By Becky Polaski

Members of the Elk County Solid Waste Authority recently discussed the proposed landfill that Mike Buehler plans to operate in Horton Township.

Solid Waste Authority Chairman Russ Braun stated that he did not know much about the project other than what had been published in local newspapers.

“Apparently the Township Supervisors are kind of giving them the green light to pursue on their end,” Braun said. “I think he has discussed coming and talking to the county and whether he has yet or not I don’t know.”

The question was also raised regarding whether the county needs another landfill since Veolia Greentree Landfill is located in Fox Township.

“It is a business proposal and I suppose he feels it has strong enough merit and that it will go through the permitting system by DEP. Personally, I’m waiting to see some sort of specifics,” said Elk County Recycling/Solid Waste Coordinator Bekki Titchner.

 Titchner added that she believed the landfill would only be accepting construction and demolition materials and not any hazardous waste.

“If it is strictly a construction and demolition waste landfill there is no prerogative under Act 101 for him to be mandated to give the host municipality any fee,” Titchner said. “It would be an agreement that he would reach with the host municipality, in this case Horton Township.”

According to Titchner, Buehler would also have no obligation to give any funding to the municipality or the county.

“DEP has not heard anything and he has not submitted any paper work and I’m thinking that he is hopeful that he gets support from all the entities before he moves forward with it,” Titchner said.