Residents warn county against landfill sale; commissioners to consider proclamation supporting "Jackson law"

Public commenters and commissioners at Loudoun County's Jan. 20 workshop focused sharply on a proposed landfill contract and the county's authority to control landfill siting.

Rich Anglin, speaking during general public comment, said the landfill operator would receive a disproportionate share of revenue and described what he said were plans to expand the landfill and purchase adjacent land for cover. "We have, a contract with the public... the split on revenue is they get 90¢ out of every dollar, they get 10¢," Anglin said, adding that expansion from about 41.7 acres toward 67 acres through 2054 and other terms in the contract would allow the landfill to operate for another 70 to 80 years if the county accepted certain changes. He also raised concerns about soil sampling, a delayed closure of 11.7 acres, and what he described as provisions in the contract giving a 75‑mile radius for waste delivery that could bring material from across state lines.

Several commissioners responded by encouraging public participation at the county's solid waste commission meeting on Feb. 19 and by recounting local and legal history. One commissioner asked the mayor to draft a proclamation opposing repeal of the "Jackson law," a Tennessee statute cited repeatedly at the meeting as the local tool that requires landfill proposals to come before county government. A commissioner said the proclamation would be brought for consideration on Feb. 2.

Commissioners and commenters also discussed local impacts cited by residents, including mud on roads and possible traffic increases. No formal action on a contract or sale was taken during the workshop; commissioners instead directed related items and a proclamation request to upcoming meetings and advised the public to attend the Feb. 19 solid waste session and the Feb. 2 commission meeting where related items will appear.

Why it matters: If the county were to accept a contract that changes landfill control, residents warned it could lock in decades of outside waste, traffic and increased bond obligations. Commissioners signaled concern about preserving local authority and asked for public input and a proclamation supporting continued county control under the Jackson law.