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Wildlife Habitat Sites

Alliance Landfill, Taylor, Pennsylvania

Wildlife at Work certified since 2004
Corporate Lands for Learning certified since 2004
Acres managed for wildlife: 450

The Alliance Landfill actively manages 450 acres for wildlife. The Wildlife at Work program includes a community landscape project, development of the Duryea Wetlands property, a bird nesting program and the Camp Kestrel Habitat Workshops.

The innovative employees and community volunteers are looking at ways to build wildlife habitat into the normal operations of the site. They test native trees and shrubs to see if wildlife can thrive on the landfill cap without compromising the cap’s integrity and function. Since the project was initiated in 2004, a significant increase in biodiversity has occurred in the area.

Since their inception in 2006, Camp Kestrel Workshops have provided hundreds of local students more than 5,700 hours of conservation education. This workshop provides the opportunity to learn how to build nest boxes, composting demonstrations, wildlife lectures, live animal presentations, landfill tours and hikes, and instructions on how to create vegetable and butterfly gardens, and waste minimization.

Camp Kestrel, also known as the “classroom in the community,” is the cornerstone of the Corporate Lands for Learning (CLL) program and attracts hundreds of participants each year. These participants, which include children and the adults who accompany them, build and monitor nest boxes, tour the facility to see the trash recycling and processing programs, participate in low-litter lunches, and learn about raptors and native species that inhabit the site. The material that is taught correlates with the Pennsylvania Department of Education’s Academic Standards for Environment and Ecology and Science and Technology.

Camp Kestrel offers more than just summer camp events. The Wildflower Walks on Saturdays allow local high school students to collect wildflower specimens for biology projects. Camp Kestrel Habitat Workshops in the winter include wildlife seminars and live specimen presentations, birdhouse building and landfill site tours. Camp Kestrel also hosts off-site h abitat education outreach programs and workplace groups.

Aimed at adults as well as children, these large-scale events make available the service of both committed Waste Management volunteers and eager community partners, including the Lackawanna County Extension Service, the Pennsylvania Game Commission, Abington Heights School teachers and students, Keystone College, and the Pennsylvania Raptor and Wildlife Association.

 Alliance Landfill’s program was honored by the Wildlife Habitat Council as Corporate Lands for Learning of the Year in 2008.

Altamont Landfill and Resource Recovery Facility, Livermore, California

Wildlife at Work certified since 2003
Acres managed for wildlife:  1,300

Waste Management's Altamont Landfill and Resource Recovery Facility's (ALRRF) property encompasses approximately 2,100 acres in Livermore, California, of which 1,300 are actively managed for wildlife habitat. The ALRRF is regularly used by a number of special-status species that are protected under the federal Endangered Species Act, California Endangered Species Act and other federal and state regulations. These include the federally endangered San Joaquin kit fox, federally threatened California red-legged frog, state proposed western burrowing owl and federally proposed California tiger salamander. ALRRF has implemented plans to protect habitat for these species, including protection during landfill development activities.

Livestock grazing is not only compatible with senstive species here, but is often a necessaryof action to support species.  So one aspect of site management includes a controlled grazing plan for cattle.  About 1,200 acres of the site's property are currently leased to a local rancher for grazing. Appropriate levels of grazing maintain annual grassland at low heights, which is required for the California ground squirrel, (a basic prey species for the San Joaquin kit fox in its northern range). It is also the principal species responsible for initial burrow construction; such burrows are subequently used by San Joaquin kit foxes and western burrowing owls.

Proper grazing also keeps vegetation low, an advantage for both of these species of concern, as it enables unobstructed views of approaching predators. Limited livestock grazing around ponds enhances habitat suitability for California red-legged frogs and California tiger salamanders by controlling cattails and other plants that can overtake a pond, reducing the area of standing water. Through this successful grassland management program, employees at the ALRRF are protecting and enhancing habitat for a number of critically imperiled wildlife species.

American Landfill, Waynesburg, Ohio

Wildlife at Work certified since 2004
Acres managed for wildlife: 676

American Landfill consists of approximately 1,072 acres of land, of which 676 acres are managed as part of the Wildlife at Work program. A conservation easement signed with the Guernsey County Community Development Corporation permanently protects 145 acres of wetlands on-site.

Since 2003, the wildlife team, along with elementary students, has planted native trees throughout the site with a goal of planting 1,000 native trees. To date, they have planted approximately 825 trees. The wildlife team also routinely tests the soil pH to make sure appropriate tree species are selected, and consults with a landscaper who is well-versed on native trees prior to planting additional trees.

This year the wildlife team began a new wildflower meadow project by meeting with a native landscaper, and plans to plant native wildflowers adjacent to the newly planted trees. This new area also includes a ¾-mile walking trail that is open to the public.

Atascocita Recycling and Disposal Facility, Humble, TX

Wildlife at Work certified since 2010
Acres managed for wildlife: 10

The Atascocita Recycling and Disposal Facility is located in Humble, Texas, about 17 miles north-northeast of Houston.  The lands surrounding the 804-acre site are vacant fields and residential homes, although the open areas are being developed rapidly.  A variety of habitats are found on-site, including coastal prairie, savannah forest, early successional forest, densely wooded area, bottomland woods and two detention ponds.

The site has been used as a municipal solid waste landfill since 1983.  Before it was a landfill, the site served as a disposal area for wastes from local oil and gas production beginning in the late 1970s, and the impacts from those activities made the site unsuitable for residential use.  Waste Management worked closely with Harris County and the Texas Department of Health to remediate the site, excavate the existing waste and dispose of it properly in the new landfill.

The mission of the facility's wildlife management plan is to expand biological diversity and improve habitat quality on-site, while engaging and educating the local community on vital environmental principles.

Projects in progress include supporting targeted species through the creation of nesting structure, cover and a pond, creating a centralized location both for habitat enhancement activities and community involvement and learning, and controlling selected invasive plant species.

With the assistance of a number of community volunteers, the wildlife team built and installed a chimney swift tower, screech and owl boxes, gray fox dens and a purple martin house.  It has also created a 10-acre habitat area, including a refurbished barn that serves as a wildlife habitat center for volunteer and learning activities.  The team also excavated and created a small pond to provide water and high-quality aquatic habitat in this portion of the property, planted a pollinator garden here, and removed invasive species from a number of areas.

