The expected life of the Chicopee Sanitary Landfill has been extended for another year because the owners have been taking in less waste.
The landfill, run by Waste Management Inc., was originally expected to close in January, but that date has now been extended to early 2019, said Catherine V. Skiba, spokeswoman for the state Department of Environmental Protection Western Region.
“Their estimated closing in January 2018 was based on the amount of waste being accepted. They are accepting less waste on a daily basis than previously and therefore the date of closure may be extended,” Skiba said.
She could not say what the remaining capacity of the landfill is. It is up to the owners how much trash they want to accept.
There had been some question if the owners of the landfill would apply to expand the facility, but Skiba said no application had been submitted to the state to do so.
Once the landfill is full, the owners must begin the process to permanently close and cap the landfill, which includes monitoring it.
“A 30-year post closure environmental monitoring program will be required,” she said.
Officials for Waste Management did not return an email request for comment.
The closing of the landfill has been a concern for Chicopee officials, including two mayors, for more than five years. The city has always been able to dump its refuse there at a dramatically reduced cost and receives a $1 million annual host fee.
Officials estimate the benefits are valued at more than $1.75 million a year. The longer the landfill stays open, the longer the city receives the benefits.
Initially then-Mayor Michael D. Bissonnette expanded the recycling program by calling for single-stream recycling and providing every household with a 95-gallon wheeled barrel. He attempted to limit the amount of trash that would be collected for free in the hopes of extending the life of the landfill, but the idea was not adopted by the City Council.
About two years ago current Mayor Richard J. Kos formed a task force to find long-term solutions to dumping waste and making up for the loss of benefits. Eventually the City Council and Kos approved a plan to limit free trash collection to one 35-gallon trash barrel per week, which began a year ago. The city continues to collect unlimited recycling at no charge.

 

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