Addressing questions about Rumpke expansion, landfills

I know there have been questions and concerns regarding Rumpke’s proposed expansion of the Montgomery County landfill. I would like to address some of those questions and appreciate this space to again share information regarding landfills.  

One question that continues is whether the Montgomery County landfill should be a regional landfill. To clarify, today, there are fewer than 30 municipal solid waste landfills remaining to serve Kentucky’s 120 counties—fewer than 30 sites tasked with safely managing the waste that millions of residents and businesses place at the curb each week. 

We completely understand that no one wants a landfill in their backyard. However, Montgomery County has safely hosted this regional facility since 1972, and Rumpke has owned and operated the Montgomery County landfill since 1989. For over half a century, this site has provided critical, essential infrastructure for both our immediate community and the surrounding region.

Some have suggested that Rumpke or other waste companies should build a landfill in every Kentucky county. In reality, the process to permit, design and construct a new landfill— or even to expand an existing one — is a long, heavily regulated process by the Kentucky Department of Environmental Protection. It cannot be accomplished in a matter of months, as it often takes upwards of a decade to build or expand a landfill. I share this not to cause alarm, but to bring clarity to the reality of proper waste management and the process of doing so in Kentucky.

The fact that the Montgomery County landfill has less than eight years of disposal capacity remaining stresses the urgency of our expansion request. It is also why we have come to the table willing to compromise on a smaller expansion— less acreage, reduced volume from other counties, fewer counties to accept waste from—while increasing the host community fee to Montgomery County. While establishing a long-term plan for the site is ideal, ensuring that our region continues to have reliable, cost-effective and environmentally sound waste disposal is our ultimate goal.

Some have suggested that we can simply divert half of our incoming waste and still sustain operations. Financially, that is not a reality. Landfills are incredibly capital-intensive pieces of infrastructure. Developing just a single acre requires an investment of more than $500,000, and individual pieces of heavy machinery cost upward of $1 million. Rural communities like Montgomery County simply do not produce enough waste to make a landfill economically feasible on its trash alone.

Closing the Montgomery County landfill without a sustainable, long-term solution for our waste streams is irresponsible. While some believe we can easily route trash to other sites, every landfill in Kentucky faces a finite lifespan. Each remaining facility will eventually have to expand or close. If they close, the waste does not magically disappear; it is merely trucked farther away to another landfill, and the costs to pick up and dispose of trash would then increase. 

Communities that host these essential facilities are compensated through host community fees. In Montgomery County, that benefit currently amounts to $800,000 per year. Unlike many other counties, Montgomery County has chosen not to levy a fee on in-county waste, directly helping to keep local disposal costs low for residents. Under the proposed expansion, the county would see even greater funding as Rumpke is proposing to increase the host community fee by $.20/ton. The host community revenue to Montgomery County will increase from $800,000 annually to $924,490 annually.  

We are aware that since proposing this expansion some neighbors have expressed concerns regarding odor. Our goal is to serve this community, and our operational standard is to be invisible at our property line, meaning we expect there should be no odors, litter or dirt leaving our property. We heard the community concerns and acted quickly by installing additional infrastructure to mitigate potential odors. We have also established a direct line of communication to our landfill management team so we can investigate and address any issues immediately.

We also want to encourage more people throughout Montgomery County to recycle. Not only would this extend the life of the landfill by diverting waste to Lexington’s recycling facility, it has a long-term environmental impact. Unfortunately, only about one out of three households in Montgomery County actively recycle, and we want to work with the community to help increase participation. 

Environmental stewardship is a huge part of who we are at Rumpke. I am proud of the work we are doing for Montgomery County and throughout central and eastern Kentucky. Our employees are parts of each community we serve. Rumpke employs about 160 people in Montgomery County. These are good-paying careers, with average salaries up to 32 percent higher than the county’s average. Our operations also directly support an additional 37 jobs in the community. 

We take our role as neighbors seriously, and we will remain focused on keeping your trust while securing the region’s environmental future.

Adam Rumpke, Bluegrass Region vice president for Rumpke Waste and Recycling