Veterans Defending Our Memorial Forest, a group of local veterans who have hunkered down for the past week at Veterans Memorial Forest, a memorial adjacent to the landfill site. They believe a landfill will dishonor America's veterans. Lewis County Board of Legislators, which recently passed a resolution opposing the landfill, citing concerns about the county's image. Lewis County's southern border nearly reaches the landfill site. And there are others.
Critics cite numerous reasons for their discontent.
They worry about blowing trash. They worry the number of trucks traveling to and from the site will create the potential for accidents on local roadways, especially in winter months. They worry the garbage will attract rats, seagulls and other nuisances to the area. They worry a landfill will decrease property values nearby. And they worry about the stigma a landfill will attach to their communities.