Having grown up here in Evanston (1965 ETHS grad) I have never had a problem with this area of Evanston or the waste transfer station and often have wondered, "Why would ANYONE build or MOVE into homes next to the waste station that has been here FOR 30 YEARS!!! Why did the City even allow this if it had been such a problem in those 30 years or allow the up-grades over the years??
I smell a RAT and it is not at this waste station.

These owners apparently have learned from other whiners who got there way. Buy near the airport or expressway, get a cheaper price and get the taxpayers to pay for soundproofing. What's next? By next to the train tracks and complain about that?
Seen simialr compalkints about those who buy near factories, stadiums etc.
People need to accept responsibility for their choices.

I agree Michael, don't buy a house next to the dump if you don't want to smell it.

Kind of like the folks that built homes at the end of the property line at Ohare & then complained about the airplanes using the run ways that make the planes fly over their homes............. DAH!!

I have zero sympathy for these "concerned residents" who are doing nothing more than bullying Veolia, and their pathetic attempts to put them in a bad light. I don't work for Veolia, but I do live in Evanston, not far from their site. If you decide to purchase a home NEXT DOOR to a waste transfer station, you don't get to cry "unfair!" and complain. That deep discount that no doubt enticed you to purchase that home? Yeah, it was in place for a reason...you bought a home next door to a garbage station! It's not like they lied and said it was something it wasn't. You willingly bought there, so deal with it.

Most of the commentators are buying Veolia's spin, hook, line, and sinker.

I have lived in the 5th ward for 30 years--about 5 blocks away.

Here are some actual facts: Veloia has only been operating the dump since 2000. In their tenure they have SIGNIFICANTLY increased the volume of garbage transferred (and traffic generated) in the city.

When it was operated by Active Service it was a much smaller operation. Veolia bulked up volume which is profiting their shareholders at the expense of the city's residents.

If Veolia wanted to open an identical facility today, they couldn't because current EPA rules would make it impossible because of its proximity to residential districts.

The EPA rules are designed to protect public health.

So it is not a matter of it being "unfair,"--this is a public health hazard that needs to be abated.

If you knowingly and willingly by a home NEXT DOOR to a garbage station, you have no valid reason to be complaining. If you don't to smell trash, don't move next door to a trash facility. It's pretty simple.

Veolia's website says, "Veolia Environnement believes that any ethical lapse in any part of the company anywhere in the world could reflect negatively on the company as a whole, either by undermining client and partner trust, preventing staff from working together in harmony or damaging the company's image.

Veolia Environnement's fundamental values - Responsibility, Solidarity and Respect - underline the foundation of its economic, social and environmental performance.

We are aware of the impact our everyday actions have in improving the living conditions of people worldwide. We never forget how our business affects our employees and society as a whole and base our actions on our understanding of the general public interest."

Veolia is unconcerned about the impact they are having on our community. Residents in the 5th ward have complained about this facility for decades and most have lived in the 5th ward longer than the site has been in operation.

Anyone who thinks a historically low income, minority community should play host to the garbage of all of the wealthy neighborhoods and communities in and around Evanston is misguided. Every time Veolia makes this about a small group of townhomes they are trying to distract you from the true enviornmental justice of the issue. Don't fall for their predictable efforts to distract you and confuse the issues.

They are operating in contradiction to their own values. Relocating is the only the ethical option!

I grew up here in Evanston. As I said I went to Skiles Jr. High (sp) and ETHS.
I have been here since 1955. Things do change-ownership and use of a dumb- but it was always there along with the "historically low income, minority community" with few problems.
Until new housing came along!
Stop producing garbage and having it collect by someone and I will listen to any of you.
Until then the "not in my neighbor" mentality, by our poor city leaders and some residents will not cut it with me.

SORRY used dumb and not dump

Veolia should move to Oakton & McCormick or Howard & McCormick if they'd like to stay in Evanston. I don't mind them being in Evanston. I do mind them being less than a block from the High School where my daughter attends. Who knows what kind of garbage our kids are inhaling on a daily basis throughout the day. Evanston Township High School students are from all sections of the city, which is a reason we should all be concerned.

