Opponents of a proposed solid waste transfer station just off South Bunn Street in unincorporated McLean County are mobilizing with yard signs and public comments to the county.
Lakeshore Recycling (LRS) Systems filed an application in August for a transfer station that could handle up to 400 tons of municipal solid waste per day.
The Chicago-based firm that owns Henson Disposal in Bloomington already operates a construction and demolition waste recycling center at the 42-acre site. The center would be east of Interstate 55, southwest of the Norfolk Southern Railroad tracks, north of Rhodes Street, and east of Bunn Street, in Bloomington.
Access to the property is from Bunn Street. Also operating there are a woody waste mulching and recycling operation, a concrete recycling operation, and a concrete batch plant.
LRS paid a $125,000 filing fee to the county. If approved, the transfer center would operate for at least 20 years. It would not accept hazardous waste. A public hearing is scheduled later this month.
A solid waste transfer facility collects municipal solid waste, compacts it, and sends it onward to a landfill. McLean County has no municipal solid waste landfill. The last one, in Bloomington, closed in 2018. In its application, LRS claimed locating a transfer center would increase the potential for recycling by accepting single stream sorted recyclable loads for shipment.
LRS said a transfer center can help meet the growing disposal needs of the county and provide competition to the near-monopoly LRS claims Republic Services has had since the McLean County landfill closed. The company also said it could reduce waste disposal costs throughout the county, and increase efficiency of recycling construction and demolition waste by diverting unrecyclable material to the adjacent transfer center.
Republic operates the only other transfer station in McLean County. It is near the old McLean County Landfill southwest of Bloomington. LRS wrote in its application that there is a 200 ton per day shortfall or need for transfer station capacity. Republic tends to use its own landfill near Pontiac even though it is further away than other such facilities near Clinton and Hopedale, LRS said, because of scale advantages in vertical integration.
Other haulers that do not own landfills are at a disadvantage for direct hauling, must use Republic’s transfer station, or another transfer station in East Peoria. A firm named GFL uses the Clinton landfill it owns and can compete with Republic for contracts with communities in southern McLean County such as Heyworth, McLean, Downs, and LeRoy, according to LRS.
LRS said vertical integration — owning disposal, transfer, and landfill operations — is increasingly the industry norm across the country.
LRS would provide an estimated $70,000 of revenue per year to McLean County government, through an agreement approved in November of last year, for a host benefit fee of $1 per ton. A similar agreement of $1 per ton would go to the City of Bloomington based on a 250 ton per day estimate.
Public comment on the application has expressed concern. One couple sent an email which said they live on Bunn Street and the center would double or triple the traffic on the street.
“I am concern[ed] for not only my grandchildren that visits, but other children around this area for their safety. Also, why let them profit off of us,” said the email.
“Do NOT bring other communities’ waste products into our city!!” said Karol Klapper, who gave an address on Woodfield Road in Bloomington.
“Wondering why is the hell would the trash people come to Bloomington to collect trash this is something we definitely don't need in this town since they might be more crime to the city and the police surely isn't doing any better that what they have been doing with the speeding and the front license plates and the other stupid stuff,” wrote Stephen Ross.
Even nearby businesses have expressed doubts. The owners of six car dealerships northeast of the site also object, and said they have grave concerns about a change they worry could put recent major upgrades to their facilities at risk.
“We are investing millions that in turn will benefit both Bloomington, Normal, and McLean County. Our tax revenue alone is worth your consideration of our concerns,” wrote Ben and Tim Leman and Todd Braker of Sam Leman Corporate. “All our mentioned efforts will be in vain if this proposal is approved to proceed. Summer breezes from the south mixed with a garbage collection center would not be welcomed by our businesses, our employees, and our customers.”
Lakeshore Recycling, however, offered letters of support from a long list of community leaders in its application. Those included Bloomington City Manager Tim Gleason, Normal Mayor Chris Koos, former Bloomington Mayor Tari Renner, former State Sen. Jason Barickman, former Normal City Manager Mark Peterson, McLean County Chamber of Commerce President Charlie Moore, Salvation Army Major Dan Leisher, and Bank of Pontiac vice president Steve Timmerman.
Interestingly, LRS said in its application one business owner is in support of the project. That owner has submitted a public comment letter opposing it. David McDaniel, executive vice president of Bradford Supply Company on South Bunn Street, said the existing recycling operations are problematic.
“Each expansion becomes more of a problem. The noise continues to increase, and the dust is already a problem. The dust falls onto the plastic pipe and other products that Bradford sells, requiring our employees to take product to a car wash to clean before it can be presented to the customer. This is an expense that continues to increase with apparently no relieve [sic] in the future,” said McDaniel.
There will be a public hearing on the pollution control facility siting application at 1 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 29.
To present oral public comment, people must register with the county clerk before the day of the hearing, or with the hearing officer on the day of the hearing.
Web registration is possible. The hearing also will be available by streaming.
