Letter to the Editor: Veolia Reacts to 'Dump the Dump'

Below is a statement from Veolia Environmental Services:

On Thursday, June 7, Evanston Neighbors United, an Evanston-based activist group held a "documentary" video seemingly designed to force out a local business with deep roots in the Evanston community.

The "documentary" focuses only on one side of an ongoing, contentious issue without any regard for Veolia's opinions or facts regarding its ownership and operation of the Waste Transfer Station. The video, created by two film students, drastically distorts the public record in the process. More importantly, the video, which heavily features neighbors who willingly bought property next to the Evanston Transfer station which has been in operation for more than 30 years, unsurprisingly fails to address Veolia's efforts to work with local officials to resolve the City's issues.

Since 2004, Veolia has invested $4 million in upgrades to the Evanston Transfer Station facility while offering numerous further additions or renovations, only to have its proposed efforts rejected by Evanston officials. Specifically, the City of Evanston has refused Veolia's offer to:

• Negotiate a host agreement that would provide an ongoing revenue stream to the city;
• Revamp the entrance to the facility to accommodate traffic flow; and
• Demolish buildings on the property to improve aesthetics. 

The fact remains that Veolia's Evanston Transfer Station is in full compliance with all state and federal laws. Veolia's employees process the waste that we all create for transfer to permanent landfills. Veolia's goal is to remain an important part of the Evanston community and a good corporate citizen, as it historically has been.