Steven J. Poggi, Waste Management division manager, said tests taken about two weeks ago indicate gas coming from the landfill is made up mostly of methane, carbon dioxide, a small percentage of nitrogen and a tiny amount of sulfur compounds. The tests indicate that gas from the landfill does not present a health risk to workers on the site, he said. Most of the components are at such low levels off the site that they were not detectable, he said. Those results bolster the contention by Poggi and other Waste Management officials that the landfill gas is the natural byproduct of the decomposition of household waste and is harmless.
Residents living near the landfill, however, say they still want independent air-quality tests done.
The test results were released Wednesday, as town officials, Rep. Richard Tracy, D-Rome, and two homeowners who live near the landfill were scheduled to meet with Gov. Angus S. King Jr. on the issue. Since shortly before Christmas, residents near the landfill have complained of strong odors. Several also reported dizziness, headaches and respiratory problems. The gas is apparently escaping the landfill through a series of pipes and vents. Waste Management is now installing a blower system to pull the gas from the landfill and ignite it in a central location.