A landfill controversy came to a head Tuesday night in Livingston Parish. At the center of the debate is the Woodside Landfill in Walker. The facility has been in and out of court since it opened more than 20 years ago. Tuesday night, supporters and opponents spoke out about the site.

On one hand, you have hundreds of people who rely on the landfill to support their families. On the other are thousands of homeowners who live near Woodside and consider the place to be a nuisance. It's a hot topic in Livingston. A battle brewing in Livingston Parish drew a huge crowd to the courthouse. Inside, there were arguments for and against Woodside Landfill. Woodside employs more than 400 people and pumps an estimated $1.5 million in royalties into Livingston's economy. Supporters say if the landfill shuts down, the parish and it's people will lose.

Even though Woodside Landfill representatives say the trash is covered everyday and deodorized, some say the heap produces an unbearable odor - constantly. "Last night, it was just so bad. It burns your eyes, your nose. It just makes you nauseous," says Wayne Breaud. More than half the crowd at the meeting were employees of Woodside. They rely on the landfill to provide for themselves and their families. "It's scary when you're raising a family and you're new to an area. We just hope it goes our way," says Marilyn Spangler. She is desperate to keep her job, and her company up and running.

While she's rooting for Woodside, others are dreading going home and having to deal with the landfill. "Woodside is over here and they expect us to drink this water? They say it's safe with all these chemicals floating in the air." Wayne Breaud says the landfill surrounds three sides of his home. "We used to live around the dump. Now, we live in the dump. That ain't right."
Right now, there is no deadline for the DEQ to make a final decision about the landfill's permits. They will continue to listen to people's thoughts about Woodside for about a month. We'll let you know what happens.

Source: WAFB, Keitha Nelson