Date: March 18, 2008
Source: Illinois Environmental Protection Agency
Illinois landfill capacity in Illinois at all-time high with one billion cubic yards of disposal space
Illinois EPA's 20th Annual Report shows two landfills closed, one expanding
Disposal capacity available in Illinois landfills is sufficient for the next 19 years, according to recently released data from the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency contained in the annual Nonhazardous Solid Waste Management and Landfill Capacity Report. This level is considered good by national standards.
While capacity remains good overall, landfill space varies significantly from region to region. Illinois EPA's Region 2, the Chicago Metropolitan region, has about eight remaining years, with the use of 74 transfer stations allowing much of the solid waste in the area to be sent to facilities outside the region. This contrasts with Region 7: Southern Illinois, which has a calculated remaining capacity of 47 years.
The remaining landfill capacity (in years) is calculated by dividing the volume of wastes accepted by Illinois landfills in 2006 (54.9 million gate cubic yards) by the capacity remaining on January 1, 2007 (one billion gate cubic yards).
This information, along with detailed statistics by region on landscape waste compost facilities, waste transfer stations, waste generation and recycling and solid waste planning efforts are provided in Illinois EPA's 20th annual report, "Nonhazardous Solid Waste Management and Landfill Capacity in Illinois" for 2006.
"Modern sanitary landfills are constructed operated to meet the strictest standards in history," said Illinois EPA Director Doug Scott. "Illinois also features an efficient and effective method of inspecting these landfills through its regional offices and the delegated inspection program."
The report shows that 49 landfills were active on Jan. 1, 2007, down from 51 with the closing of Settler's Hill, Batavia, and Tazewell Recycling and Disposal Facility, East Peoria.
In addition to the landfills, in 2006 there were 107 active transfer stations and 39 active compost facilities that help manage the waste generated in Illinois. The transfer stations allow wastes to be collected on a more local level, then compacted, loaded on larger trucks, then transported to landfills more cost effectively.
Only 13 percent of solid wastes deposited in 24 landfills in Illinois in 2006 came from 10 other states, with over 75 percent of that amount generated in Missouri. Although Illinois haulers also transported solid wastes to other states, they are not required to report this to the State of Illinois. Therefore, the Illinois EPA cannot provide the volume exported.
In order to maximize available landfill space, Illinois bans various items from landfills, including tires, landscape wastes and "white goods" (large household appliances).
Illinois EPA's seven regional offices, 18 delegated counties, the Ambraw Valley Solid Waste Agency and the City of Chicago have been given the authority to inspect landfills, transfer stations and compost sites in their jurisdictions, providing a needed service to the citizens of Illinois. The delegated inspection partnerships help ensure that landfills are inspected and monitored.
This report also describes the state's continue recycling efforts, which helps to extend remaining disposal capacity. Local recycling coordinators in Illinois report that nearly 9.8 million tons of municipal waste was recycled in 2006. Total municipal waste generation rate of 25.5 million tons, a slight improvement from previous years. Although parts of Illinois are rural and far from recycling markets, many local governments continue their recycling education efforts, and collect recycling data from haulers as a necessary public service.
The new report is available for viewing or downloading on the Illinois EPA web site at: www.epa.state.il.us/land/landfill-capacity/2006/index.html. A printed copy may be obtained by writing to the Illinois EPA Waste Reduction and Compliance Section, P. O. Box 19276, Springfield, IL 62794-9276, or by calling 217/785-8604; or you can send an email request to Ellen.Robinson@Illinois.gov.
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