A plan to transport thousands of tons of out-of-county waste into Sumter County is drawing growing concern from local residents, after news of the proposal spread widely online and prompted hundreds of comments from the community.

The Heart of Florida Landfill near Bushnell is preparing to add a rail spur that would allow waste to be transported by train from South Florida to the site. The move is expected to significantly increase the volume of trash arriving at the landfill in the coming years.

While the project is still developing, the reaction locally has been immediate.

Residents across Sumter County have taken to social media to voice concerns about potential impacts, including odor, environmental effects and the long-term implications of bringing in waste from outside the region. Many expressed frustration about what they see as a lack of local input in decisions that could affect their communities.

“People are already complaining about the smell in the area and how it’s affecting their health,” one resident commented. “They’re trying to get as many people as they can to complain about it every time they smell it so that the county will do something.”

Others questioned how the increased volume of waste might be managed once it arrives, including how long materials could remain on-site and what safeguards will be in place to address issues like runoff and air quality.

The Heart of Florida Landfill has operated in the area for years, but the proposed rail expansion represents a shift in how waste would be transported and handled. Rail transport would allow for a much higher volume of material to be delivered compared to traditional trucking methods.

The plan comes at a time when many large metropolitan areas in Florida are facing capacity challenges when it comes to waste management, leading to increased reliance on regional partnerships and alternative disposal strategies.

Locally, however, the focus remains on what the changes could mean for nearby communities.

At this stage, questions remain about timelines, oversight and how the project will ultimately impact the surrounding area. As discussion continues both online and within the community, many residents say they plan to stay engaged and push for more information.