Prague Ranchers Concerned About Hazardous Waste Contamination From Landfill

Ranchers in Prague say it's a problem that's getting worse and worse; Medical waste being brought to the Center Point Landfill, then finding its way over to their prairies and, they say, ultimately to your dinner table.

On any given day you can see dozens of these black buzzards flying over Bob and Wendy Rich’s ranch in Prague. The birds feed at the Center Point Landfill right across the street; not just on trash, but on medical waste. 

"We’re worried about thousands of these buzzards grabbing the medical waste and bringing it over here. And dumping it over in our ponds, on our land, and exposing it to our cattle," said Bob Rich of Rich Cattle Company.

This weekend, the Rich’s snapped pictures of the landfill showing red medical waste bags exposed. They say they've found other medical waste on the road and their property.

"We found IV cords. We found medical gloves. We found IV bags. We found lots and lots," Mr. Rich said. “It scares you a ton. We're scared. You know when I was a kid we used to walk up and down the roads. Now there's no way I would take my child on the road.”

The owner of the landfill tells News 9 all of the waste is treated before it arrives, and that he is in compliance with the rules regulating medical waste disposal.

"While we want to believe them sometimes that's hard to believe," said Wendy Rich.