The Montezuma County landfill is pursuing a plan to redesign the landfill to extend its lifetime from 40 more years to 60 more years.
Manager Shak Powers received permission from the county commissioners to seek a permit from the Colorado Department of Health and Environment for the change. The expansion would generate an estimated $13 million in revenues over the 20 additional years.
Powers is also applying for a state permit to use an alternative daily cover that will also save landfill space by reducing the amount of soil used now.
Under the plan, a sticky mixture of clay and water called Posi-Shell would be sprayed on the fresh garbage at the end of each day, rather than being capped with 6-10 inches of soil.
“It prevents garbage from blowing just as well as soil, acts as a fire retardant, and the space saved from using less soil will further extend the landfill’s lifetime,” Powers said. “A soil cap would still be used on the weekends.”
When temperatures drop below freezing, the Posi-Shell would not be used.
The landfill’s UpCycle store, which collects and sells valuable items otherwise destined for the trash heap, has been successful, according to Powers. Since opening in May, it has averaged $1,000 per month in sales, which goes toward landfill operations.
