landfills

Using the products of sewage treatment to fertilize soil may turn waste into a valuable resource.

Many of Wyoming’s landfills are leaking or approaching capacity, so the Department of Environmental Quality is working with state agencies and municipalities to develop and fund a plan to close facilities that aren’t environmentally sustainable, and move new waste to landfills which are.

DEQ Spokesman Keith Guille says the existing landfills in the state are permitted, and were built to environmental standards at the time.

The Wyoming Rural Water Association supports the state’s plan to limit water pollution caused by leaking landfills… But says it’s already taken too long to get started on the effort, and it could be a while before Wyoming sees significant improvements.

At a press conference last week, Governor Matt Mead reminded the public of two bills the legislature passed this session. They created a municipal solid waste landfill remediation program as well as an initiative to help sub-par landfills close and transfer new garbage to better facilities.

In his budget proposal, Governor Mead suggests the Legislature allocate 15 million dollars to help communities close and remediate landfills that no longer comply with federal water quality standards.

The Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality estimates there are more than 200 million dollars-worth of leaking landfills statewide, and up to 20 landfills will need to close in the next few years.