Reader’s Viewpoint: Multitude of evidence shows there is no fire within Countywide Landfill
To the Editor:
I am writing to give my thoughts on an article your paper printed last week regarding the Countywide Landfill and the possibility of a fire within the landfill.
As most of your readers know, Countywide identified an odor issue at our facility in late 2005. During 2006, Countywide spent an unprecedented amount of time, energy and expense tackling this issue to ensure odors were minimized as fast as possible. I am happy to report that these efforts, which included the addition of more than 100 gas collectors, seven additional gas flares, 14,000 linear feet of gas collection pipeline and 30 acres of high-density polyethylene cap, have worked to abate the odors.
We will continue to improve upon the existing systems to ensure that odors do not become an issue in the future.
Early in 2006, Countywide and its experts identified unusual amounts of heat within the landfill. This information was freely shared with all regulators, including the OEPA and local health departments. The heat appears to be a result of a reaction with some non-hazardous aluminum wastes that were accepted at the facility in the mid to late 1990s.
Although all landfills normally generate heat during the decomposition process, the reaction caused additional heat from the accelerated decomposition process that evolved within the landfill.
This heat, although not typical, was discussed in great detail during much of the past year between Countywide and regulators both privately and publicly, and some debate did occur over whether there was a “fire” or accelerated decomposition (similar to composting).
Our experts have concluded that there is not a fire, based upon the multitude of evidence from drilling directly into the waste and observing for ourselves the lack of fire, ash, soot, smoke, etc. Although the landfill is hot in some areas, it is not on fire. As I sit here today, one can see the warmest of the areas covered with snow.
The facts are that Countywide is one of very few 100-percent Subtitle D lined landfills in this state. The liner serves to separate leachate (contaminated water) from groundwater, and it works. The water is tested regularly and has never shown any sign of leakage through our more than three feet of clay, bentonite matting and HDPE (plastic) lining system.
Also, the air quality was extensively tested during the worst of the odors and the reaction in 2006, both on and off the landfill. The results indicated NO health concerns from these odors for workers or the community, period.
Finally, I want assure the community that Countywide RDF has always and will always welcome the OEPA, Stark County Health Department, Canton City Health Department and other regulators to our facility to review any information that we have regarding this reaction. We also will welcome a review of the facility by Mr. Thalhamer or any other expert that the OEPA wishes to invite to our award-winning facility.
The question of what we call the reaction has little to do with how we treat it. We have known for some time that there was heat in our landfill and have acted more than appropriately by sealing off oxygen and water supply over the past year.
As general manager and a professional engineer, I am very proud of the way our company and our team of workers, contractors and consultants have taken on this rare and unforeseen issue and gotten the reaction under control over the past year.
Tim Vandersall
General Manager, Republic Services
