Carolina mayor: Proposal to investigate landfill endangers lives of residents

By The Star Staff

Carolina Mayor José Aponte Dalmau has accused Sens. Marissa Jiménez Santoni and Héctor Joaquín Sánchez of engaging in reckless political maneuvering that threatens the well-being of the municipality’s residents by attempting to dismantle the operations of Carolina’s sanitary landfill system.

The mayor asserted that the senators are propagating misinformation through a resolution that unjustly calls for an investigation into the landfill’s operations, which he characterizes as “a blatant attack on the stability and ongoing functionality” of the facility.

“These actions jeopardize waste collection services, putting at serious risk the health, safety, and quality of life of the residents of Carolina,” Aponte Dalmau said.

The mayor pointed out that the wording in Senate Resolution 2 strikingly mirrors a lawsuit filed by the owners of Hacienda Campo Rico in the case of Carolina Golf Academy vs. the Municipality of Carolina. The plaintiff is trying to close the landfill and is pursuing $5 million in damages in an unresolved case.

“Thanks to the senators’ actions, we are now facing an unprecedented risk; for the first time in history, the Sanitary Landfill System may not have its permits renewed by the Natural and Environmental Resources Department,” the mayor said. “This would fundamentally disrupt services that currently benefit over 153,000 citizens, who rely on efficient waste collection and recycling at no cost.”

“Never before has the permit renewal process been subject to such a halt or conditional public hearings,” Aponte Dalmau added. “Every investigation and audit conducted by agencies has consistently validated our effective management, even in the face of challenges plaguing other landfills.”

“Why does Resolution 2 resemble the Golf Academy lawsuit?” the mayor queried.

Aponte Dalmau emphasized that the municipality allocates $17.2 million to its Solid Waste, Recycling, and Environmental Affairs Department.

“If the permits are denied, the cost of transporting solid waste will skyrocket, and we will be forced to scale back services for our citizens,” he warned. “Moreover, if the Sanitary Landfill System is shut down, the city of Carolina will be legally bound to maintain the facilities for the next 30 years. This scenario would plunge the city into a dire fiscal crisis.”

“We insist that all investigations, inspections, and audits be carried out with absolute objectivity and respect,” the mayor said.