The planned addition of a recycling transfer station in the North Judson Industrial Park has some residents organizing a protest. Metro Recycling currently operates three facilities in Northwest Indiana and one in Illinois.
The one the company’s planning for the North Judson area would be similar to those, according to Starke County Economic Development Foundation Special Projects Coordinator Ron Gifford. “A group of folks from Starke County, I believe from maybe the County Plan Commission, went to one of their other Indiana facilities to take a look at that facility and came back and said it was very well-run and clean and no issues,” says Gifford.
However, a member of the plan commission says they were not the ones who toured the facility. Gifford says the company is currently wrapping up a lengthy permitting process with the Indiana Department of Environmental Management, which could pave the way for construction to start in the spring.
However, some residents say they’re concerned with issues of noise and pollution, as well as a potential decline in property values that may result. They say the proposed transfer station has been a “well kept secret” by the Starke County Economic Development Foundation, the Starke County Plan Commission, and the Town of North Judson, something Gifford disputes. “On our particular organization, there are probably about five people from North Judson that have been kept advised of this as it’s gone on,” he said. “The Town of North Judson has a member on our board that has been fully aware of all this process. And the Starke County Planning Commission sent a team over to look at once of their other facilities, and apparently, they didn’t need any special local zoning permits or anything like that, or the Starke County Plan Commission obviously would have had a meeting.”
He adds that legal notices typically have to be made for these types of projects. Gifford says from his experience, Metro Recycling has been a good corporate citizen, noting that the company has twice taken part in the SCEDF’s Manufacturers Day event.
This evening, though, a group of residents plans to hold a protest meeting at the North Judson-San Pierre High School Auditorium from 6:00 to 8:00. Meanwhile, Gifford says representatives from Metro Recycling as well as the SCEDF are scheduled to discuss the new facility during the next North Judson Town Council meeting on Monday, November 7 at 6:30 p.m. at North Judson Town Hall.
Officials with Metro Recycling could not be reached for comment Wednesday afternoon.
