Proposed Landfill Expansion
Fact Sheet
July 27, 2006
The
The county purchased the property adjacent to the
landfill in the mid-1990s for purposes of an expansion. The expansion was planned to address the
projected population growth in
Waste Management is
currently responsible for the operation of the landfill, and as operator of the
facility, will remain responsible for its care for 30 years after the final
closure of the landfill. This is one
reason that the county has determined that it is in its best interest for a
contractor to manage the landfill operations.
It is the contractor’s responsibility to meet state and federal regulations
and requirements, including post-closure care requirements.
The county is
requesting to expand the landfill from 225 acres to 575 acres and to expand in height from 74 feet to
140 feet.
There are numerous landfills in the state of
Dallas/Fort Worth Landfill in
Covel Gardens Landfill
in
Skyline Landfill in Ferris, 667 permitted acres
Paris Landfill in
As part of the
expansion, the landfill will be surrounded by buffer zones that range from 50
to 400 feet. Buffers around the expanded area of the landfill will exceed the
125 feet required by TCEQ under their new rules. Along F.M. 1660, the buffer
zone will be 1,000 feet. The landfill
expansion moves the permitted landfill further away from Mustang Creek. The draft permit includes stormwater
management plans designated for a 100-year flood event, which is significantly
greater than the 25-year flood event controls required by TCEQ. Three stormwater
detention structures are planned to manage runoff.
The County announced
this week plans to renegotiate the contract with Waste Management to address
various issues, including placing restrictions on the origin and amount of
waste accepted at the landfill.
At previous public
meetings, both the County and Waste Management have told the public that it is
not our intent for this landfill to become a regional landfill.
TCEQ’s regulations allow municipal solid waste landfills
to collect limited amounts of household materials which could be classified as
hazardous wastes (such as paint). State
and federal regulations allow for the exception of small quantities of
potentially hazardous household waste (such as chemicals for treating lawns and
pests) to be collected at the landfill.
Residents are reminded that potentially hazardous household products
should be held until the county has its annual household hazardous waste
collection day.
The county conducted a
self-audit of the facility in partnership with Waste Management. All items found were corrected.
The county hired a
third party consultant to make suggestions for improvements to the Williamson
County Landfill with full cooperation by Waste Management. The suggestions were made and submitted to
TCEQ under the self-audit rules. All
issues were corrected. This audit was
beyond any state or federal regulation requirement.
Waste Management uses
six inches of soil to cover waste and follows TCEQ guidelines for use of tarps.
TCEQ regulations
allow for the use of alternative daily cover at landfills in
There is a small
portion of the current landfill that will receive additional waste during this
expansion in accordance with TCEQ rules and regulations.
In the new areas,
Waste Management will install a liner system that consists of compacted clay
and high-density polyethylene plastic liner along the bottom and sides of the
cell.
The operating hours for the landfill
are Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday from 7 a.m. to noon
and it is closed on Sunday. The County
can control hours of operation through the operating contract.