***scroll down to see how you can help***

Why is a Construction and Demolition Landfill still operating in our SE Gainesville neighborhood?

● Over 25 years ago it was declared by the county as an incompatible land use to surrounding
residences in a residentially zoned neighborhood, yet still operates and increases in height today.
● ENVIRONMENTAL INJUSTICE- Neighbors directly to the northwest, west, and southwest of the
dump have been historically marginalized from decision making regarding this dump’s operation and
continued permitting
● WATER QUALITY- this landfill is unlined, has no leachate collection system, and threatens the
groundwater quality impacting neighboring wells, Boulware Springs, and Paynes Prairie. All Florida
Construction and Demolition Debris Landfills built after 2010 are required to have liners and leachate control systems. FDEP (Florida Department of Environmental Protection) and ACEPD (Alachua County Environmental Protection Department) data indicate secondary drinking water standards violations already exist: neighbors report the spiked levels of iron in the water stain laundry, sinks, tubs, and appliances.
● ODOR- hydrogen sulfide gas (rotten eggs) seeps into nearby neighbors homes from sundown to
sunrise, which studies report emit from decomposing drywall/gypsum at C&D landfills
● PARTICULATE MATTER- airborne “dump dust” coats nearby neighbors vehicles, homes, plants, and pets
● NOISE- Extremely loud industrial equipment crushing and grinding hauled-in waste Mon-Fri
● TRAFFIC/ROAD DEGRADATION- Semi-trucks hauling huge uncovered dumpsters cause road wear, potholes; spew hazardous construction debris potentially harming neighbors vehicles

● DAILY OVERSIZED TRUCK TRAFFIC VIOLATES COMPREHENSIVE PLAN GUIDELINES-
Alachua County Comprehensive Plan states that no roads under 22 ft in width are to be used as major routes for frequent big truck traffic. SE 15th st south of SE 23rd Ave is under 22 ft in width.
● ALACHUA COUNTY IS NOT DEPENDENT ON THIS LANDFILL- Alachua County Solid Waste
Director stated in a July 2023 County Board Meeting on Construction and Demolition Debris Facilities in Alachua County that if the Florence C&D Landfill was to close in 2024, Alachua County has the capacity to handle C&D for 20 years before needing to build another C&D landfill. We encourage the Florence's to improve C&D debris recycling: reducing landfill waste and promoting deconstruction over demolition. If Alachua County improves C&D debris recycling a new C&D landfill may not need to be built.
● MAJORITY OF ALACHUA COUNTY DEVELOPMENT IS IN WESTERN ALACHUA COUNTY, BUT
THE WASTE IS DUMPED IN OUR SE NEIGHBORHOOD- the bulk of the waste is trucked across
town from the west to the east to be dumped in our neighborhood where new development is seldom.

Help us urge Alachua county to RIGHT THIS WRONG!
Contact our resident organization at: RespectSoutheastGainesville@gmail.com
352-745-3878

HOW YOU CAN HELP CLOSE THE LANDFILL

•  To report a dust complaint: If you are experiencing significant dust settling on your house, yard, cars and you suspect it is coming from the landfill, contact Alachua County Environmental Protection Department at 352-264-6800. They will assign someone to respond.
• To report an odor complaint: Residents near the landfill frequently experience strong nauseating rotten egg odors, even with closed windows. This could be from decomposing drywall dumped at the landfill which is known to emit hydrogen sulfide gas, which can be hazardous. Send texts on weekday business hours to both:

1) Christopher Gilbert, 352-213-4981 Hazardous Materials Program Manager, Alachua County Environmental Protection Department
2) Anthony Dennis, 352-258-0257, Environmental Health Director Alachua County Health Department

•  Email the County Commission at bocc@alachuacounty.us Or call: 352-264-6900. Tell them you live near the landfill and that you want it closed. The trash, dust, noise and threats to public health and our water and air don’t belong in a residential neighborhood. It’s time to right this environmental injustice.

For more info or questions call 352-745-3878. Leave a message, our neighborhood organization will call you back,  or email RespectSoutheastGainesville@gmail.com
Website: RespectSoutheastGainesville.org

December 28th, 2023

There is an opportunity to stop the pollution and disturbance in the Boulware Springs neighborhood in Southeast Gainesville from continued operation and expansion of the Florence Landfill, a construction and demolition debris dump owned and operated by Southeast Landholdings, Inc.   

This site was never properly designed to serve as a construction and demolition debris landfill.
 Historically, this site was first permitted an excavation facility called Feagle Fill Dirt (FFD) and according to records FFD had been illegally dumping on the land from the late 1960’s. 

Water quality and public health for neighboring residents is threatened by continued use of this unlined construction and demolition debris dump. 

Records of the pollution plume from the facility demonstrate the flow moving towards Boulware Springs and Paynes Prairie, both important public resources. 

There is no requirement to continue the use of Florence Dump. A recent presentation from the Alachua County staff shared information that shows the present waste sites for disposal have at least 20 years of life, without the Florence Dump. 

Back in September, Southeast Landholdings, Inc submitted a county application for renewal of their 5-year Special use Permit (SUP) as their present permit is set to expire January 22, 2024. The neighborhood residents submitted numerous public comments and requests for party status to present their concerns to the county in a quasi-judicial hearing to determine the renewal of the SUP. 

On Dec. 6, Southeast Landholdings, Inc. issued a notice to Growth Management stating their intent to exercise the hurricane-related tolling and extension granted under 252.363 (1) (a), Florida Statutes (2023). This state granted Legislative Extension circumvents the Special Use Permit process thereby avoiding the quasi-judicial hearing. 

If not challenged by the Alachua County Growth Management Department, the Legislative Extension would enable the dump to operate an additional 4-6 years, double its current height, clearing the way for a staggering 70 ft. mountain of crushed construction waste directly adjacent to schools, homes, parks, and churches, some within 500 feet of the dump.  

At the December Alachua County Commission meeting, residents requested that the county not honor this Legislative Extension and instead set a closure plan for 2024. Alachua County Commissioners directed staff to schedule a public meeting in January to discuss the dump. 

Check out this fact sheet for background. 

Please write to the Alachua County Commissioners at bocc@alachuacounty.us 

Please request that they not honor the Legislative Extension of the Special Use Permit for the Florence Dump and instead enforce a closure plan in 2024.