Box Elder County - Some news stories are garbage. Well, this one really is all about garbage! In Box Elder County, a petition for a privately-owned landfill in Hansel Valley is causing a lot of controversy. Randy Moulding is no stranger to landfills; he has owned two previous landfills and has been involved with them for thirty years. So, when he looked at using just 10% of his ranch to open a 225 acre landfill, it seemed like a good plan. Unfortunately, he has received a lot of pushback from neighbors in Hansel Valley. Petitions have circulated in Box Elder County trying to stop the landfill. Among the concerned is Tim Munns, who attended the Box Elder County commission meeting, making claims that the landfill is a danger to water sources, as well as the fact that it is located on a fault line.
Randy spoke frankly about the fact that the state has strict regulations, as well as many checks for potential soil and water contamination. In addition to that, his landfill will be double lined on top of clay soil and it would be virtually impossible for it to leak. In fact, he is so confident of this that his well that waters his cattle will remain next to the landfill.
One of the main concerns was the murmuring that it was “Industrial waste”- it makes one wonder what exactly does that mean? Hazardous? Toxic? Mr. Moulding stated that it is not industrial waste, but rather household waste that has already been through a transfer station, meaning that all of the recyclables have been taken out and this is what is leftover. Waste will be brought from other counties making Box Elder a good neighbor to have. Also, the County will benefit in the neighborhood of $27-$30 million, a big boom to a county that is small in population.
So, while many might not want it in their back yard you have to ask yourself—as a private citizen on private land, isn’t Randy Moulding entitled to use that land as he sees fit? Isn’t that what living in America is all about—working hard and then using your land in a way that you feel is appropriate? Would farmers be upset if they were limited because cows and pigs stink? Or if you weren’t allowed to plant tree’s because they blocked your neighbors view? While there are legitimate concerns about transportation of waste, blowing garbage and smell; Moulding stated he will do everything to not impact his neighbors, including putting in berms to block the view.
Note: Tim Munns was unable to be reached for comment.
