Ohio EPA approves WIN Waste landfill expansion

The Ohio Environmental Protection Agency has approved the final permits for an expansion of the WIN Waste Innovations Landfill in Fostoria, Ohio, WTVG reports.

The permit will allow for a 94-acre expansion of the landfill, formerly known as Sunny Farms. WIN Waste, a Portsmouth, New Hampshire-based environmental services company, originally requested a 218-acre expansion more than two years ago.

RELATED: A winning mindset: WIN Waste Innovations leverages its portfolio of waste-to-energy, rail and transfer assets to provide sustainable waste solutions for its customers and to address capacity challenges in the Northeast.

The permit approval coincided with an announcement from the Seneca County General Health District unveiling two new air monitoring stations near the landfill. The landfill had faced complaints over odors, particularly hydrogen sulfide emissions, but Ohio EPA statements in writing and at public meetings state the landfill is currently in full compliance with state laws.

“With this expansion, we can increase our capacity to meet growing demand while continuing to serve as one of the most well-run and technologically advanced landfills in the country,” WIN Waste says in a statement. “This expansion will also bring additional economic benefits to Seneca County and its residents through 15 new jobs and $2 million in additional goods and services expenditures. Additionally, the $19 million investment for the first phase of construction will primarily benefit Ohio businesses, further strengthening local partnerships and supporting the state’s economy.”

Seneca County health officials have appealed the permit through the state’s Environmental Review Appeals Commission, the only state body empowered to reverse Ohio EPA decisions, the Toledo Blade reports.