Ohio solid waste authority seeking landfill expansion

Franklin, County, Ohio officials are seeking to expand the county landfill to extend its life by 30 years by expanding the existing landfill by 50.7 acres.

According to a report in the Columbus Dispatch, the landfill takes in about 4,000 tons of trash per day. Without the proposed expansion, the landfill would be full in 21 years in 2038.The report says the expansion is among several steps in a plan to ensure that the public won’t have to pay $100 million or more for a new landfill in the near future.

The landfill site is 535 acres but only 283 acres of it are approved for waste disposal from the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The Solid Waste Authority of Central Ohio, made up of 41 local governments, is asking the Ohio EPA for permission to use more of the area.

While SWACO owns land to the west and north of the existing landfill, the expansion would remain within the current triangle of property in Jackson Township, the Dispatch article says.

Keeping waste is also part of the plan to extend the landfill life, according to officials.

SWACO will host a public meeting to discuss the proposed expansion at 6 p.m. Wednesday, April 12,  at SWACO offices, 4239 London Groveport Rd., Grove City, Ohio.

Even if the expansion is approved work is not expected to begin until early 2018.