The city of Shawano will continue to manage the Shawano Landfill and Transfer Station for at least a year after the Shawano Common Council voted Oct. 8 to approve the deal between the city and Shawano County.
The agreement has received approval from the Shawano County Solid Waste Management Board, but it still must receive approval from the Shawano County Board of Supervisors before becoming final.
Previously, the landfill was slated to close Jan. 1, but the landfill will not be at full capacity by then, so it will remain open to accept dust material from Charter Aarrowcast, according to a memo from Public Works Director Michael Mahloch. The company brings in about 500 cubic tons per month, which would allow the landfill for an additional 16 month. However, Aarrowcast’s volume of dust has dropped due to tariffs, according to Mahloch, so the life of the landfill could extend at least until 2028.
Mahloch reported that closing the landfill would create an unnecessary burden on Shawano’s largest employer because it would force Aarrowcast to haul waste products to other landfills outside Shawano County.
“There are some creative ways and some flexibility with the remaining life of the landfill that we’re able to manage,” said Eddie Sheppard, city administrator. “It’s very advantageous to take advantage of the revenue remaining in that space. The way the city is operating the transfer station and utilizing the remaining air space in the landfill, primarily for foundry waste, not only is that a revenue generator, but we’re also giving a very easy space for an important employer to dump their waste. It’s really a double benefit.”
Sheppard noted that the county wants to get out of the solid waste business. While the county is still responsible for any longterm environmental care, the city would manage the landfill for the remainder of its life, and the county would dissolve its solid waste board.
“The city is taking on the full responsibility of managing through the closure process, as well as taking back full ownership of the operation of the city-owned transfer station,” Sheppard said. “Once the landfill is closed, that will be the county’s responsibility to maintain forever, and there’s a long-term care fund that will be transferred to them.”
The agreement does not make any changes for existing users of the landfill, according to Sheppard. Most of the waste coming in will be transferred through Harter’s Waste Disposal.
“Our users will not notice one difference from here on out,” he said. “Every piece of solid waste that comes in there and every piece of recycling that comes in there is already transferred. This will remain a very economically friendly option for local contractors and local haulers.”
Once the agreement is approved by the committee, the operations of the landfill will be the responsbility of the city’s field committee.
“We’re going to use it until it’s full, and then we’re going to put the cap on,” Sheppard said.
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