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Wayne Township Landfill continues to make strides with projects

By LAURA JAMESON ljameson@lockhaven.com 4 min read

McELHATTAN -- The Wayne Township Landfill is continuing to make strides in multiple aspects, while ensuring it keeps costs low for users.

WTL Manager Jay Alexander said the company is in its 51st year in business and just over halfway through an expansion.

"We're a little over halfway through the landfill expansion," Alexander said.

The expansion is expected to take another 6-7 years to complete and will ensure the facility has 30 years of capacity.

According to Alexander, when the project began in 2010 the landfill was facing about $50 million in debt.

However, with the help of the Clinton County Commissioners and various moves in ensuring a steady revenue stream, the landfill has only accumulated half of that.

"We've done well in the last 13 years with trying to generate enough revenue and funding sources for this project," Alexander said. "The commissioners have worked well with us as an ally and helped with financing. Their help got the best interest rates for debt service."

The landfill will spend another 6 to 7 years mining trash from the old landfill and building up new fields.

Longterm, Alexander said the facility intends to pay down these debts and begin to prep for future projects.

In terms of new ventures, this will be the first full year the landfill sells renewable landfill gas.

"We're excited about that," Alexander said.

The landfill partnered with Tereva Renewables on the project, with the renewable gas piped into the UGI system, he said.

Plans are in place to drill 40 new wells to recover more gas from the property.

"We're looking forward to one full year of this renewable gas sales," Alexander said. "On the low end we could see about $500,000 and on the high end its near $750,000 to $800,000."

Other projects on-tap for 2024 include building a new landfill lane and shifting things behind First Quality's warehouse.

Alexander said the shift will allow First Quality to marry its facilities.

The landfill will also build a new truck wash pad at its maintenance shop. From there, the former shop will be demolished and filled in to make room for a mulching space.

The facility will also ramp up its composting.

"We’ve had good success in growing that process," Alexander said.

The revived glass recycling at the landfill has also proven to be a success so far.

Alexander said a few area establishments have requested boxes for glass recycling. So far the recycling boxes have been well maintained.

The recycling center along Pine Mountain Road also has the option for drop off of glass recyclables.

"People are doing a good job of keeping that area clean from contaminants," Alexander said.

The recycling center is open Monday through Friday 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Saturdays 7 a.m. to 12 p.m.

"It more establishments want a box it can be added," Alexander noted.

WTL has set dates for its tire collection and household hazardous waste collection, both free events.

The tire collection will take play on May 17 and May 18; Household Hazardous Waste collection will take place July 20.

"These give the public the opportunity to get rid of tires and household hazardous waste for free," Alexander said.

The landfill also does free battery recycling as well during normal hours.

Alexander noted one lithium batteries are best recycled during the hazardous waste collection.

Lithium batteries can often show they're dead but still have some juice left, Alexander said.

This can cause a fire risk if they're placed with other batteries, and are sparked, he continued.

Alexander encouraged residents with lithium batteries to consider bringing them the hazardous waste to allow landfill staff to properly dispose of them.

For more information about the landfill and the services it provides, visit www.waynetwplandfill.com.

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