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The remaining landfill capacity is calculated by dividing the volume
of wastes disposed of during 2005 (52.3 million gate cubic yards) by
the capacity remaining on Jan. 1, 2006 (980.4 million gate cubic
yards). This information and 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 19th annual report, "Nonhazardous Solid
Waste Management and Landfill Capacity in Illinois," for 2005.
"While there are fewer landfills … modern sanitary landfills are
constructed and operated to meet the strictest standards in
history," said Illinois EPA Director Doug Scott. "Illinois EPA also
features an efficient and effective method of inspecting these
landfills through its regional offices and the delegated inspection
program."
The report shows that the overall the number of active landfills
was 51. One new landfill opened in Region 3: Indian Creek Landfill
2, in Hopedale. Kankakee RDF at Chebanse closed in November 2005,
and expansions were approved at Lee County Landfill at Dixon and at
Roxana Landfill.
While the number of active landfills in Illinois accepting waste
remains good overall, regional capacity estimates vary
significantly. Illinois EPA's Region 2, the Chicago Metropolitan
region, has about nine remaining years, with the use transfer
stations allowing much of the solid waste in the Chicago region to
be sent to facilities outside the region. This contrasts with Region
7, Southern Illinois, which has a calculated remaining capacity of
51 years.
With the Illinois EPA's delegated inspection program, the agency
partners with local agencies, allowing them to conduct inspections
of landfills and illegal dumping on behalf of the agency.
In addition, the report notes that citizens throughout the state
continue recycling efforts to stretch out disposal capacity. Local
recycling coordinators in Illinois report that nearly 9.6 million
tons of municipal waste was recycled in 2005. The total municipal
waste generation rate of 25.3 million tons equates to nearly a 38
percent recycling rate in the state, 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.
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 Additionally, in 2005 there were 102 active transfer stations and
40 active compost facilities that helped manage the waste generated
in Illinois.
Only 13 percent of solid wastes deposited in landfills in
Illinois in 2005 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.
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.
Additionally, through the agency's new Illinois Removes Illegal
Dumps program, the regional offices have the added mission of
cleaning up illegal dump sites across the state. This program is
also charged with shutting down these dumps and cracking down on
violators. The staff also inspects clean construction and demolition
debris sites to ensure compliance.
The new report is available at
http://www.epa.state.il.us/land/
landfill-capacity/2005/index.html.
To request a printed copy, write to Illinois EPA Waste Reduction and
Compliance Section, P.O. Box 19276, Springfield, IL 62794-9276; call
217-785-8604; or send an e-mail request to
Ellen.Robinson@Illinois.gov.
[Illinois
Environmental Protection Agency news release]
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