Waste Management elected to give its community partners and volunteers a major voice in selecting projects, and activities have drawn participation by a large and growing number of local organizations, including three local elementary schools, the Houston Zoo, Texas Parks & Wildlife, and Texas Master Naturalists.

Alantic Waste Disposal, Waverly, Virginia

Wildlife at Work certified since 2010
Acres managed for Wildlife: 200

Atlantic Waste Disposal covers 1,315 acres in Sussex County, Virginia.  The five-member wildlife team manages 200 acres for wildlife.  In addition to the active landfill footprint and managed areas, the site is covered with 800 acres of mixed forests, grasslands, wetlands, and transitional areas available to wildlife.  The site's twelve ponds provide excellent habitat for different types of waterfowl, amphibians, and fish.

Many employees expressed interest in studying the eastern bluebird life cycle and the wildlife team installed twelve bluebird nest boxes with predator guards in June of 2009.  A dedicated employee monitors and maintains the boxes monthly.  Bluebirds and tree swallows are regularly spotted around the nest boxes, and twelve bluebird chicks successfully fledged in 2010.

The facility opened a 20-acre pond to employees and guests for recreational fishing.  The Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries conducted a species count in May 2009, and found largemouth bass, red ear sunfish, and bluegill.  The wildlife team built a dock for easier fishing access, and all catches are identified and weighed at the dock.  Results are kept in a log to allow the wildlife team to monitor the fish population.

The team also hosts tours by Head Start programs and youth groups; members plan to expand the tours to include the nest boxes as an educational tool.  Future planned habitat projects include wetland vegetation plantings and the construction of wood duck boxes.

Austin Community Landfill, Austin, Texas

Wildlife at Work certified since 2006
Acres managed for wildlife: 22

The Austin Community Landfill resides principally on abandoned agricultural property on 360 acres outside of Austin, Texas. Acquired by Waste Management in the 1980s, the site serves as a private landfill for the disposal of municipal waste for the communities of Travis County, Texas. The site’s habitat is composed mainly of grasslands; however, there are two acres of freshwater wetland and ten acres of Texas wildflower meadow. Recent suburban expansion in the area intensified the need for wildlife habitat protection.

The landfill site is working to develop a positive community relationship with suburban neighborhoods and to operate the landfill in an environmentally conscious manner. The wildlife team carefully developed a management plan to work toward an increase in biodiversity, which includes one-, three- and five-year goals. In 2005, the program was initiated with the formation of a site species inventory.

Since then, many of the proposed wildlife projects to improve biodiversity have taken flight. A butterfly garden was planted using native plants to increase the biodiversity of insect populations and create a migration stopover site for hummingbirds. In 2008, the wildlife team worked with a naturalist and the Native Bee society to plant a bee garden and, in 2010, the garden began expanding into a bee prairie. Another project is a wildflower meadow and prairie, which were also planted with native species and grasses in 2006. In 2007, an acre of native wildflowers was integrated into the landscaping on-site; additional seeds are added twice a year. Nest boxes have also been constructed and installed for purple martins, Eastern bluebirds, screech owls, chickadees and wood ducks. These boxes are monitored and maintained annually for nesting activity. Recently, a chimney swift tower and bat houses have been installed to provide roosting sites.

In addition to wildlife enhancement projects, the wildlife team has also worked to create a 2.1-mile nature trail for the public. In 2010, along with student volunteers, the wildlife team started a winter clean-up of trash and debris on the trail to keep wildlife from eating trash and litter. The team has labeled plants along the hiking trail to educate visitors during the plant walks. In 2011, the wildlife team partnered with the Travis Audubon Society, neighbors and Texas naturalists to identify and count birds. More than 200 birds were seen and 38 species identified.

Autumn Hills, Zeeland, MIchigan

Wildife at Work certified since 2011
Acres managed for wildlife: 282

Autumn Hills RDF is located in Zeeland, Ottawa County, Michigan. Ninety-nine acres of the 400-acre site are permitted for landfill use. Approximately 20 acres are leased for agriculture and 282 are managed wildlife habitat.The Autumn Hills RDF has been working with the Zeeland community to protect wildlife and provide recreational activities since the facility was developed. Staff from the facility has participated in many local conservation groups and activities, including participating in the Holland Fish and Gun Club’s Youth Conservation Day for the past 15 years. Autumn Hills is also working with Zeeland Township in planning future outdoor recreational activities for the local residents as well as the surrounding communities.

“It takes a village to raise a child. That saying certainly applies at Autumn Hills. Without the active engagement of our volunteer groups, earning this prestigious certification may not have been possible,” said Randy Dozeman, Sr. District Manager of Autumn Hills, Waste Management. “To see Waste Management employees working side by side with our neighbors and customers to improve the environment brings back a real sense of community for everyone. I can truly say I am proud of what we all have accomplished here.”  According to Zeeland Township Supervisor Glenn Nykamp, "Zeeland Charter Township is proud of the working relationship we have with Autmn Hills Landfill.  It is exciting for us, as well as Waste Managment, to be a part of the Wildlife at Work Certification they have received.  Over the years, we have participated on various projects with WM and are looking forward to this Wildlife Habitat Council program and other possible recreation activities in the future.  Congratulations to Waste Management, Autumn Hills Landfill and all the staff and employees for their continued involvment and support in the Community."  

Bear Creek Wildlife Sanctuary, Saugus, Massachusetts

Wildife at Work certified since 2008
Corporate Lands for Learning certified since 2008
Acres managed for wildlife: 200

The Wheelabrator Saugus site is composed of 300 acres located in Essex County, Massachusetts. Initially established as a mitigation measure in the 1990s, the site has continued to maintain and enhance about 200 acres of the property for wildlife. Wheelabrator has developed the project into the Bear Creek Wildlife Sanctuary, complete with an on-site meeting and teaching center. Through partnerships with local educational institutes, the site is actively used as a classroom and field laboratory for a variety of environmental studies. 

