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Landfill Plan Draws Protests in Wilmington

Don Rush

WILMINGTON, Del. (AP) - A proposal to raise the Minquadale landfill by 60 feet in Delaware has drawn protesters.

The News Journal of Wilmington reports that about 150 people gathered Saturday morning to protest the pending proposal.

They say the landfill will contaminate their drinking water, if it hasn't already.

Waste Management, the landfill's operator, has contended that adding height to the landfill will extend its service life by up to 20 years. It says that's a necessary step, because the site stands to run out of space this year.

Waste Management says raising the landfill from 130 feet to 190 feet will not hurt the water.

The protest was organized by the Sierra Club and Artesian Water with support from other civic groups.

Don Rush is the News Director and Senior Producer of News and Public Affairs at Delmarva Public Media. An award-winning journalist, Don reports major local issues of the day, from sea level rise, to urban development, to the changing demographics of Delmarva.