Landfill manager: tonnage down about 68,000 tons year‑over‑year; gas‑collection expansion and capping proceed

Ben, the landfill manager, told the Landfill Advisory Committee that year‑to‑date inbound tonnage through June 2025 was 380,907 tons, compared with 449,037 tons over the same period last year — a drop of roughly 68,130 tons. He attributed the decline primarily to disruptions tied to the Howard Street Tunnel project and changes in rail deliveries rather than a drop in local trucked volumes. "It's still ongoing," Ben said of the rail project, and staff estimated rail service and its timing as the main near‑term driver of volume shifts.

Ben reported the county had collected approximately $1,200,000 in host fees year‑to‑date. He also summarized recent DEQ inspections and certificates for two newly completed cells and a 15‑acre final cap completed last year, and said work will begin next month on the next 15 acres of final capping. Ben described a gas‑collection expansion that will add 15 additional gas wells plus six horizontal gas collection lines to improve methane control: "That will help with gas collection as well," he said.

Committee members reviewed aerial maps and phase numbering with staff. Ben identified recently completed cells (20 and 21), explained the next capping area and the landfill’s general northward fill progression, and said precise timing for moving into new cells depends on incoming volumes from rail and truck. On storage, staff estimated the site can hold roughly 90 rail cars on site at a time, with typical peak days equating to several dozen cars offloaded.

Discussion noted widely varying life‑expectancy estimates cited historically for the site; Ben said the most recent commonly quoted estimate he’d heard was about 70 years but emphasized that life expectancy changes rapidly depending on rail and truck volumes. The committee asked for updated maps and GIS exports to help new members visualize phases and capped areas.