The Bear Creek Wildlife Sanctuary is situated in the Rumney Marshes Area of Critical Environmental Concern as designated by the Massachusetts Executive Office of Environmental Affairs. In order to attract targeted wildlife species, the site developed and maintains numerous specific native habitats, including coastal shrubland, early successional forest, native grasslands and wet meadows

The site’s location along the North Atlantic Flyway was the basis for the habitat and wildlife goals for the site due to the high percentage of birds that migrate northward through Massachusetts. To increase diversity on the site, provide quality food sources, and ensure the availability of cover and space for migratory birds, the site has been controlling the non-native invasive species Phragmites australis. The primary invasive control plan for the site is an adaptive management program designed to enhance natural selection to favor the long-term establishment of native species. To accomplish this, the site implemented a number of programs based on soil and growing condition enhancements that favor indigenous plant communities. To track the health of the habitat for avian species the site has established partnerships with members of the Massachusetts Audubon Society, who conduct annual Christmas bird counts as well as grassland bird counts.

The facility also earned the North American Pollinator Protection Campaign Pollinator Friendly Practices Award in 2008; this award recognizes certified WHC sites that implement specific land management practices to promote pollinator populations.

The Corporate Lands for Learning (CLL) program at Saugus takes advantage of the many learning opportunities provided by the surrounding Rumney Marshes. This site’s CLL program is firmly based on the partnerships made in the area.

Many of the lessons in the pollinator gardens, biological field study station and nature trails are coordinated through a partnership with North Shore Community College (NSCC). NSCC conducts annual arboriculture classes at the site, and hosts annual Christmas bird counts and grassland bird surveys. The school also uses the site extensively in a dendrology (study of trees) course.

Other community partners include Project YES (Youth Empowerment and Success), which uses the site regularly, Waybright Elementary School, which tours the Sanctuary as part of its Ecology Club activities, and Essex Agricultural & Technical High School, which conducts an on-going transect study.

Blackwell Landfill, Sarnia, Ontario

Wildlife at Work certified 2004
Acres managed for wildlife: 

The Blackwell Landfill is located on 111 acres outside the city of Sarnia in southern Ontario.  Logan Pond borders the site to the north and along the southern border former sediment ponds have evolved into a wetland community. In addition to the 10 acres of wetlands, the closed landfill contains uncut grasslands and 15 acres of tree and shrub area.

After purchasing the landfill in 1996, Waste Management worked closely with the Landfill Advisory Committee, Lambton Wildlife Incorporated, and the St. Clair Region Conservation Authority to develop an environmentally sound closure plan for the site. The wildlife team determined three main goals to focus its efforts: returning the property to a naturalized setting, creating a seasonal habitat for migratory wildlife, and establishing an environment for community members to enjoy nature viewing.

Since the site's closure in 2001, grasslands were re-established and native tree and shrub plantations were developed on site. The growing plant communities will continue to be maintained by site employees and the St. Clair Region Conservation Authority. Additional trees are planted annually.

In 2005, the site was officially re-dedicated as Blackwell Trails Park, providing the community with an excellent opportunity to experience a natural setting. A pathway winds through the property and connects with the Howard Watson trail at the site’s northern border. The trail is complemented by seating areas and interpretive signage. The invertebrates, fish, amphibians and mammals of the wetland and ponds are monitored, and numerous species of turtles and dragonflies have been noted. In 2009, an aeration system was added to the south pond to keep the ecosystem healthy. The wildlife team will soon write and implement a management plan for control of invasive aquatic and upland plants.

Blenheim Landfill, Chatham-Kent, Ontario

Wildlife at Work certified since 2009
Acres managed for wildlife: 73

The Blenheim Landfill site encompasses 96.4 acres in the municipality of Chatham-Kent in southwestern Ontario, with approximately 73 acres dedicated to the Wildlife at Work program. Along with active landfill operations, the site includes forest, closed landfill, stormwater ponds, and a poplar plantation.

As part of the program, the wildlife team worked closely with the community-led Blenheim Landfill Liaison Committee and the St. Clair Region Conservation Authority to develop an environmentally sound leachate management system. The system uses native poplar trees to naturally treat leachate from the landfill. An additional benefit of this strategy is the opportunity to enhance wildlife habitat and naturalize areas of the Blenheim site that are no longer used in landfill activities. The poplar plantation created a new ecosystem for insects, birds and mammals, which also serves as a wildlife corridor between two existing woodlots on the property.

While maintaining and documenting the leachate system, the wildlife team also plans to expand their wildlife inventory by collecting data on fish and nesting bird species. They also plan structural enhancements such as basking logs, brush piles, and/or rock piles for the stormwater ponds.

Bluff City Transfer Station, Elgin Illinois

Wildlife at Work certified since 2009
Acres managed for wildlife: 6

Located adjacent to the Bluff Spring Fen Nature Preserve, the Bluff City Transfer Station encompasses 15 acres that include habitats such as grasslands, meadows and wetlands. The wildlife team actively manages six acres of the property for the benefit of wildlife, including pollinators and grassland birds.

The team continues to manage its existing projects, including managing grasslands, maintaining a green roof and controlling invasive plant species. The grasslands are mowed once per year in late fall, after grassland birds have completed their nesting season. The team mows the grasses each year to promote thicker growth so that the grasses provide better-quality habitat for wildlife. The team maintains its green roof by pulling invasive species and other weeds twice per year, in the spring and summer, and by enhancing the roof’s appearance as needed. The team also removes invasive species such as Canada thistle, purple loosestrife and crown vetch throughout the property as needed.

In the spring of 2010, the wildlife team planted prairie grass and wildflower seeds on the islands in front of the building. This project was implemented to provide habitat for insects such as bees, as well as to make the property more attractive. The team plans to continue monitoring the planted areas, including monitoring for the establishment of invasive species.

Buffalo Ridge Landfill, Keenesburg, Colorado

Wildlife at Work certified since 2011
Acres managed for wildlife: 40

The Buffalo Ridge Landfill encompasses 4,640 acres in northeast Colorado. The habitat on-site consists of short-grass prairie. Common species observed on-site include brome grass, gramma grass, switchgrass, needle-and-thread grass, kingbirds, red-tailed hawks and coyotes. The wildlife team actively manages approximately 40 acres of the property for wildlife habitat.

