Illinois EPA Releases Annual Report on Landfill Capacity

SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency has released the Illinois Landfill Projections of Disposal Capacity Report for calendar year 2013. This is the 27th annual report, which includes data regarding the expected disposal capacity available for municipal waste at Illinois landfills as of January 1, 2014.

During calendar year 2013, 42 landfills reported receiving over 45 million gate cubic yards of waste and reported more than 947 million gate cubic yards of combined remaining capacity as of January 1, 2014. Based on 2013 disposal rates, the current remaining landfill life expectancy in Illinois is 21 years. It is important to note that capacity can fluctuate from year to year, as cells within landfills are filled and new ones are developed.

“The Illinois EPA is pleased to provide this report as an informative tool for Illinois residents and local governments,” said Illinois EPA Director Lisa Bonnett. “The information collected and reported each year is also important to the Agency as we plan for the future of waste management facilities in Illinois.”

The 2013 data includes landfill capacity reported by two facilities that are currently inactive in Atkinson and Jerseyville. In addition, one facility in Peoria reported zero remaining capacity and one new facility opened in East St. Louis in October 2013.

The Illinois EPA also permits and regulates transfer stations and compost facilities. However, since these facilities do not permanently store waste, they are not subject to the same reporting requirements as landfills. The Illinois Landfill Projections of Disposal Capacity report is available on the Illinois EPA website at: www.epa.state.il.us/land.