Kestrel Landfill in Wisconsin Counting Down; Could Be At Capacity in Six Years

Every year, said Division Manager Mike Williams, the company does a flyover survey of the site and reports how long they believe they’ll be able to continue accepting solid waste.

The company’s latest report states that should the landfill continue to accept garbage at its current rate, it will have to close in six years.

Williams said the impending closure shouldn’t be news to anyone.

“It’s been out there for years,” he said. “Everybody knows we’re closer and closer to the end.”

The question is what area municipalities and commercial entities will do once Kestrel is out of commission and how Foxconn could affect that estimated timeline.

Williams said Kestrel accepts on average 600 tons of solid waste per day, which totals about 219,000 tons per year.

The City of Racine accounts for 25,000 tons per year, according to Tom Eeg, the city’s assistant commissioner of public works. The city offers garbage pickup for single-family homes and apartment buildings with less than four units.

Mark Yehlen, Racine’s public works commissioner, said the city is still far from looking at alternatives to Kestrel Hawk.

There are landfills in Kenosha County and near Franklin in Milwaukee County. He pointed out that, these days, having a landfill within city limits is rare and that most municipalities have to haul solid waste considerable distances.

Yehlen said the city will conduct studies to weigh its options when the landfill says its three years away from closing. But he knows now that one thing is certain.

“Our costs will go up,” he said. “Unless the cost of fuel goes down again, which I’m not counting on.”

Delaying the Inevitable
In the meantime, the city is in the early stages of forming a community-based waste reduction campaign to extend the lifespan of Kestrel Hawk. Yehlen said they plan on teaming with environmental organizations involved in the community, such as Greening Racine.

“They have to be community-based efforts,” said Yehlen. “There’s only so much we as a city can do.”

So far the emphasis is on educating the public on the classic three R’s: reduce, reuse and recycle. For example, encouraging people to donate unwanted large items such as furniture.