As non-native weeds are a widespread problem in the site’s short-grass prairie, the wildlife team started taking steps in 2010 to control these weeds and restore short-grass prairie species. The wildlife team partners with a local landscaping company to mow along the roadways and around the entrance facility area every spring and fall, with the goal being to minimize weed growth and spread in these areas, which comprise approximately 40 acres. Monitoring has revealed that weed growth has been reduced since mowing began.

Also in 2010, the wildlife team converted a number of light poles on-site into raptor perches. Birds, particularly raptors, have been spotted perching on the tops of the light poles; however, they are not using the perching structures that were installed. The team plans to evaluate options for this project, including turning some of the perches into nesting platforms for raptors.

No natural water sources are present on-site so the wildlife team constructed a pond in 2010. The team maintains water in the pond year-round to ensure the presence of a stable water source for wildlife in the site’s arid environment. Employees monitor the pond for water levels and wildlife use, and have noted several species such as mule deer at the pond.

Future plans for the wildlife team include creating pollinator gardens, establishing brush piles around the entrance to support prey species for raptors, partnering with local community groups, schools, and colleges to plant native short-grass prairie seeds and monitor their growth, and planting native shrubs and trees near the pond.

Button Gwinnet Landfill, Lawrenceville, Georgia

Wildlife at Work certiried since 2010
Acres managed for wildlife: 70

The Button Gwinnett Landfill is located in Gwinnett County, Georgia, in a highly developed area.  The facility is surrounded by residential development on all sides and encompasses 95 acres with a 40-acre landfill footprint.  The landfill received closure certification on August 31, 2000, from the Georgia Environmental Protection Division.  Only a small portion of the site is paved; therefore, almost the entire site is available for wildlife habitat.  Since the site is the largest open space in the immediate area, the wildlife team routinely observes a variety of wildlife on the site, including, deer, ducks, geese, beavers, turtles, raptors and snakes.  The site is also bordered by the Yellow River and has several acres of undeveloped wetlands and floodplain that provide natural areas for wildlife habitat.

In order to create a landfill cap that is more beneficial to wildlife, the wildlife team converted eight acres to native grass and wildflowers.  In 2009 the team applied herbicide to control non-native grasses, and the area was planted with wildflowers and native grasses in the winter of 2009.  The area has exhibited positive development thus far, as native grasses and wildflowers are already growing, flowering and producing seed.  The wildlife team will continue to manage the area to reduce weeds and promote native plants and wildlife use, and is also investigating the possibility of expanding the native grass and wildflower area to other parts of the landfill cap.

The site is an ideal habitat for insectivorous birds such as swallows and bats since it has large open grassy areas and ponds.  The wildlife team provided artificial structures for raptors, purple martins and bats.  A Waste Management employee designed and built raptor perches that attach directly to the existing gas wells on the landfill, thus providing alternative perches while discouraging the birds from roosting on the wells themselves.  The perches receive much use from raptors frequenting the site.  Bat boxes were installed near the ponds on the site and two purple martin boxes were also installed.

Campground Natural Area, Louisville, Kentucky

Wildlife at Work certified since 2009
Acres managed for wildlife: 33

The Campground Natural Area is located in Jefferson County, Kentucky, in a primarily industrial landscape near the Ohio River. The restoration project is a partnership between Waste Management and Michelin, highlighting the possibility of corporations working together to enhance biodiversity. The site is dominated by the vegetated landfill cover with gently sloping sides and a small stormwater retention pond in the southwest corner. The wildlife team at the Campground Natural Area consists of Waste Management employees, Michelin employees, the Kentucky Department and Fish and Wildlife, and Redwing Ecological Services.

Since 2008, the wildlife team has worked to enhance the 55.2 acres of natural prairie on-site by planting native species of grass and wildflowers, such as Virginia wild rye, switchgrass, black-eyed Susan, purple prairie clover, side-oats grama, annual ragweed, big bluestem, little bluestem, butterfly milkweed, partridge pea, coneflowers and daisy fleabane. Test plots are managed for the purpose of determining the best management techniques, with the plots being split into two phases. The team monitors and maintains the areas to find locations that need to be re-seeded or that have high invasive species populations that need to be controlled. The team manages for invasive species, such as Johnson grass, musk thistle, poison hemlock, Fuller’s teasel, cutleaf teasel, bush honeysuckle and Japanese honeysuckle. In 2011, more than 22 acres were spot-treated with herbicide to control invasive species. Other forms of removal include hand pulling, herbicide wick application and rotational mowing. The mowing is set to a three-year schedule, with one-third of the prairie mowed each year. Pollinator habitat is also an important aspect of this project so the team installed bee blocks to establish colonies of native bees.

Since 2007, more than five acres of native forest have been restored though the planting of native shrubs and the removal of invasive species. In 2009, native white pines, red oaks, silver and sugar maples, grey dogwoods, red osier dogwoods and shagbark hickories, among others, were planted in the western planting zone, at a density of 90 trees per acre. Invasive bush honeysuckles are removed as needed and the stumps are sprayed with herbicide at least once a year. Mowing is also used as a control technique. The area is monitored for invasive species year-round. The species that are cut or hand-pulled are arranged into brush piles around the site for extended cover for smaller mammals and reptiles. The wildlife team has future plans to add songbird and bat boxes.

The 1.2 acres of wetland habitat is managed through the planting of native species. In 2010, 350 native plugs were added to the eastern shoreline, including swamp milkweed, blue flag iris, cardinal flower, pickerelweed, green bulrush, softstem bulrush, hop sedge and fox sedge. The invasive phragmites and cutleaf teasel are monitored and controlled on-site by using aquatic safe spot herbicide treatment, hand pulling and mowing. The team also constructed rock piles and installed basking logs and floating platforms for reptiles, turtles and ducks. Future plans for wetland enhancement include the addition of duck boxes and conducting bird counts in the area. 

Central Disposal System, Lake Mills, Iowa

Wildlife at Work certified since 2008
Acres managed for wildlife: 170

The Central Disposal Systems site is located about 2.5 miles southwest of Lake Mills, Iowa, and encompasses 621 acres. Eighty-five acres of this property are devoted to landfill operations and landfill gas-to-energy production, while 170 acres are either currently enhanced for wildlife habitat or are in the planning stages for future habitat enhancement.

