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County discusses plan to treat landfill leachate for PFAS, seeks intercounty partnership
Summary
Supervisors discussed adopting a solid-waste environmental management plan that would pursue reverse-osmosis treatment for PFAS in landfill leachate, expand capacity to accept out-of-county leachate and pursue Clean Water Fund financing; supervisors urged joint-venture agreements with Portage and Shawano counties for shared long-term obligations.
The Marathon County Board discussed the Marathon County Solid Waste Environmental Management Plan (Resolution 406-25) and a proposed project to treat landfill leachate containing PFAS, including seeking Clean Water Fund financing and partnerships with neighboring counties.
Supervisor Robinson said the proposal responds to wastewater treatment plants becoming reluctant to accept leachate because of PFAS and described a treatment approach using reverse osmosis to concentrate PFAS and reduce the volume needing off-site disposal. Robinson said Marathon County generates about “50,000 gallons a day” of leachate and the proposal would provide capacity for “100,000” (units discussed in meeting) and accept leachate from Portage and Shawano counties to achieve economies of scale.
Robinson urged negotiating a formal joint-venture agreement under the county ordinance to secure funding commitments and clarify long-term operation and closure responsibilities if out-of-county leachate is accepted. He also noted potential federal funding for emerging contaminants that could convert loans into grant-like principal forgiveness.
Solid Waste Director Hagenbuscher explained the landfill footprint and remaining capacity: “We have approximately 600 acres of solid waste property. And right now 75 of those acres are actual landfill footprint. We have another 30-acre cell that has been planned and approved by the DNR that we haven't even started constructing at. That'll take us well into another 15 to 20 years in the future.”
Supervisor Redner said the county should “stay ahead of the game” and pursue the treatment capacity now rather than be forced to respond when other treatment plants refuse leachate. Robinson and Redner said the Environmental Resources Committee and solid-waste staff should pursue joint-venture agreements and grant funding before final construction decisions are made.
No formal vote on Resolution 406-25 was recorded during the meeting; supervisors said any construction or acquisitions would require separate board approval and funding identification.
