 More than 1 billion gate cubic yards of landfill capacity remained
in 45 landfills as of Jan. 1. This was up more than 2.8 million gate
cubic yards, less than 1 percent, from the previous reporting
period. When 2012 began, there were 23 years of landfill life
remaining in Illinois. It is important to note that capacity can
fluctuate from year to year, as cells within landfills are filled
and new ones are developed.
"The information we collect for this report provides valuable
information for citizens, local government and for the agency as we
develop, implement and enforce regulations to control waste
management facilities," said Illinois EPA Interim Director John Kim.
In 2011, there were three fewer active landfills than the
previous year, but landfills accepted about the same amount of
waste. Forty landfills reported accepting more than 46.2 million
gate cubic yards of municipal waste for disposal. Of this amount,
6.1 million gate cubic yards was accepted at 22 landfills from 11
other states: Arkansas, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Minnesota,
Missouri, Nebraska, South Dakota, Tennessee and Wisconsin. The
amount of out-of-state generated waste was 13.3 percent in 2011, up
2.3 percent from the previous year. No landfills opened or closed in
2011.
The 2011 data include landfill capacity from five inactive
facilities: in Fairview, Greenville, Harrisburg, Jerseyville and
Streator. There were no landfill closures in 2011; however, in April
of 2012, Wayne County Landfill, Fairfield, temporarily ceased
accepting waste. In addition, during 2012, one landfill changed its
name, from Pike County Landfill to Hickory Ridge Landfill. Three
landfills closed in 2010: Clinton Landfill 2 at Clinton, Bond County
Landfill at Greenville and Salem Municipal Landfill 2 at Salem.
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Several landfill expansion approvals have led to increased
capacity. In 2011, Veolia ES Zion Landfill, Zion, and Rochelle
Municipal Landfill, Rochelle, received expansion approval.
The Illinois EPA also permits and regulates transfer stations and
compost facilities. However, since they do not permanently store
waste, they are not subject to the same reporting requirements as
landfills. Also, as of Jan. 1, electronics were banned from disposal
in Illinois landfill.
The landfill capacity report is available on the Illinois EPA
website at:
www.epa.state.il.us/land.
[Text from
Illinois
Environmental Protection Agency
file received from
the
Illinois Office of
Communication and Information]
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