Greater Waste Solutions in Greenville is seeking a permit to expand that would allow the scrap-metal business to add processing demolition and household waste, increasing the potential amount of tonnage the facility handles from 30 tons a day to potentially 600 tons a day.
On Wednesday, the state Department of Environmental Services held a public hearing in Greenville seeking public comment on the new permit, where neighbors weighed in on the proposed expansion. Many neighbors spoke about concerns with noise, odor, litter and particularly the potential increase in traffic along Fitchburg Road, also known as Route 31.
The current facility, located at 426 Fitchburg Road in Greenville, processes scrap metal under a permit it received from DES in 2017. The new permit would allow a greatly expanded amount of waste to be processed. The current scrap metal processing area would be moved, and a new 18,000-square-foot building would be used to process commercial waste. There would also be a collection area for residential waste.
Project engineer Chad Branon of Fieldstone Land Consultants, speaking on behalf of owners Glen and Julie Shaw, presented plans for how the new facility would function, noting that all approvals other than the state permit have been received for the expansion. The business sits on three properties, totaling about 9.3 acres, which are expected to ultimately be merged. The properties have a long stretch of road frontage on Route 31, but are only allowed the single, existing driveway, Branon said.
An office, scale house and security building will remain in their current locations on the property. The facility is able to operate from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday.
Branon said the ability to accept household waste would create “increased convenience” for residents in the area, who might otherwise travel greater distances to dispose of household waste. Greenville is currently in an agreement to use the transfer station in Wilton.
Resident Tom Falter spoke in favor of the project, saying when the town created its master plan, the industrial zone was exactly where this sort of business was intended to go.
“It’s in character with the area,” Falter said. “I can only see advantages to the town for this project.”
Others had concerns.
Henri Vaillancourt, who lives a half-mile from the facility, said he was concerned about the increase in traffic on Route 31, which he said is a stretch of road that is already “the most dangerous road in town.”
“The change in volume is the most troubling part of this proposal,” he said. “A car out of control is one thing; a heavily loaded truck is another.”
Timothy Washburn, owner of Washburn’s Windy Hill Orchard, said he was concerned about the impact of the noise and potential odor on his business, where people pick apples outdoors or have lunch on the picnic tables.
“Six hundred tons a day is a massive amount. It’s not a mom-and-pop operation,” Washburn said.
Michael Sadowski expressed concerns about water quality, and how runoff would be captured and filtered before entering groundwater or reaching the Souhegan River.
“There’s no benefit to the town, being this small, with this large a facility,” Sadowski said.
In addition to the oral testimony received at the public hearing, NHDES is also accepting written testimony any time before the close of the public comment period on Dec. 16 at 4 p.m. To be included in the public record, written testimony must be submitted by email to swpublic.comment@des.nh.gov or sent by mail to NHDES-SWMB, with attention to Mark Kondelis Jr., P.O. Box 95, Concord, NH 03302. People can also hand-deliver testimony to the NHDES office at 29 Hazen Drive in Concord.
NHDES must render a decision on the permit no more than 30 days following the close of the public comment period.
Ashley Saari can be reached at 603-924-7172, Ext. 244, or asaari@ledgertranscript.com. She’s on Twitter @AshleySaariMLT.