Owners of the now closed Rolling Hills construction demolition and debris landfill are developing a cleanup plan that calls for excavating and recycling waste on the property.

South Palafox Properties LLC owns the facility at 6990 Rolling Hills Road. Managing partner Scott Miller issued a statement outlining part of the plan.

"The plan will create 40-50 jobs in Escambia County and remove the landfill completely from the site by recycling waste into renewable energy," said Miller. "This plan is seen as a win for the residents of the embattled Wedgewood Community, as well as Escambia County and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection."

Neighbors of the Rolling Hills landfill have long complained of health and environmental problems associated with the borrow pit and they won a hard fought victory when a judge revoked the facility's permit.

Now Escambia County taxpayers could face millions of dollars in expenses to clean up the property since Rolling Hills doesn't have the financial assurance to cover it.

"We are excited to resolve this serious issue in a way that satisfies the important goals of all of the stakeholders," said Miller.

South Palafox Properties is working with New World Energy Group to explore the possibility of excavating the C & D waste and creating energy pellets with it. The pellets are comparable to coal and are light and easy to transport.

Representatives with South Palafox Properties say grant money is also available to create the energy pellets and there's a demand for them, adding the State of Florida is now buying them from overseas.

If approved, they say the plan would create dozens of jobs that pay about $40,000 annually and would continue for at least 3 to 5 years.The company has discussed the idea with local legislators and the FDEP.

"Rolling Hills representatives have informed the department that they are interested in pursuing an extensive waste removal project to address the site closure," said Luke Strickland with the FDEP Press Office. "However, a detailed closure and site remediation plan has not been provided to the department."

Miller says their consultant is finalizing the plan and the company expects to submit it in the next couple of weeks.

Miller is hopeful the state will work with them on the idea, saying it would benefit the county and FDEP, "who would have to dig deep in an already tight budget to accomplish this on their own."