This story is co-published with The Assembly and Spotlight on Poverty and Opportunity. This reporting project was supported by The Uproot Project Environmental Justice Fellowship and produced through the Environmental Justice Oral History Project. In the early 1990s, Paul Fisher first learned about the Sampson County landfill from a radio talk show. There were discussions about expanding the Roseboro municipal solid waste facility into a massive regional dump site that would draw waste from 44 counties in North Carolina. Fisher, who resides within a mile of the landfill in the Snow Hill neighborhood of Roseboro, quickly organized with other residents against this plan. Despite their protests, the expanded landfill opened in 1992 and has since grown to become the largest landfill in North Carolina, covering over 1,300 acres.
Fisher, 75, has deep roots in the community, tracing his family history back to the early 1830s. He has spent his entire life in Snow Hill, returning from military service in 1975 to provide the same rich upbringing for his two daughters. However, his children have moved away due to the smell and pollution caused by the landfill. Fisher continues to speak out against the environmental impact of the landfill, which has made it challenging to pass on generational wealth to his family.
The community of Snow Hill was once a center of Black excellence in Sampson County, with a multi-generational community that included teachers, lawyers, and doctors. Residents were college-educated, and the community was self-sufficient through farming and hunting. However, the environmental impact of the landfill has changed the landscape, with residents experiencing odors, pests, and environmental health concerns.
Operated by GFL Environmental, the landfill brings in approximately $2.3 million in host fees annually for Sampson County, which supports essential services and helps keep taxes low. However, residents have raised concerns about the type of waste being dumped in the landfill, including dead hogs and industrial waste, leading to environmental pollution and health risks.
The landfill has been shown to emit hazardous air pollutants, including toluene, benzene, and ethylene dichloride. It is also considered one of the biggest emitting landfills in the country for methane, and concerns about groundwater contamination persist.
Community activist Whitney Parker discovered that the stream behind his grandmother’s property was contaminated with PFAS, impacting the ability to rent out land for agricultural use. Despite no recent violations of the Clean Air Act or Clean Water Act, the Environmental Justice Community Action Network has highlighted the need for stronger regulation and compliance with environmental standards to protect the health of residents.
The permitting process for the landfill does not take into account the cumulative impacts of multiple waste streams, leaving residents exposed to various health risks. Issues such as 1,4-dioxane, which is thought to cause liver cancer, are not adequately addressed in the permitting process, leading to ongoing concerns about environmental and public health.
