Georgia EPD cites Augusta Landfill for improper equipment, management

The Georgia Environmental Protection Division (EPD) has cited the Augusta Landfill with several violations, including not having the proper equipment to handle large amounts of trash spilling into a nearby creek.

As reported by WJFB, the city of Augusta was given notice of five state violations, five state deficiencies and other issues related to the problem landfill. District 8 Commissioner Brandon Garett says the root of these issues points to a lack of training of employees.

“Back in 2020, there was another issue with a director. There were a lot of the same types of problems. We actually had to bring in some contractors to help fix those problems, and unfortunately, those problems have shown themselves again,” he told WJFB.

One of the recent violations was for a large amount of waste spilling in Spirit Creek, which Garett says was caused by a rainstorm. Another one of the issues that EPD found was waste not being properly covered.

Savannah Riverkeeper Tonya Bonatatibus says heavy trash could lead to flooding and cause other problems. “That’s been one of the big issues in the past which is the amount of liquid that’s leaving and getting into the creek,” she says in the WJFB report.

The landfill also was cited for a large amount of solid waste in a sediment pond on the site. The EPD says that waste had not been removed for the past two months and that the water in the pond is leachate. The landfill also faces violations for not having the proper equipment.

“The issues that the landfill is currently [facing] are far greater than, ‘Oh, we just put [waste] in the wrong place.’ There have been [several incidents] over the last couple of years. In particular, the state has been getting far more aggressive about [meeting requirements] and the city has had a number of pretty significant violations and fines that have been paid out,” Bonatatibus tells WJFB.

Garett says he is hopeful the problems will be corrected soon with the appointment of a new landfill director.

“[The new director] has actually put in a corrective action plan in the past few weeks to help the employees understand what their day-to-day operations should be and what it should look like,” he tells WJFB.