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Illinois EPA Releases Annual Landfill Capacity Report
More than one billion gate cubic yards of landfill capacity remained as of January 1, 2012, in 45 landfills. This was up more than 2.8 million gate cubic yards, less than 1 percent, from the previous reporting period. When 2012 began, there were 23 years of landfill life remaining in Illinois. 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 information we collect for this report provides valuable information for citizens, local government and for the Agency as we develop, implement and enforce regulations to control waste management facilities,” said Illinois EPA Interim Director John Kim.
In 2011, there were three fewer active landfills than the previous year, but they accepted about the same amount of waste. Forty landfills reported accepting more than 46.2 million gate cubic yards of municipal waste for disposal. Of this amount, 6.1 million gate cubic yards of it was accepted at 22 landfills from 11 other states: Arkansas, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, South Dakota, Tennessee and Wisconsin. The amount of out-of-state generated waste was 13.3 percent in 2011, up 2.3 percent from the previous year. No landfills opened or closed in 2011.
The 2011 data include landfill capacity from five inactive facilities in Fairview, Greenville, Harrisburg, Jerseyville and Streator. There were no landfill closures in 2011; however, in April of 2012, Wayne County Landfill, Fairfield temporarily ceased accepting waste. In addition, during 2012, one landfill changed its name from Pike County Landfill to Hickory Ridge Landfill. Landfills in Clinton (Clinton Landfill #2), Greenville (Bond County Landfill) and Salem (Salem Municipal Landfill #2) closed in 2010.
Several landfill expansion approvals have led to increased capacity. In 2011, Veolia ES Zion Landfill, Zion, and Rochelle Municipal Landfill, Rochelle, received expansion approval.
The Agency also permits and regulates transfer stations and compost facilities. However, since they do not permanently store waste, they are not subject to the same reporting requirements as landfills. Also, as of Jan. 1, 2012, electronics were banned from disposal in Illinois landfill.
The 25th Annual Landfill Capacity Report is available on the Illinois EPA web site at: www.epa.state.il.us/land.
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