WIN Waste Receives Favorable Ruling from the Environmental Review Appeals Commission Learn More

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Please contact info@WinWasteSeneca.com for any inquries or comments you have about WIN Waste Innovations of Seneca County. In the meantime, here are some answers to some frequently asked questions.

When did WIN Waste Innovations of Seneca County first open?

The landfill opened in 1970 under the name Sunny Farms Landfill.

When do you expect the landfill to be full?

The landfill is projected to be full in 2030.

How big is the landfill and how much trash is buried there?

Landfill space is measured in cubic yards. In mid-2018 there were approximately 23 million cubic yards of waste and soil cover in the landfill, with permitted space for an additional 24 million cubic yards.

How much waste does the landfill process every day?

The landfill currently receives between 6,000 and 7,500 tons daily.

Who can bring trash to the landfill?

The landfill accepts materials from a wide variety of customers, including residents and businesses in Seneca County and those from elsewhere in Ohio, as long as their home counties allow them to bring materials to WIN Waste Innovations of Seneca County. Materials from individuals and businesses from outside Ohio are also accepted, so long as their materials are non-hazardous and otherwise acceptable.

Why does the landfill accept waste from out of state?

Federal law does not allow restrictions to be placed on wastes from other states. Materials are accepted, if allowed by the facility’s permits, regardless of where the materials originate.

What does the landfill accept and what does it not accept?

The landfill primarily accepts construction and demolition debris (C&D) from the construction and demolition of buildings. We also accept solid waste from residences and businesses. Materials come from households, construction projects and commercial sources, but do not include hazardous, infectious or toxic wastes.

Is WIN Waste Innovations of Seneca County in full compliance with state and federal regulations?

Yes. WIN Waste Innovations of Seneca County is in full compliance with the Clean Air Act and Ohio Environmental Protection Agency standards and regulations. Also, air quality around the landfill and surrounding communities is well within the National Ambient Air Quality Standards, which are established to protect public health and the environment with an ample margin of safety.

What will happen when the landfill is full?

The landfill would be covered with a final cap and monitored for a minimum of 30 years. One hundred thirteen of the landfill’s 261 acres already have a final cap in place, and another 22 acres is being capped.

What protects the environment from what’s buried in the landfill?

WIN Waste Innovations protects the environment in a number of ways. First, a bottom liner, which consists of thick compacted clay and a dense plastic layer, prevents contaminants from entering the ground or water below the landfill. A leachate collection system, consisting of a network of pipes, and pumps, collects all water that comes in contact with waste so that it can be transported off-site for treatment. Another protection is soil cover, which is routinely applied during operations to keep the waste in place and to reduce the potential for odors. Methane and other gases are collected by a vacuum piping system to prevent them from escaping the landfill. When the landfill closes at the end of its life, a final cap will be added over the waste to prevent rain water infiltration and contain landfill gases.

How do we know the landfill is not harming our water?

Residents have a right to know that this landfill has no negative impact on the water. That’s why a credible third-party expert, BoJhun Environmental, tests the water twice a month at four different outfalls around the landfill. We have invited the media to witness the testing process, and to share the results with them. Once per quarter, we engage in voluntary, quarterly split sampling in partnership with the Seneca County General Health District (SCGHD). Both BoJuhn and SCGHD take their samples back to their own labs and then compare the results – providing yet another check and balance on the water testing process. We have also opened up that testing process and shared those results with the media.

What happens to all of the methane gas that is produced?

The methane and other gases are collected by a gas collection system consisting of a network of gas wells, vacuum piping and a flare system which harmlessly burns off the collected gas. Note that methane – or natural gas – is the same gas that many of us burn to heat our homes and businesses. WIN Waste Innovations of Seneca County’s landfill gas treatment system safely removes sulfur from the landfill gas stream converting hydrogen sulfide to solid, elemental sulfur that can be used for soil application and other agricultural purposes.

Does the landfill attract birds?

Landfills generally attract seagulls, but with our waste material being primarily construction and demolition, the attraction for birds is minimized.

What is being done to minimize potential odors?

The landfill applies soil cover daily over the working face and checks for odors several times each day. The facility’s gas collection piping system is expanded at least annually to collect and destroy the landfill gases that could cause odor. Also, the new gas treatment system eliminates hydrogen sulfide gas, which can cause odors.

How is WIN Waste Innovations contributing to the Fostoria community?

WIN Waste Innovations of Seneca County provides approximately $5.8 million each year for local government, health services, environmental protection and solid waste services. Sunny Farms employs more than 70 residents who live in this community and invests more than $6 million annually in direct employee payroll. WIN Waste also supports our regional economy by investing approximately $5 million each year in local vendors, and is a major community sponsor, investing hundreds of thousands of dollars in events, activities and community partnerships

Is WIN Waste Innovations hiring?

WIN Waste Innovations continually accepts applications for employment and hires as positions become available. Please contact us if you are interested in opportunities.

Why does WIN Waste Innovations choose to burn its collected methane gas instead of pursuing a gas-to-energy solution?

Gas-to-energy projects are fairly complex in the areas of gas quality, the location of end users and infrastructure. WIN Waste Innovations periodically investigates the potential for uses of its gas and will continue to do so. In the meantime, the new gas treatment system safely removes sulfur from the landfill gas stream converting hydrogen sulfide to solid, elemental sulfur that can be used for soil application and other agricultural purposes.

Does the landfill pose any risks to the environment?

No. WIN Waste Innovations applies the best landfill management practices to avoid environmental impacts. First, a bottom liner, which consists of thick compacted clay and a dense plastic layer, prevents contaminants from entering the ground or water below the landfill. A leachate collection system, consisting of pipes and pumps, collects all water that comes in contact with waste so that it can be safely transported off-site for treatment. WIN Waste Innovations applies soil cover daily to keep the waste in place and to reduce potential for odors. Methane and other gases are collected by the facility’s gas collection system and burned off by flares. When the landfill closes at the end of its life, a final cap will be added over the waste to prevent rainwater infiltration and contain landfill gases. Groundwater around the landfill is regularly monitored, and regular surface scans are performed to detect landfill gases. These safeguards greatly minimize any risks to the environment.

What impact does the landfill have on public health?

The landfill is subject to numerous state and federal environmental regulations and employs best management practices to ensure there is no impact from our operations on public health.

How does the community know if the landfill is taking the proper safety and environmental precautions?

WIN Waste Innovations must renew its license annually with the Seneca County General Health District and is subject to a number of state and federal laws and regulations designed to protect public health and the environment. Additionally, the landfill submits detailed monitoring data, logs and other records to the Seneca County General Health District and Ohio EPA. Personnel from these agencies regularly inspect the facility to confirm that applicable regulatory requirements are being met.

Is there a governing body that oversees or monitors the landfill?

The Ohio EPA and the Seneca County General Health District are the authority responsible for inspecting WIN Waste Innovations on a routine basis. In addition, numerous operational logs, monitoring data, written plans, engineering drawings, and permit applications are submitted to these agencies for review and approval before implementation of operation changes or facility modifications.

What does a landfill look like?

Click here to view a conceptual landfill layout.