DNR approves urgent expansion request for landfill, alleviating concerns
ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — St. Joseph may not be out of the woods yet with its urgent landfill situation, but optimism is building that major concerns could be avoided after state officials approved a critical request for additional space.
City officials received the OK this week from the Missouri Department of Natural Resources on its vertical expansion waiver submitted in early January, a move that provides much-needed flexibility to reduce the chances of cell 7 reaching capacity.
The request allows for an additional 475,000 cubic yards of airspace by raising the approved elevation by 21 feet, from 1,111 to 1,132.5 feet. Waivers must be approved by the DNR when seeking to extend waste beyond normally approved elevations.
“If we didn’t get this vertical expansion request approved ... It would have just cut the time that we have to build the new cell 8 tremendously,” Abe Forney, the St. Joseph public works director, said. “So we’re not out of the woods yet, but we’re in pretty good shape.”
Contractors with M-CON are close to 80% of the way through excavation of cell 8, an expedited phase of construction before protective ground liners are installed immediately afterwards. The city has previously said a conservative timeline for cell 8’s completion is October.
Barring a delay in the ongoing construction of cell 8 or another unforeseen disruption, DNR’s approval — paired with cell 8’s expedited construction — is projected to ensure enough space remains until dumping can begin at the next cell, a positive development for local trash haulers and the lifespan of cell 7, which at one time was projected to reach capacity by July.
Cell 7 reaching capacity would have forced the city to enter into a soft closure by the DNR, meaning the facility would have stayed active and allowed a very limited amount of waste, but local trash companies would be barred from dumping.
Forney praised new city manager Mike Schumacher as being instrumental in guiding the city through the situation.
“Bringing that new vision has been great for us,” Forney said. “(He) got us working with the DNR to get that vertical expansion request approved and then also getting M-CON out there to dig that hole for us.”
At the same time, a number of local haulers have helped provide key support by voluntarily agreeing to reduce waste during the Data reviewed during the last Landfill Task Force meeting on Feb. 26 showed the landfill was on pace to reduce waste by its target 30% for the month.
Forney said the city will continue to encourage haulers to limit waste when possible, lauding them for their cooperation during the difficult situation.
“I really appreciate the help from the haulers, from M-CON and of course the DNR,” Forney said. “Anything that we can do to reduce the amount of trash that’s coming in is going to be beneficial for us in the long run.”
City officials have been working closely with the DNR in the wake of the situation that escalated this past November, a problem caused by trash intake doubling over the last five years, skyrocketing from an average of 110,000 tons per year to upwards of 220,000 tons.
The situation was compounded by delays getting previous cells open, strained resources and challenges implementing waste reductions, fueling the emergency that posed widespread impacts to local trash haulers and residents.
Confidence had been growing in recent weeks that the DNR would approve the request after significant action was taken in recent months to address the urgent situation.
“I think it’s really important to emphasize the communication factor with the DNR, telling them where we’re at and what situation we’re in and just communicating with everybody to get to everyone to the same goal,” he said.
Forney said the top priority moving forward is providing all the necessary help to ensure M-CON completes cell 8 on time, as well as ramping up construction of cell 9 for long-term stability.
