Landfill expansion proposal sparks community concerns and debate

In a recent government meeting, officials discussed a proposed vertical expansion of the Pine Bend landfill, located along 117th Street. The landfill, which spans approximately 323 acres, is currently permitted to accept mixed municipal solid waste, construction debris, and asbestos, with a design capacity of nearly 34 million cubic yards. As of August 2023, approximately 3 million cubic yards of airspace remain, with an estimated fill rate of 600,000 cubic yards per year, suggesting the landfill could reach capacity in about five years.

The proposed expansion, known as Phase Seven, aims to add over 8 million cubic yards of capacity, which includes 7.8 million cubic yards of waste and 300,000 cubic yards for final cover material. This expansion would not increase the landfill's footprint but would raise its height by over 86 feet, extending its operational life by approximately 13 to 14 years.

Visual aids presented during the meeting illustrated the anticipated changes in elevation and visibility from various vantage points, including residential neighborhoods and highways. The landfill's expansion is subject to review by multiple agencies, including the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA), Dakota County, and the city of Inver Grove Heights. The MPCA has already conducted an environmental analysis and issued an air quality permit, determining that a full environmental impact statement is unnecessary.

The city will consider amendments to zoning ordinances and conditional use permits to accommodate the expansion. The existing landfill regulations, established in the early 1990s to limit new landfill developments, allow for expansions of existing sites under specific conditions. The review process began in 2022, and further public meetings are expected as the proposal moves through the necessary approvals.

Key concerns raised during the meeting included the management of leachate and gas migration from older, unlined portions of the landfill, with compliance deadlines set for January 2025. The outcome of this expansion proposal will significantly impact waste management strategies in the region and the surrounding community's environmental health.