The Hugo Neu Landfill and it’s effects on the Cape Fear Region Meghan Fuller Fall 2004 Coastal Management

What it It? Hugo Neu is New York based company Automobile recycling plant & landfill Proposed location is Leland, NC Adjacent to Indian Creek 170 acres, 350 feet high

Automobile Recycling & Auto Fluff Cars are shredded and sold to China Material not recycled is auto fluff Each year shredders are left with ~5 million tons of “fluff” Leading source of mercury contamination EPA defines components as hazardous Not eligible for Superfund clean-ups

Testing & Protecting Landfills Landfill liners leak HDPE “state-of-the-art” liners EPA regulations (1991) require expensive landfill design TCLP tests for 43/100 hazardous chemicals present in landfill

Associated Problems Cape Fear most toxic in NC Hundreds of shellfish beds closed Crab & oyster populations 90% decrease Airborne toxins cause respiratory problems Fish kills due to Pfiesteria Loss of property/property value Leads to beach pollution

What to do!? Brunswick Citizens for a Safe Environment Meetings on Monday nights Contact the BCSE Board of Directors, Terrie Holden and Betsy Summerville.