I also mind all of the the huge trucks that are going through our residential neighborhoods and parking and idling on Church Street. I furthermore mind that Veolia is suing the city of Evanston, which by the way, ultimately means that Veolia is suing us, the taxpayers of Evanston.

I am surprised that the responses here are not more of outrage against Veolia for taking advantage of Evanston residents in so many ways. How can these responders make excuses for Veolia, a multibillion dollar French corporation that is suing them?

It sounds like the needs of the waste transfer station have outgrown its current space (and did so many years ago). Rather than spending money to expand their operation, to try to mitigate the effects of the station, and to file a lawsuit against the city where they reside, Veolia could instead investigate relocation options that would give them plenty of space for their business needs. I believe that's what other businesses do when they have a lot of customers and business--they move to a bigger location.

Veolia says in their statement above that the city refused their offer to "Revamp the entrance to the facility to accommodate traffic flow." What they fail to mention is that their trucks would be able to enter and exit more quickly thus bringing even more garbage into the community.

From a safety standpoint this creates more danger to the ETHS students walking to and from school and children using Mason Park. The turning radius from the trucks spans both lanes of traffic and I've witnessed many near misses when trucks arrive and leave.

With the proposed new bike lanes on Church St. from McCormick to the lakefront, there is even more of a safety concern.

Doesn't the west side of Evanston deserve to have the same quality of life as Northwest Evanston? I lived in NW Evanston for 29 years and I can guarantee that the nauseating stink of garbage, the idling diesel trucks, the noise pollution, poor air quality, rodents, etc. would not be tolerated for minute.

Wonder if some of these commenters using the O'Hare line of messaging are actually connected with Veolia. Wouldn't surprise me.

If any of these skeptical commenters actually bothered to learn about the people involved in this movement, they would see we aren't all from the townhomes adjacent to the dump. I live in the 8th ward and see this as an issue of justice. No other ward would have had this dump built and none would tolerate still having it. The 5th ward has not been able to organize a sustained effort against the dump, until now.

Did we say that women shouldn't have the right to vote because it took them too long to organize? Of course not. They organized when there was finally enough momentum. Same with the dump.

For me the sad comedy is that citizens who are breathing the dump's air would actually advocate to maintain this dirty, noxious site in the center of our city.

Justice will win out in the end - it may just take a while to get there.

Just to be clear...I am not connected with Veolia. I have been active in Evanston in the past. Work here, live here since 1955. College and a few years not here and then back.
I stand by my comments.

No matter where you live... economic development is a plus for any city. More jobs, adequate housing and affordable taxes... it's hard to argue that it shouldn't benefit all citizens. Unfortunately, the previously zoned "light industrial" area, that Veolia has called a suitable waste transfer site for the past 10 years, does neither. Few Evanston residents are employed at the site, the tax return on the the parcel is relatively insignificant compared to other Evanston properties and the constant flow of heavy duty vehicles in and out of the faciity is destroying our roadway infrastructure (and Veolia doesn't want to do anything about it.) Just take a ride down Church Street, a main throughfare welcoming visitors to our lovely City, on a hot summer day and it's hard to argue this site is not impacting our entire Community. Just take a look at the adjoining business district. Really folks, is there a rational argument for the existence of a garbage dump in the middle of a residential neighborhood? You can throw rocks at those in opposition, you can post irresponsible statements about the Environmental Injustice of the issue; but how can you intelligently argue that this is the perfect location to process hundreds of tons of garbage? I just don't get it.

Come on now.............
Church Street a gateway to our fair city?????????
The "adjoining business district" has been this way and worse since I moved
in. Remenber Monty's? (loved that place)
Stop creating garbage and I might listen to you. Moving Veolia to someone
elses yard just moves everything about your, "Not in my backyard" feelings.
Taxes? Who cares Ours are so high with or without Veolia that maybe
working with them..ie:Northwestern and we could just slove the problems.

"Stop creating garbage and I might listen to you. Moving Veolia to someone
elses yard just moves everything about your, "Not in my backyard" feelings."

Amen to that. These people wouldn't be opening their mouths if it wasn't in their backyard. Sometimes I regret moving to Evanston. First the outrage of a bar and grill coming to Fountain Square, and now this.

Lets see the lumber company left years ago. Trying toforce out Veolia next. Guess next year it will be Cahill