Elcon Hosts Public Meeting on Proposed Hazardous Waste Facility in Falls Township

Elcon Hosts Public Meeting on Proposed Hazardous Waste Facility in Falls Township

Falls Township, PA- The Elcon Recycling Center held a public meeting for their proposed liquid hazardous waste treatment facility in Falls, Twp. The facility would be half a mile from the Delaware River, across from Trenton, and would put the entire water supply for 6 million people at risk. This pre-application public meeting is regarding their PADEP Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) application for the facility. The Sierra Club is joining other groups and concerned citizens to speak out against this dangerous facility.

“We’re here to tell Elcon that we don’t want their toxic facility to threaten our communities or drinking water. We successfully fought this proposal in Bristol and we’re going to fight against it here in Falls, Twp. This proposal facility would put our drinking water, clean air, and environment and risk of contamination from toxic substances. These facilities are polluting and dangerous and fracking waste could end up being processed here. Even a small spill or accident could leak into the Delaware River, risking the drinking water for six million people,” said Jeff Tittel, Director of the New Jersey Sierra Club.

The transportation and storage of hazardous materials with the chance of an accident or spill is enough to deny this application. Trucks will be moving in or out of the site, 17-25 a day, bringing in toxic chemicals to be burnt or toxic ash to be sent to a land fill. If one of them were to spill it could have a disastrous impact on the neighborhood and water resources in the area. The Philadelphia Water Co. said that any spill would be “catastrophic.”

“The Delaware River provides drinking water for millions of people in Philadelphia, Burlington, and Camden Counties. Our water supply will be at risk if there is an accident or spill, or if there is a leak at the tanks on site it could go into the River. Tides could push chemicals right into Trenton’s water supply intake threatening the public’s drinking water. Our rivers belong to all of us. Across the country we are opening up our riverfronts for people and instead this toxic incinerator could push away not only people, but residential and commercial development. This project is dangerous to our environment and communities; it must be stopped,” said Tittel.

The contamination from storage of chemicals in West Virginia last year shows the threats to storing chemicals above water supply intakes. Toxic ash and dangerous particles from the thousands of pounds of waste to be burnt every day at this proposed facility could threaten communities’ air quality and public health. The application lists almost 600 chemicals including lead, cadmium, and mercury.

“The waste from this facility will end up as vapor that we breathe in. When you burn hazardous waste like nail polish removers, pesticides and other toxic chemicals, you don’t get rid of it. Instead it is just changing forms releasing pollution and some toxins into the air polluting our environment. This region already has some of the worst air quality in the nation being ranked in the top 20 worst areas. Now air quality could get even worse with a giant smokestack belching toxins into the air,” said Tittel.

There is only one other facility similar to this one proposed in Falls Twp. That facility is also owned by Elcon Recycling and is located in Haifa Bay, Israel. Elcon has consistently exceeded limits on various toxic pollutants in its discharged water and air emissions from that facility. We are concerned that a facility here would face the same issues and end up polluting the Delaware River and our region’s air.

“A toxic facility like the one Elcon is proposing would present severe environmental risk for communities along the Delaware River. The River belongs to all of us and this facility threatens its environment and the source of our drinking water We should be looking at developing parks, marinas, and places where people can recreate along the River, not hazardous waste plant,” said Jeff Tittel. “This is a dog and pony show being put on by Elcon. People need to come out to this meeting and let Elcon know that we’re not buying what they’re selling. This facility not only threatens Falls Township, but Bordentown, and Trenton, and other communities along the Delaware River, not to mention the water supply for 6 million people.”

The public meeting was held by Elcon on February 23 at the Sheraton Bucks County at 400 Oxford Valley Road, Langhorne, PA. from 6 to 9 p.m. There will be a presentation followed by a question and answer session. The public will have an opportunity to register their comments and questions.