Madison County committee recommends doubling landfill intake, seeks gas reuse and PFAS planning

A volunteer Solid Waste and Recycling technical team recommended that Madison County increase the landfill's permitted intake and invest in gas collection and PFAS pretreatment as part of a strategy to keep county recycling and transfer-station programs solvent.

The committee presentation to the Board of Supervisors on the landfill's future, delivered by committee member Robert (Bob) Kuchenberger, said the team is "recommending to increase the weight accept the waste acceptance into this landfill by about 50,000 tons per year." Kuchenberger said the landfill currently receives about 50,000 tons annually and the committee proposes planning up to a 125,000-ton-per-year permit to provide buffer and operational flexibility.

The recommendation, the presenter said, was driven by an engineering validation of Cornerstone Engineering's analysis and by comparisons with larger, more efficient facilities. "This size of a landfill is really hard to be efficient," Kuchenberger said, adding that increased volume would allow the county to spread fixed compliance and liner costs over more tonnage and to maintain recycling programs and transfer stations.

Why it matters: Committee members told the board the change is intended to stabilize the landfill budget and create reserves to meet tightening environmental requirements for leachate treatment and liners, and to permit investment in improved daily cover and gas systems. The committee estimated an operating budget balance could be achieved with roughly 80,000 to 100,000 tons per year, depending on interlocal agreements with neighboring counties.

Key technical points and concerns

- Life expectancy: Kuchenberger reviewed historical projections, saying a 2007 projection based on 60,000 tons/year showed about 100 years remaining. Based on actual operations, he said the landfill currently shows about 120 years of remaining airspace; at 100,000 tons per year the committee estimated roughly 72 years remaining.

- Truck traffic: The committee said larger-haul trucks carry more tonnage, and cited a net decline in truck visits since 2022 despite a potential increase in incoming tonnage. Kuchenberger said the county could see an increase in truck size and heavier individual loads but not a proportional increase in daily truck counts.

- Environmental controls and PFAS: Kuchenberger and questioners emphasized PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) in landfill leachate. Kuchenberger said PFAS chemistry is complex and site-specific and warned that treatment choices can have unintended effects once leachate mixes with municipal wastewater. He said the committee supports bringing a consultant to design pilot testing rather than buying a single vendor solution immediately.

Board actions and next steps

- The board authorized a procurement to install additional landfill gas collection wells. Chairwoman Melissa Dearing noted the work "is the work that was already ongoing by the solid waste department to dewater the gas wells in order to increase gas production. So we're ... on it already," and the board carried the resolution authorizing Recovery Drilling Services LLC to install wells.

- The county issued a proclamation honoring Robert Kuchenberger for his technical work and leadership on the committee.

Quotes and attribution: All quoted material in this article is drawn from the meeting record and limited to the speakers listed below.

Ending: The committee said it will return with more detailed recommendations on PFAS treatment technology, gas reuse options, and potential community benefits for host communities. The board did not set a final tonnage or a firm permit application timetable at the meeting; staff and the committee will continue technical work and public communication.