In a recent government meeting, a local resident voiced strong opposition to the ongoing operations of a regional landfill in Asheville, highlighting significant concerns regarding its impact on the community and environment. The resident, who has been advocating against the landfill since 2003, expressed frustration over the lack of meaningful responses from officials regarding the health and environmental consequences faced by the community.

The speaker noted that the landfill has altered the landscape and diminished the population, which has dwindled to approximately 150 residents. They criticized the public hearings as mere formalities that fail to address the community's quality of life and civil rights to a clean environment. Despite attending these hearings for over two decades, the resident reported that decisions have consistently favored the landfill's operations, with little regard for the technical issues related to air, water, and soil contamination.

The resident called for the denial of the landfill's permit renewal and urged the Tallapoosa County Commission to reverse its earlier decision to allocate 500 acres of land for landfill use. They emphasized that the environmental impacts should be considered technical issues that warrant serious attention, as they have led to significant land loss and the closure of the community's last public entity, a church.

The testimony underscored a growing sentiment among residents that their voices are not being heard in the decision-making process, raising questions about the balance between environmental management and community welfare. The meeting served as a platform for residents to demand accountability and advocate for their rights to a healthy living environment.