The wildlife team at the facility is working to restore 140 acres of prairie on an area of the site that went out of operation in 2003. Initially, several trees were removed from five acres of woodland that was situated in the center of the area. The wildlife team conducted a prescribed burn and follow-up herbicide application in spring 2008 to control invasive species. A representative from the Iowa Department of Natural Resources and two wildlife team members planted native warm-season grasses in late June and early July 2008. The newly established prairie will be monitored for colonization of invasive species and will be mowed on a rotational basis to maintain the habitat.

In 2005, an eight-acre alternative final cap was constructed over a section of the landfill, and was seeded with native prairie grasses and wildflowers. Rotational mowing has been employed to maintain the prairie and meet regulatory requirements. The cap is also regularly monitored for the emergence of Canada thistle, an invasive species; eradication measures are taken when Canada thistle is found.

A landfill gas-to-energy plant was established in 2006 and an area behind this facility was excavated to create a three-acre pond, which is being used by native waterfowl and other bird species.

Future projects for the wildlife team include establishing a walking path and a viewing platform inside the native prairie for public use. The wildlife team hopes to continue increasing the use of the property for community and educational groups.

Central Weld Landfill, Greeley, Colorado

Wildlife at Work certified 2009
Acres managed for wildlife 165

The Central Weld Landfill is located in Weld County, Colorado. The site is a closed municipal solid waste landfill, of which 165 of a total 310 acres are actively managed for wildlife habitat.

Various wildlife projects have been implemented since the landfill’s closure in 1995. The landfill cap was restored to a native short-grass prairie with a native seed mix developed by the National Resource Conservation Service. As weeds have since encroached upon the landfill cap, the wildlife team controls invasive species on the cap and elsewhere throughout the site. It works with the Weld County Weed Board to aggressively eradicate weeds on the landfill cap before re-seeding areas with a short-grass prairie seed mix. In 2009 and 2010, the wildlife team mowed 100 acres in a rotational mowing plan to benefit wildlife. Golder Associates conducts quarterly surveys of the site and provides professional recommendations.

Waste Management employees have worked with the Colorado Division of Wildlife to plant several thickets of native trees and shrubs. Local Eagle Scouts have assisted with these planting projects. In the past, Eagle Scout projects added wood duck boxes, goose nesting platforms and bat boxes. Numerous species of wildlife have been observed on-site, including a great blue heron, killdeer, red-winged blackbirds, a woodhouse toad, chorus frogs and meadowlarks. Additionally, as of 2011, two red-tailed hawks are nesting in the wetland area.

Centre de transbordement de Valleyfield, Salaberry-de-Valleyfield, Quebec

Wildlife at Work certified since 2010
Acres managed for Wildlife: 40

Throughout North America, wetlands represent a vital ecosystem in need of conservation.  This is especially true of the St. Lawrence lowland ecoregion where the Valleyfield Transfer Station operates on a property composed of wetlands, buffer shrub habitat and mowed areas.  Understanding this importance, the team at the Valleyfield Transfer Station enlisted the help of Quebec's Ministry of Sustainable Development, Environment and Parks to determine the ecological value of the wetland on-site and to subsequently formalize its status.  In 2008, an initial investigation confimed the high value of the land.  The following year, Waste Management obtained confirmation that the wetland was formally recognized in perpetuity as a private natural habitat.  The official designation of the parcel is now "Réserve Naturelle du Petit-Canal-à-Salaberry-de-Valleyfield".

The employee-led wildlife team at the transfer station determined that the focus of the site's wildlife program should be on habitat enhancement of the wetland and the use of the various projects to engage local stakeholders.  To strengthen this focus, the team aligned its activities with the North American Waterbird Conservation Plan.  Twelve wood duck boxes were erected throughout the wetland to address the lack of sufficient suitable nesting cavities.  The installation was conducted in partnership with Ducks Unlimited Canada and its Valleyfield members, which provided technical assistance and educated the team on the monitoring process.  The wood duck boxes are registered as part of the province-wide network in collaboration with the Société d'aménagement de la Baie Lavalliére.

The Valleyfield Transfer station recognizes that a positive environmental impact reaches beyond property borders.  The team has sponsored a series of public seminars on domestic composting and developed a partnership with the local college to promote recycling, composting and responsible management of residuals.

Chaffee Landfill, Chaffee, New York

Wildlife at Work certified since 2007
Corporate Lands for Learning certified since 2009
Acres managed for wildlife: 20

Chaffee Landfill is located on 498 acres in Chaffee, New York. The site’s 309 wildlife acres include wetlands, forests and fields. Four threatened plants, Sartwell’s sedge, Schweinitz’ sedge, blunt spikerush and woodland bluegrass, are preserved and protected at the site.

The capped landfill is mowed annually in late August or early September to protect ground-nesting birds, and other grassland areas are maintained by rotational mowing. Chaffee’s wildlife team and local community groups erected nest boxes on-site for bluebirds, wood ducks and bats. The team established a weekly monitoring program to document wildlife use of these structures. Two local environmental organizations, Earth Spirit and Owl Facts, conduct regular species inventories. The team hopes to install a pollinator garden as a future habitat enhancement project.

The Corporate Lands for Learning (CLL) program at the Chaffee Landfill has been certified since 2009, and features tours of the landfill and habitat areas, including the wetland, grassland and forest. These programs reach hundreds of learners, including schools, scouts and 4-H Clubs. Students from schools like Springville Griffith Institute and Pioneer Central take part in opportunities to learn about the importance of managing and reducing waste and the conservation of natural habitats. Local Boy Scouts are able to practice their “Outdoor Code” and the “Leave No Trace” concept at Chaffee Landfill. High school students from Springville Griffith Institute have used the site for field trips focusing on tree canopy, tree species, forest management, invasive species and soil management. The data they collect from this outdoor laboratory is taken back to the classroom and analyzed. They have also been able to use GPS devices for exercises on the landfill and wetland delineation activities.

