Proposed Effingham County Regional Landfill

May 3, 2021: Ogeechee Riverkeeper (ORK) received confirmation from Effingham County Commissioner Jamie DeLoach that Atlantic Waste (AW) has pulled its application to locate a regional landfill on a tract of land adjacent to the Ogeechee River.

This means that there are currently no landfill applications under consideration by county officials. AW could choose to submit another application to ask the commission to rezone the property for industrial use.

However, through their historical actions and communications the commission has shown an unwillingness to “spot zone” industry in rural areas of the county.

Ogeechee Riverkeeper will keep a close eye on the issue going forward. Residents are encouraged to do so as well, and alert ORK to any concerns.

Additionally, Commissioner DeLoach confirmed that the discussion of conditional use for landfills in AR-1 zoning will NOT be on the agenda for the May 18 meeting. Other AR-1 conditional use(s) will be discussed.

Concerned residents are encouraged to attend public meetings, regardless of official agendas, and let their elected representatives know that clean water and protecting the Ogeechee River is important.

Please consider donating to ORK’s work protecting the water resources of the Ogeechee River Basin. ORK is a 501c3 nonprofit organization and relies on the generous support of people like you.

This is a great development for the health and safety of the river and the aquifer so many use for drinking water. 

April 21, 2021: * The Effingham County Commission has removed the proposed zoning ordinance changes from their meeting agenda for Tuesday, April 20, 2021. *  These changes will be considered on May 18, 2021.
From County Commission Chair Wesley Corbett:
We are withdrawing the ordinance amendments from tonight’s agenda. We will hold public hearings on May 18, for these items. Then zoning request from the landfill application will be heard late June or July. This will also be with public hearings. If you would like to meet prior to May 18 with myself and staff to review our thoughts and your concerns for AR conditional, I will be please to have that arranged.
Ogeechee Riverkeeper will continue to monitor the process. Citizens are encouraged to continue to write letters and emails, make calls, sign the petition, and donate to the opposition. 
If these changes are approved, all of Effingham County zoned AR-1 (agricultural and residential) will be open to any “waste disposal site” that meets certain “conditional use” requirements. Once these conditions are met, developers and their legal teams will feel entitled to be allowed to proceed with developing their waste disposal sites.
 
This could leave the county vulnerable to litigation if a proposal is denied, and make Effingham County an attractive target for additional regional landfills.
Contact your commissioners and urge them to vote no on these proposed changes.
Wesley Corbitt, Chairman At Large: wcorbitt@effinghamcounty.org
Forrest Floyd, District 1: ffloyd@effinghamcounty.org
Roger Burdette, District 2: burdettedistrict2@gmail.com
Jamie DeLoach, District 3: jamiedeloachdistrict3@gmail.com
Reggie Loper, District 4: comm.rsloper.dist4@gmail.com
Phil Kieffer, District 5: philkiefferdistrict5@gmail.com

In The News

Proposed ordinances on landfills, surface mining pulled from agenda – Effingham Herald, April 20, 2021

Deloach, other commissioners voice opposition to landfill in AR-1 zone – Effingham Herald, April 20, 2021