Waste Management is proposing a significant expansion of the Orchard Ridge Eastern Landfill in Menomonee Falls, the largest solid waste landfill in Wisconsin. This would include a 76 acre horizontal expansion of the existing site and accept 750,000 tons of waste per year. This project requires filling several wetlands, and rerouting of a small creek that drains to the Menomonee River.
To facilitate this expansion, 58 acres of the existing Boundary Road Landfill Superfund Site (the size of about 50 football fields) would be excavated. This landfill predated many of our environmental laws and waste regulations, but we know thatit contains toxic compounds in an unlined landfill including DDT, PCBs and heavy metals such as lead, cadmium and arsenic, among others, which are toxic to human health and the environment. It is likely some toxic contaminants are polluting the groundwater of the site, and several adjacent creeks that drain to the Menomonee River, and ultimately to Lake Michigan.
Waste Management plans to move the toxic waste to other adjacent landfill sites that are newer and in compliance with existing regulations, which could be positive, but, there is still tremendous concern over how this hazardous waste would be properly tested, managed, and disposed of to protect our waterways and our communities. We have asked for and continue to ask for a full Environmental Impact Statement on this project.
Share your input on this proposed project with the Wisconsin DNR at their public meeting on Tuesday, May 18th.
Documents:
- Waste & Materials Management Program announcements and public comment opportunities | Wisconsin DNR
- Notice of Feasibility Report and Preliminary Environmental Impact Decision [PDF]
- Feasibility Report Completeness Determination Letter [PDF]
- Project Summary and Environmental Analysis [PDF]
- Text [PDF] – Feasibility Report – View Executive Summary & Table of Contents
- Text [PDF] – Addendum #1 – WMWI Response to 9/22/202 Incompleteness Letter
- Text [PDF] – Addendum #2