Citizens 'prefer county control' of landfill

Residents have expressed mixed opinions as to whether county governors in a Washington state should buy a local landfill, it has been reported.

Several inhabitants of Cowlitz County - which is home to approximately 94,000 people - attended a meeting this week to say that they would prefer local authorities to run the Weyerhaeuser-owned landfill near Silver Lake, rather than a private company, the Daily News reported.

Roy Garrison, whose house is located only doors away from the landfill - which currently accepts only industrial waste but could be turned into a municipal garbage dump - offered his support for the county to purchase the site.

"The control we'll have locally is much greater than if we have an outside contractor," he stated.

Commissioner Axel Swanson added that private firms are not seeking to improve the quality of life of residents, so therefore county officials are the best safeguard to handle local concerns.

Written by Lauren Steadman