The wildlife team at the Chaffee Landfill partners with Earth Spirit and the University of Buffalo to provide a summer ecology camp for middle school students in August. The team also works with Owl Facts and other local wildlife rehabilitators and environmental organizations to provide environmental education to the public. In addition, Chaffee provides an annual scholarship for local students majoring in environmental science.

In conjunction with Earth Spirit, Chaffee Landfill has also hosted a number of events for the community, like Nature Adventures Day, Autumn Herbs Day, Snowshoeing and Wildlife Tracking Day, and Signs of Spring Hike. Future plans for the site’s CLL program include hosting a Project Wet, Wild or Learning Tree workshop. Also, the creation of a native pollinator garden and an accompanying educational program is being added to the site’s wildlife and education efforts.

Charles City County Landfill, Charles City, Virginia

Wildlife at Work certified since 2010
Acres managed for wildlife: 500

The wildlife team at Charles City County Landfill in Virginia manages half of the 1,000-acre property for wildlife. The site’s habitats include open field, woodland, a stream and six ponds. Every employee monitors the facility for wildlife and contacts the scale house when species are located on-site. The scale house attendant adds the sighting into the Species Tracking Spreadsheet along with location and general time of day.

The wildlife team started an artificial nest box program for cavity-nesting birds in 2009, and constructed two songbird nest boxes. Employees monitor the nest boxes monthly, and early in the 2010 nesting season, five fledged bluebirds were observed. Ducks Unlimited provided ten wood duck nest boxes and assisted the wildlife team in selecting appropriate locations. The wildlife team installed the boxes around two ponds dedicated to wood duck habitat and added predator guards to increase the chances for success. Ducks Unlimited representatives also assessed the habitat and recommended sites for water control devices to create adequate nesting, feeding and loafing areas for waterfowl.

The northern bobwhite quail is considered a species of greatest conservation need in Virginia. A number of employees enjoy monitoring quail, so the wildlife team developed a quail habitat enhancement plan in partnership with the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries (DGIF). In April 2009, the team took soil samples and performed a visual inspection of 30 acres designated for the project. The DGIF representatives identified a large stand of non-native invasive Sericea lespedeza, which the wildlife team now controls with herbicide. Once the Sericea lespedeza is under control, the area will be replanted with native warm-season grasses. The wildlife team also planted hedgerows and created brush piles to provide habitat for quail and other species, adding to the habitat value of the site’s existing stand of native broom sedge.

Chemical Waste Management, Valley Center, Kansas

Wildlife at Work certified since 2008
Acres managed for wildlife: 650

The Valley Center site is located in Sedgwick County near Valley Center, Kansas, about 15 miles north of Wichita. The site consists of 1,040 acres; 650 are used for pasture and hayfields, 230 for row crops and 80 form a forested buffer area around Prairie Creek, which flows through the center of the property. Located on the final 80 acres is a facility that consists of several closed and vegetated land disposal units managed in accordance with the Kansas Department of Health and Environment permit.

In the early 1990s, native warm-season grasses were planted on 525 acres. The grasses, which included big and little bluestem, sideoats grama, switchgrass and buffalo grass, were recommended by the Kansas Department of Parks and Wildlife. A few large brush piles were left in the hayfields to provide shelter for small mammals and reptiles, thereby helping those species as well as raptors in the area.

WHC biologists visited the site in February 2008. The site's tenant farmer agreed to delay cutting hay until July 15, which gave grassland birds sufficient time to finish nesting. The farmer also agreed to leave a 30-100 foot buffer along the forested edge, which provided additional wildlife habitat. The Segdwick County Noxious Weed Department was contacted and noticed three invasive plants on the site (Johnson grass, Sericea lespedeza, and bindweed) and agreed to implement a control regime. The site also planted a five-acre food plot for wildlife. 

Chesser Island Road Landfill, Folkston, Georgia

Wildlife At Work certified since 2010
Acres managed for Wildlife: 53

The Chesser Island Road Landfill is located near the city of Folkston in Charlton County. The site has a footprint of 830 acres, consisting of forest, wetlands, a closed landfill, an operating landfill, a borrow pit, restored wetlands and buildings. A small creek bounds the site on the west side. Much of the surrounding area is wetlands or is used for pine tree production. The site is only a few miles from the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge, a swamp and lowland refuge that encompasses more than 400,000 acres. Waste Management intends to operate the landfill in a way that will protect the environment and provide restoration, conservation education and recreational benefits.

The closed landfill portion of the site is situated on an approximately 65-acre parcel adjacent to the active landfill area, with 53 acres available for wildlife habitat enhancement. Of this area, approximately 23 acres are wooded, 20 acres are a closed landfill with final cover, and 10 acres are grassy buffer areas. Species of conservation need that have been observed include bald eagle, red-cockaded woodpecker, wood stork, flatwoods salamander and eastern indigo snake.

The wildlife team at the site partners with Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge biologists, Georgia Department of Natural Resources (DNR) biologists and the Okefenokee Bird Club. The team focuses on avian nesting, aquatic and pollinator habitats. Songbird boxes for bluebirds, Carolina wrens, crested flycatchers and purple martins were installed in June 2009, after consultation with a DNR wildlife biologist on recommended locations. The wildlife team also works with the Okefenokee Bird Club to monitor the boxes.

In February of 2010, the wildlife team improved an unused sediment pond for wildlife and began monitoring the area.

City Disposal Landfill, Oregon, Wisconsin

Wildlife at Work certified since 2009
Acres managed for wildlife: 135

The City Disposal Landfill is located in Dade County, Wisconsin, approximately 15 miles south-east of Madison. Including both the capped landfill and buffer areas, City Disposal occupies 280 acres. Much of the property is leased to local growers for row-crop production, but there are substantial wooded areas and wetlands as well. There is a 15-acre borrow pond where land was excavated to create the landfill cap, which is approximately 20 acres. The landfill was capped with cool-season grasses and is mowed annually. Adjacent to the cap is a promising area for oak savanna restoration. This area is currently a grassy area with white and bur oaks.

