Landfill Siting and Permitting - What Role Should Communications Play?, 1993 Environmental Conference Proceedings

The Georgia-Pacific Pulp and Paper Mill in Big Island, Virginia needed to locate an industrial landfill to comply with new State Regulations. The Mill thought that its problems were over when a site located on company property proved technically feasible for landfill development.

However, when the time came for local government approval, Georgia-Pacific discovered that a technically sound site is not always enough. The Mill found itself surrounded by citizen opposition and non-supportive elected officials, although the mill was an economic benefit to the area. The local governing body denied approval requiring the company to wait one year before reapplying.

With a year to turn public and political opinion around, Georgia-- Pacific hired Olver Services, Incorporated (OSI), a Blacksburg, Virginia, environmental communications firm, to develop a plan and direct communications activities in the surrounding communities.

OS1 and Georgia-Pacific worked together to implement a plan that provided educational materials and opportunities for public information and participation. This extensive campaign targeted the citizenry, local political officials, Big Island Mill employees and local media.

This proactive communications plan allowed Georgia-Pacific to succeed in gaining local government approval to build their new landfill. Georgia-Pacific’s experience is standing proof of the need to factor environmental communications into the schedule of landfill or facility siting and permitting.