Following testimony from Audubon of Florida and its partners yesterday, the Palm Beach County Commissioners, sitting as the Solid Waste Authority (SWA) governing board, made the wise decision to postpone selecting a site to build a new 1500+ acre landfill in western Palm Beach County.

The SWA staff had recommended a site located .01 miles from Stormwater Treatment Area (STA)1W, a filter marsh used to remove phosphorus from water flowing into the Arthur R. Marshall Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge.  This STA has become a wonderful spot for birding and other recreation.

Audubon, which has called for expansion of this STA for years, joined partner organizations to raise questions about the landfill’s impact on water quality, expansion opportunities, and recreational enjoyment in the treatment area, as well as danger to birds and other wildlife who could be attracted by the landfill.  The SWA will now work with the South Florida Water Management District to look for environmentally appropriate sites that could become available as a result of the River of Grass purchase.  Audubon commends this decision.

Read the insightful editorial from the Palm Beach Post on this issue.