Montana considers expansion of Lake County Landfill

The Montana Department of Environmental Quality has issued a draft environmental assessment for a proposed expansion of the Lake County Landfill in Polson, Montana.

In compliance with the Montana Environmental Policy Act, the assessment analyzed potential impacts of the proposal. The agency is now accepting public comment on the assessment, after which it will make a final decision on the expansion application.

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The proposal includes about 50 acres of property located south of the currently operating Lake County Landfill at 3500 Kerr Dam Rd. A private drive would be used to access the site from the main entrance. Of the 50 acres, only 19 acres are planned for active landfilling activities.

The existing landfill is expected to reach capacity in January 2026. The landfill currently accepts only Groups III and IV waste, for instance, inert waste such as tires, concrete, clean wood and construction and demolition waste. The expansion would allow for the acceptance of Group II waste, including household garbage, alleviating the need for this waste to be transported to Missoula, Montana, for final disposal.