As a dedicated resident and/or property owner of Waupaca County, I am deeply concerned about the newly proposed manure and industrial food waste codigester ordinance. This ordinance threatens to strip away local control, disregarding our townships' comprehensive plans and preferred land use. It effectively reclassifies potential hazardous sites as mere agricultural accessories rather than the solid or hazardous waste facilities they more accurately resemble. What's more concerning is that the majority of the waste processed by these codigesters is not sourced from local farms but imported industrial food waste.

These facilities are poised to bring tons of industrial food waste into our county, significantly increasing the risk of contamination of our precious soil, ground, and surface water. Moreover, air pollution from these digesters cannot be ignored and poses a substantial threat to our community's health.

The byproducts, known as digestate, could be categorized as industrial liquid waste, industrial sludge waste, and industrial byproducts when land spread, adding another layer of environmental concern. Our local infrastructure is also at risk, with increased traffic threatening road degradation and decimating property values. Worse yet, the revenue from property taxes may dwindle without a payment in lieu of taxes agreement in place.

Additionally, it is troubling that large global corporations, rather than local farmers, will likely own and operate these facilities, extracting profits while leaving the environmental and economic cleanup to our local communities.

We cannot stand idly by while our local governance, environmental safety, and community integrity are compromised. I urge you to join me in opposing this ordinance and safeguarding the future of Waupaca County. Stand with us to demand that our officials protect our environment, maintain local control, and uphold the well-being of our community. Please sign this petition to voice your opposition and protect our county from this detrimental ordinance.