Conestoga Landfill - Recent Operational Improvements

Voluntarily reduced the average daily volume of waste accepted at the facility to 5,600 tons per day, from 7,210 tons per day.
Voluntarily rebuilt the active landfill gas system. A total of 138 extraction wells had been installed as of early 2006 and at least 19 more were to be installed during the remainder of the year.
Voluntarily reduced the amount of sludge accepted for disposal by nearly 100 percent. Reduced acceptance of other especially odiferous materials as well.
Added more than 1,500 feet of 20-foot-high screening fence as a barrier along Shiloh Road and, at community request, relocated the application points for our odor-control spray system.
Instituted a round-the-clock odor-control monitoring program.
Installed a new wheel wash to keep trucks from tracking dirt and mud onto local roads.
Installed a video system to check trucks for litter before they leave the site.
Relocated “Haul Road” so transport of cover material into the landfill doesn’t track dirt on the main access road.
Purchased a new street sweeper to keep roads clean and free from mud and dirt.
Purchased a new 836 compactor to more efficiently compact covered waste and prevent odor from escaping.
Added an alarm to the leachate-collection system that notifies landfill personnel if the system shuts down.

Started a “Meet the Neighbors” program to open lines of communications and give nearby residents a chance to speak up and be heard.
Added a telephone hotline for community use and improved our response to calls about odor complaints.
Added new members to the Citizens Advisory Committee.
Conducted a successful open house that gave local residents a chance to see for themselves what Conestoga does and how it is run.
Helped a variety of local organizations, including a significant contribution to the clean-up of flood damage and restoration of Hay Creek at Joanna Furnace, enabling Hay Creek Fall Festival to proceed as scheduled.

Upgraded the general manager position to individual with engineering and environmental compliance background.
Hired a full-time professional staff to monitor and oversee regulatory compliance and instituted a compliance tracking system.
Re-assigned a technician to monitor the leachate system and the landfill gas system. This technician is responsible for monitoring, repairing extraction wells, blowers and flares.
Improved our employee training program.

Successfully encouraged New Morgan Borough hire a professional compliance staff. Settled a border location dispute with Caernarvon Township and avoided litigation.