Dials Mill Resident Asks Commissioners to Oppose Recycling Center

The Oconee County Planning Commission's decision this week to recommend to the Board of Commissioners approval of a permit for a Materials Recovery Facility on Dials Mill Road isn't sitting well with neighbor Sherry Tirri.

She's written a letter (see attached PDF) to commissioners urging them to vote to deny her uncle Bernard Garrett's and Harvest Recycling's request to build a 26,000 square foot "open air" solid waste handling facility that provides for the extraction from solid waste of recoverable materials, materials suitable for use as a fuel or soil amendment or any combination of such materials.

In the special use permit application (attached as a PDF), which Oconee County Observations reports was criticized by planning staff, Harvest Recycling says it "is intent on being a good neighbor and a steward of the environment by utilizing the most current techniques and best management practices in the industry."

But in her letter, Tirri expresses concerns that the "community will experience air pollution, noise pollution, and the potential release of harmful contaminants into our ground water supply, while enjoying little to no benefit whatsoever from this proposed monstrosity."

The issue is scheduled to come before commissioners at the May 7 meeting.

What do you think about the proposed Recycling/Materials Recovery Facility?