The facility opened in September 1975 and, since that time, eight (8) disposal cells have been filled. The County is currently filling the ninth cell (Cell 9) which is the final currently permitted cell for waste disposal.
Cell 9 is the last currently permitted disposal area on the site. In 2015, we began construction of the first of five (5) subcells within the disposal area of Cell 9. Waste placement began in Subcell 9.1 in January 2017. Construction began for Subcell 9.2 in February 2020, with waste placement beginning in March 2022. Future subcell construction activities will be completed on an “as needed” basis. For planning purposes it is assumed that subcell construction activities will take place every five (5) to seven (7) years, depending upon the incoming waste volumes.
Making Our Landfill Last
Because the MLFRRF is the only active municipal waste landfill in the County, our waste management strategy involves extending the life of this valuable resource as long as possible to serve the County citizens. This strategy includes expanding the amount of material that is recycled within the County. In 2008, the County implemented County-wide recycling campaign, with a goal of achieving a 50% recycling rate. Since this program was implemented, the recycling rate has increased from 31% to its current rate of 37%. Our strategy also includes diverting waste to other facilities in a safe and economical manner, as a means to minimize the amount of waste disposed at the MLFRRF. Currently, the majority of our residential waste is disposed in out-of-County facilities.
The combination of recycling and waste diversion will ultimately determine how much waste remains to be landfilled at MLFRRF and therefore its lifespan. At our current disposal rate, we expect our existing active disposal area (Cell 9) to last until 2048. Cell 9 is our last currently permitted disposal area on the site. Our goal is to extend the life of Cell 9 as long as possible by increasing residential and commercial recycling rates, diverting waste to other facilities and minimizing the amount of trash that we bury.