Politics & Government

Landfill Opponents Launch Website, Online Petition

Opponents of a proposed expansion by IESI Bethlehem Landfill in Lower Saucon Township have created a website and petition to help rally support and draw attention to their cause.

Local residents who oppose a rezoning request by have launched a website to help rally support for their opposition.

The landfill is ; an action that would help pave the way for

The western expansion, as outlined by landfill officials earlier this year, could extend the lifespan of the landfill--and the income in the form of host fees it generates for --by as much as a decade.

Find out what's happening in Hellertown-Lower Sauconwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

At and planning commission meetings, however, have and any type of rezoning that would accommodate one.

Some of those residents are members of a new ad hoc citizens group led by Steel City resident Bob Wells, Saucon Valley Families Opposing Landfill Development (FOLD), which is behind the newly-launched websites www.svfold.org and www.StopTheLowerSauconDump.com.

Find out what's happening in Hellertown-Lower Sauconwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

"If we do not stop them, the landfill will work its way down Applebutter Road and desecrate the land, environment, and our health for decades to come," the opponents predict.

The website encourages anyone opposed to the landfill expansion to email Lower Saucon Township Council members with their views, and offers an email tool to help them with that.

An online petition to "Stop Applebutter Road Rezoning" that has also been launched is connected to the website.

According to the homepage for the petition, it has been created by "individuals in Lower Saucon Township and surrounding areas that look at the pictures of IESI PA Bethlehem Landfill Corporation (IESI) and want to STOP the potential of this landfill site to become larger than the present allotted area IESI currently operates."

Fourteen people had signed the petition as of July 16, five days after it was created.

The next meeting at which the landfill-related rezoning request is expected to be discussed is a meeting of the Lower Township Planning Commission scheduled for Thursday, Aug. 23 at 7pm at .

An "Option C" rezoning map proposal for the area west of the landfill--where the expansion would occur--is expected to be presented to commissioners.

Option A and Option B rezoning proposals have already been presented and can be viewed on the township's website.


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here