GUEST COLUMN/Big Bully garbage company throws legal temper tantrum

There is a multi-million-dollar garbage company attempting to bully Madison County. They are like a spoiled child not getting their way, so they’ve sued the County for $60 million.

NCL is a big garbage company that wants to build a landfill right next to the state’s largest landfill already located in Madison County. This will make two landfills in this part of the County and three landfills in Madison County. We are already the only county with two landfills, and it seems clear that we have NO NEED for another.

The MDEQ Permit Board voted early in 2020 to take no action on NCL’s landfill application until the County studies whether the landfill is actually needed or not. A few months after that, NCL was exposed in their letter to the Madison County Board of Supervisors in their attempt to BUY the County’s study of whether Madison County needs a third unprecedented landfill!

As if paying for the study wasn’t bad enough, NCL’s lawyer then directed the Board in the letter on what actions they needed to take and made clear they have no choice but to follow his demands due to an agreement a former Board signed with the garbage company nearly 20 years ago. 

It’s rather ironic NCL insisted the County conduct this study, because NCL argued the OPPOSITE when they threatened to sue the County last December if they did study the county’s solid waste needs. It doesn’t take long to figure out NCL is only in this for their interests. 

In this crazy episode, NCL later withdrew their letter demanding the County conduct the study which NCL offered to fund; however, that did not last long since NCL just sued the County for $60 million on September 10 arrogantly insisting the County is not cooperating with their business agreement.

Keep in mind, NCL has spent millions of dollars in a long-time effort to build a huge landfill the County does not need or want. Madison County is one of the fastest growing counties in the State and enjoys strong economic growth. Why would it want to be the Landfill Capital of Mississippi?

It is apparent what NCL is attempting to do with this lawsuit, but no one likes a bully. I am proud of our supervisors for standing strong and putting the interests of the County first. We need to let them know we appreciate them.

Madison County already has TWO DUMPS. We need to say clearly NO MORE DUMPS in Madison County. If for some reason the State needs another dump for long-term needs, then BUILD IT SOMEWHERE ELSE! There are 81 other counties and not one of them has two dumps. We have done our part. NO MORE DUMPS!

Robert Watson is a business leader who lives in Madison County.