Some Stink Over Landfill in Southwest Little Rock

A stink in southwest Little Rock may be growing. The solid waste management company, BFI, says they need to expand the landfill at Mabelvale Pike, south of Asher, in order to keep it working longer. But city leaders and neighbors in Geyer Springs say they`re a little nervous. "My neighbor`s back porch view is the dump," said Carolyn Foster, of the Geyer Springs Neighborhod Association. "We take in approximately 1,100 to 1,200 tons a day," explained Dale Stevener, general manager at BFI. "We have approximately 30 months that can be extended out by diverting waste to other sites." The existing BFI landfill sits on 116 acres. The company wants to add another 57 to 58 acres. "That 57 to 58 acres would be with inside existing levied off landfill," said Stevener. The company also has the option to buy another 126 acres of Coleman Dairy land, but said it absolutely won`t be used for landfill. Instead, it would be used to borrow soil and store flood water. But a major concern for the people visiting the landfill during a Tuesday afternoon tour, is an Audubon project at nearby Fourche Creek. "[It is] a $6 million recreation area, that will protect those wetlands," said Ken Griffey, Little Rocks Parks Commission Chairman. The Audubon Society is investing those $6 million into the area for future recreational activities. The Little Rock Parks Department is concerned surface water running off the slope will run into the creek. "Certain wildlife species, certain plants only found in the Fourche Creek Bottoms," are what make the area important, said Griffey. Under BFI`s proposal, the landfill would also go from 320 feet high, to 400 feet. Neighbors in Geyer Springs are worried about having lowered property values and worse, more landfill to look at. "That`s scary because the wildlife is being displaced, real bad problems with skunks, problems with other rodents," said Foster.