The wildlife team actively manages different wildlife habitat enhancement projects. The landfill cap is mowed annually in the fall after grassland birds have completed nesting. Brush piles and basking logs were created to protect wildlife from predators, and trees were placed on an ice borrow pond to provide refuge for aquatic species when the ice melts. Additionally, in 2009, wood duck, bluebird and purple martin nest boxes were installed. The nest boxes are regularly maintained and monitored. Some of these boxes were observed to be occupied by nesting tree swallows and house wrens. In 2011, several songbird nest boxes were relocated to a more favorable area to encourage the nesting of bluebirds. 

The wildlife team recently began assessing management of its woodland habitat with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Forestry Department. The team and ten volunteers planted 200 white oak seedlings in April 2010. In the future, the wildlife team has plans for controlling invasive species, installing bat boxes and applying techniques such as selective cutting of forested areas.

Coal Township, Pennsylvania

Wildlife at Work certified since 2009
Acres managed for wildlife: 8

WM of Coal Township leases and operates a transfer station and recycling facility on approximately ten acres in central Pennsylvania. WM’s operation uses roughly eight acres of land, with the remaining perimeter comprised of woodlands to the south and west, an open field to the northwest, a stormwater basin in the northwestern corner and a fire pond located west of the transfer station. WM of Coal Township focused its habitat enhancement projects on preserving and protecting the pockets of wildlife areas located within the leased area.

The WM wildlife team consists of five core members who have been nurturing the site and cultivating new visitors. As part of the Wildlife at Work program, the WM wildlife team initiated a bird box monitoring program to provide nesting habitats for eastern bluebirds and tree swallows and encouraged employees to help with the observation duties on the property. With the help of a local scout troop, employees built and erected seven bluebird boxes in open areas to allow freedom of movement and access to insects for the birds. Since then, site employees monitor the boxes weekly, and in 2009, two of the seven boxes housed nests and fledged young bluebirds and tree swallows.

Coalinga Closed Site, Sun Valley, California

Wildlife at Work certified since 2010
Acres managed for wildlife: 20

The Coalinga Closed Site is located in the eastern foothills of California’s Diablo range and encompasses 455 acres, including a closed chemical landfill and its buffer property. The dominant vegetation on the site is California annual grassland with pockets of desert saltbush and goldenbrush shrublands.

The facility’s wildlife team partnered with the Faith Christian Academy to construct and place three burrows in suitable locations at the site for western burrowing owls. A wildlife team member monitors the burrows monthly for signs of owl use, and keeps vegetation around the burrows short in an attempt to attract owls. As of summer 2010, no owls have been observed utilizing the burrows. The team will add small perches in the future.

The site has worked with contractors to analyze the vegetation composition of the site. Preliminary plans are in place to control portions of the non-native grassland with a combination of moderate grazing and prescribed burning.

Colorado Springs Landfill, Colorado Springs, CO 

Wildlife at Work certified since 2011
Acres managed for wildlife: 85

The Colorado Springs Landfill is located in El Paso County, approximately 15 miles east of Colorado Springs. The total site encompasses 1,478 acres, 85 of which have been seeded with native prairie grasses and are actively managed by the wildlife team. The remaining acres are maintained as buffer property. The on-site water features include a small sedimentation pond and several ditches and drainages that periodically hold water. The site is located in a lower rainfall short-grass prairie with some semi-desert species such as agave, pincushion cactus and prickly pear. Immediately west of the site are the Corral Bluffs, an area that has been set aside for future use as a park to include walking trails and wildlife habitat. For the past 30 years, this area was used by local residents as essentially a dump. In February 2009, the Corral Bluffs Alliance (CoBA), a group of neighbors and individuals interested in protecting the bluffs, requested and received permission from Waste Management to clean up the area. Thus far, six tons of metal, two tons of wood, one ton of tires, three tons of concrete and various other items have been removed and/or recycled. The Corral Bluffs provide open rock cliff areas for numerous bird species, such as golden eagles, prairie falcons and red-tailed hawks. Along with employees who are charged with overseeing activities at the site, partnerships with community groups such as the CoBA and the City of Colorado Springs Open Space Department allow the site’s program to be possible.

The closed portion of the landfill has been capped and seeded with native prairie grasses. The wildlife team manages and maintains this area in order to help protect one of the most imperiled ecosystems in North America. Some of the species planted include side-oats grama, blue grama, buffalo grass, thickspike wheatgrass, switchgrass, western wheatgrass, little bluestem and sand dropseed. In order to determine whether the area should be inter-seeded, the wildlife team invited a local botanist to conduct a percent cover analysis in the summer of 2010. The wildlife team, with assistance from Aquaterra and Total Terrain, conducts vegetation surveys and controls invasives and noxious weeds through mowing and spot treatment. Re-vegetation of sparse areas is evaluated and implemented as needed. 

Because the sedimentation pond is one of the few areas on-site that provides a consistent water source, the wildlife team has chosen this as a suitable area to enhance aquatic habitat. Thus far in 2011, grading activities around the pond using a contour wattling method have begun; these are intended to decrease erosion and stabilize the soil. Once the team completes these activities, it intends to control invasive weeds using herbicides that will not harm wildlife and eventually plant a selection of native grasses, forbs and shrubs to enhance the area.

The wildlife team also intends on enhancing a portion of the property, with assistance from CoBA, to provide for native songbirds. The wildlife team plans on carrying out several activities in order to make this an ideal habitat for cavity-nesting birds. Seasonal bird surveys will help the team figure out what species to target and then carry out a nest box monitoring program. With the help of local Boy Scouts, the team has already begun to construct and install nest boxes for some of the species that have been observed on-site, including Western bluebirds, mountain bluebirds, black-capped chickadees, red-breasted nuthatches and tree swallows. The team will also enhance the area through the planting of native shrubs, forbs and grasses that will provide food and cover for the birds. Future plans consist of an enhanced partnership with the City of Colorado Springs Open Space Department in order to offset habitat that has been removed on Open Space land by providing parallel enhancements on WM land. The plans will include features such as raptor perches and brush piles that will help offset construction of the walking trails.

Crossroads Landfill, Norridgewock, Maine

Wildlife at Work certified since 2007
Corporate Lands for Learning certified since 2009
Acres managed for wildlife: 700

The Crossroads Landfill is an 817-acre site located in rural Maine. The 500 acres of land managed for wildlife habitat include wetland, mixed forest and grassland habitats. Adjacent properties are composed primarily of agricultural and forested land.

