Discharges: GFL will cease large-scale PFAS discharges into Bearskin Swamp, a popular recreational area. The landfill, which currently discharges about 1,000 parts per trillion (ppt) of PFOA, will be required to reduce this to four ppt, aligning with the lowest detection threshold established by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
    • Enhanced Monitoring and Emission Controls: The agreement mandates the use of methane-sensing drones and the establishment of a continuous air pollution monitoring system around the landfill. This system will help identify emissions hot spots and develop strategies to mitigate harmful emissions and odors.
      • Community Fund and Local Empowerment: A significant component of the agreement is the creation of a community fund managed by Snow Hill residents. This fund will support environmental, public health, and justice initiatives, such as improving water quality, funding water filters, and supporting recycling and composting education in local schools.
        • Ongoing Community Engagement: GFL will hold regular meetings with community members and establish a complaint response mechanism to address concerns as they arise.

          NC landfills disproportionately located in minority, low-income communities

          “This agreement brings long-sought relief from pollution and reparation to the Snow Hill community, putting resources and information in the community’s hands to care for their safety and health and start rebuilding after decades of ignored concerns,” said Sherri White-Williamson, EJCAN’s executive director.

          The Sampson County Landfill, which spans nearly 1,000 acres and processes over 1.8 million tons of waste annually, is a major source of environmental concern. The landfill has become notorious for its methane emissions – the second highest in the nation. In 2021, the landfill emitted approximately 824,568 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e), according to EPA figures. This substantial methane output contributes significantly to climate change.

          “Methane is a potent greenhouse gas, and the sheer volume of decomposing waste at the Sampson County Landfill makes it a major emitter,” Hutt explained. “The agreement takes crucial steps to address both methane emissions and the discharge of harmful chemicals into local waterways.”

          Landfills are a leading source of methane, which is second only to carbon dioxide in terms of its impact on global warming. According to the North Carolina Division of Air Quality, landfills are the third-largest direct source of methane in the U.S. However, state-level data on greenhouse gas emissions from landfills is incomplete. While the EPA requires reporting, North Carolina’s Division of Air Quality does not mandate it for all facilities, leading to significant data gaps.

          “This agreement is a crucial step in addressing the environmental justice issues in Snow Hill,” Hutt said. “In North Carolina, landfills are disproportionately located in communities of color and low-wealth communities."

          The agreement marks the first substantial attempt to address the concerns raised by the Snow Hill community, which has long been burdened by pollution from the landfill.

          You can find complete and comprehensive coverage of PFAS impact in North Carolina at pugongyingbo.com or by clicking here.