Will County landfill committee hears annual report; RNG plant running below projections

The Will County Landfill Committee received its annual landfill report and an update on the county-owned renewable natural gas (RNG) plant at a meeting called to order at 9 a.m. Committee members heard details about site construction, tonnage and host fees as well as operational problems that have left the RNG plant operating below its original pro forma.

Dave Hartke, director of the Resource Recovery and Energy Division, told the committee Waste Management operates the county landfill and is responsible for capital and operating costs while the county collects host and taxing‑body fees. Hartke said the landfill’s engineered bottom liner is “approximately two‑thirds to three‑quarters of the way developed,” and that the operator added about 3.66 acres of bottom liner last year. He said the operator voluntarily installed about 24 acres of temporary cap last year and added a 40,000‑gallon leachate storage tank and load‑out system.

Hartke said the operator reported roughly 158 gas collection wells on site and that the current plan calls for adding 13 to 15 additional wells and roughly 4–4.5…