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Solid Waste director outlines RNG project, leachate treatment needs and major capital costs
Summary
Solid Waste Director David Hagener briefed the committee on a recently launched renewable natural gas project, increasing leachate-treatment requirements, and multi-million-dollar capital projects and operational costs at the Marathon County landfill.
David Hagener, director of Marathon County Solid Waste, updated the Environmental Resources Committee on May 5 about operations, renewable natural gas (RNG) production, and urgent infrastructure needs at the county landfill.
Hagener said the county's RNG partnership with Verid Energy began injecting renewable natural gas into a pipeline in September 2025, marking a key revenue and sustainability milestone. He also flagged leachate-handling as a growing regulatory and financial challenge: recent state laws require pre-treatment or full treatment of landfill leachate by 2032. The county is pursuing an on-site treatment solution (high-rate reverse osmosis) and submitted feasibility plans and a loan application for capital funding.
Hagener described typical capital scales: cell construction projects in the millions of dollars (he cited a $6 million construction start this year), closure work costing $3'$4 million, and heavy equipment procurement costs (compactors approaching $1.5 million each). He noted hauling costs for leachate were significant following recent heavy rains and that staff have applied for clean-water-fund financing to build on-site treatment to reduce recurrent hauling expenses.
Hagener also reviewed operational programs — hazardous-chemical take-back, battery/fire risks at the facility, community reuse of landfill property for trails, and inter-county agreements accepting regional tonnage — and said the RNG royalty helps offset some enterprise costs but does not eliminate capital spending needs.
The committee thanked the director for the overview; Hagener said staff will continue to pursue funding and planning approvals and return with updates as projects advance.
