Bill Rinaldi, owner of NorthEast Waste Systems, addresses residents at Wednesday’s meeting.
Margaret Roarty | Times Leader
Residents sit in the Pines Eatery on Broad Street while DEP gives a presentation on a proposed waste transfer station in Hazleton.
Margaret Roarty | Times Leader
Anne Marie Sheldon, of Hazle Township, asks a question during Wednesday’s meeting.
Margaret Roarty | Times Leader
Hazleton resident Jim Maradeo asks a question during Wednesday’s meeting inside the Pines Eatery.
Margaret Roarty | Times Leader
Maria C. Tavera Vilchis, northeast regional coordinator for the Office of Environmental Justice.
Margaret Roarty | Times Leader
HAZLETON — Officials from the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) hosted a public meeting on Wednesday in the Pines Eatery, where residents were given an overview of NorthEast Waste Systems LLC’s plans for a trash transfer station in the city.
Residents were also able to ask questions about the facility, which the company intends to open at 728 S. Church St., on land zoned for general industrial use and previously used for mining.
Additionally, officials with DEP explained to attendees how the permitting process works and what regulations the station will be required to follow if approved.
Maria C. Tavera Vilchis, northeast regional coordinator for the office of environmental justice, explained Wednesday that the meeting was held as part of its permit review process and that DEP has one permit — a municipal waste processing permit — under review for the transfer station.
The meeting also ensured that DEP was meeting the enhanced public participation requirements of the Environmental Justice policy to protect vulnerable communities.
A public comment period for the transfer station is open until May 6, but Roger Bellas, of the NorthEast Regional Office waste management program, said they will accept comments past that date.
All comments can be emailed to RA-EPWM-NERO@pa.gov.
Project overview
Bill Rinaldi, owner of NorthEast Waste Systems, at Wednesday’s meeting presented an overview of the waste transfer station, which he said, “will provide the city with a modern, well-regulated waste management infrastructure to support both municipal needs and local economic activity.”
“Being here for 20 years, a big problem is illegal dumping. People are dumping everywhere. I think this will solve the problem,” he said.
The station would process up to 500 tons of municipal waste and construction/demolition waste per day.
Waste will be accepted from 5 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday.
Rinaldi said the station would be manned 24 hours a day. At night, employees would help separate garbage to prevent any fire hazards.
NorthEast Waste Systems was previously approved for a highway occupancy permit for 1,500 trucks per day.
However, Rinaldi said their trucks have the capacity to process 500 tons of waste using only 40 to 50 vehicles a day.
The company also plans to have an on-site space dedicated to teaching kids how to recycle. The point power presentation stated, “The center is envisioned as a hands-on classroom for the Hazleton Area School District, utilizing state-standardized environmental guidelines to transform local waste management habits.
“Recycling in the United States is not at its best,” Rinaldi said. “If we could teach our younger children, if they grow up in that, it could go a long way.”
Large trucks leaving the facility will travel south on South Church Street (State Route 309), then transfer directly to Route 424 and onto Interstate 81, keeping heavy traffic away from the city center.
Public comment
Hazleton resident Jim Maradeo asked whether there are plans to expand the site beyond 500 tons.
“I don’t know what the next ten years will bring, but that’s what it is now because that’s the [city’s limit],” Rinaldi answered.
“And again, the permit is going to be very specific. … if it gets issued, it’ll have a 500 ton per day limit. If they wanted to increase that, it would be a major modification, and they would have to go through the whole permit process again,” Bellas added.
In response to another resident, Rinaldi clarified that, even though employees will be on-site at night, he does not anticipate any trucks leaving the facility during that time to contribute to nighttime traffic.
Also, during the public comment section, Bellas said the DEP waste management staff will inspect the transfer station at least quarterly.
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