Town residents say trash plan stinks of racism

Some residents of a mainly black community in Nova Scotia say racism is behind a decision to create a superdump in their backyard.

The garbage dump outside Lincolnville, in Guysborough County, is being expanded to take in waste from 17 communitieson the mainland and Cape Breton.

To Raymond Sheppard, the plan will only hurt Lincolnville.

"If things keep going the way they are I would make a prediction that five, if not 10 years down the road, the community will not exist," he said.

Sheppard said he believes Lincolnville was chosen as a dumpsite 32 years ago because the community is predominantly black.

As a member of the Concerned Citizens of Lincolnville, he hopes to convince the municipality to move the landfill.

But Lloyd Hines, warden of the Municipality of the District of Guysborough, said no one spoke out when the new garbage plan was discussed at public meetings.

"This particular location has operated very successfully and very responsibly without a word of resistance," Hines said.

Nova Scotia requires all municipalities to dispose of waste in special landfills that have liners to prevent runoff, designed to protect the surrounding environment.

Sheppard said Nova Scotia has a history of placing incinerators, waste sites and landfills next to black and native communities.