The wildlife team divided the property into habitat groups for targeted management of invasive species, wetland habitat and black spruce and orchard areas. 16.5 acres of constructed wetlands are enhanced on-site. Native vegetation was planted in the area and basking logs were added for reptiles and amphibians. The planted vegetation is monitored regularly for percent cover and survival of various species such as red maple, white pine, bulrush, sedge and alder. Amphibian populations at the wetland are monitored by a biology professor from Colby College.

Invasive species are routinely controlled in the wetlands and other areas of the site. The wildlife team targeted purple loosestrife as a species that should be eradicated from the wetland. Purple loosestrife beetles have been used as a method of biocontrol since 2002. Predation of the purple loosestrife by the beetles is monitored annually.

The wildlife team also monitors and maintains 5,500 black spruce trees, along with a pre-existing orchard area. In conjunction with a variety of partners, including the University of Maine, Farmington, Colby College, and state and local wildlife and forestry agencies, the wildlife team is developing a forest management plan.

The Crossroads Landfill partners with several groups to bring conservation education to the community. Younger students enrolled in Boy Scout and Girl Scout programs gain knowledge of the flora and fauna on-site as they explore the wetland and grassland habitats around the landfill.

The wildlife team works with Boy Scouts to build, clean, maintain and monitor nest boxes. In late 2008, scouts built and installed five wood duck boxes and seven bluebird boxes, which they have continued to monitor. They also erected four perching posts in 2009. The scouts learn about specific habitats and build leadership skills by leading projects. The Boy Scouts also recently constructed and installed several upland sandpiper perching platforms (the upland sandpiper is a threatened species in Maine).

Girl Scouts make equal use of the habitat area to study and explore wetlands as they work to meet the requirements of the U.S. EPA “Water Drop” patch. The scouts are treated to a tour and lecture on the various workings of a landfill to explore the impacts humans have on the environment.

The site is also open to tours by local schools. Students from Riverview Memorial School made several field trips to the site and were taught using the Project Wet curriculum. The emphasis on water during these activities provided the Crossroads education team an opportunity to teach the students about the wetland ecosystem and its complexity.

Students from local higher learning institutions are also encouraged to investigate issues regarding habitat at the site. Colby College students, accompanied by Professor Cathy Bevier, study the mink frog and population movement in fragmented habitats. Professors and students monitored the amphibian population during night counts. Geosciences students at Colby College study recycling, environmental protection, geology and land management. At the University of Maine, students from science education classes are given tours of the landfill to study its operations and the wetland habitat area.

The education team at Crossroads Landfill is committed to providing opportunities for the community as well. Annual open house events allow community members to tour the landfill and see the habitat projects around the site, especially the wetland. The team hopes to continue this program and develop it further to teach the importance of habitat conservation.

Dafter Sanitary Landfill, Dafter, Michigan

Wildlife at Work certified since 2009
Acres managed for wildlife: 130

The Dafter Sanitary Landfill is located on 165 acres surrounded by farmland and rural residential areas. A number of different habitats are found on the site, including grasslands, uplands, wetlands and forested wetlands. All seven employees at the site are involved in wildlife habitat enhancement projects.

A large number of native plants were planted throughout the wetland and upland areas on the site in 2004, including purple meadow rue, high-bush cranberry, soft-stem bulrush and water smartweed. In 2005, black-eyed Susan, blazing star, butterfly weed, bee-balm and Ohio goldenrod were added to the upland meadow area. In 2010, a licensed sprayer was hired to control reed canary grass, an invasive species that was becoming established in areas near the wetlands.

A rotational mowing plan was implemented in 2009 for the upland areas to ensure that a diverse habitat of different heights of vegetation is present. The north field was divided into three sections, with each section being mowed once every three years. The site has already seen an increase in bird species using the field.

Nest boxes located on the site further enhance the existing habitat for a number of native birds. Four wood duck nest boxes were installed in 2007, and songbird nest boxes were built and installed in 2009 with the help of local Boy Scouts. The wildlife team plans to monitor all of the site’s nest boxes to determine how local populations are benefiting from these enhancements.

The wildlife team created additional habitat for the wide variety of species that use dead trees, or snags, for nesting and feeding purposes. This project was initially successful until a 2011 windstorm blew over the snags. The wildlife team plans to replace the snags on the property to ensure that a diverse habitat remains on-site for wildlife.

An observation deck and nature trail were constructed on the site in 2005, enabling students and other community members to observe the diversity of plants and animals in the wetland area. Local schools use this site for field trips, where students can learn about wetlands and the macroinvertebrates found there. The wildlife team hopes to continue to provide opportunities for students to learn about habitats at this site in the future.

Dauphin Meadows Landfill, Millersburg, Pennsylvania

Wildlife at Work certified since 2010
Acres managed for wildlife: 17

The 248-acre Dauphin Meadows Landfill is a closed municipal landfill located in a predominately rural area near Wiconisco Creek, a designated trout stream that flows into the Susquehanna River. Seventeen acres of grassland on the closed landfill cap and pond habitat are actively managed. Additionally, there are more than 200 acres of lightly wooded areas, riparian corridor and open fields. The grassland harbors several notable bird species, including ring-necked pheasant, American kestrel and a breeding pair of northern harriers. Given its proximity to other tracts of agricultural fields, the site may be amenable to the northern harrier’s large breeding area requirements.

The wildlife team focuses on invasive species on the 2.2-acre East Pond embankment and 1.2 acres of the upland south of West Pond. Autumn olive and multiflora rose are the current target species, and are managed using the “cut-and-stump” method; no re-growth has been noticed following recent treatments. The team also manages 14 acres of grassland to promote bird diversity. A fall mowing regime is implemented to minimize impacts on breeding birds and encourage seed set by native wildflowers.

Dickinson Landfill, Spirit Lake, Iowa

Wildlife at Work certified since 2008
Acres managed for wildlife: 100

The Dickinson Landfill site was acquired by Waste Management in 1998. The location totals 463 acres, with about 100 acres are available to wildlife.  Historically, a portion of the property had been farmed; another portion, about six acres, contains remnant prairie that has remained undisturbed. 

Dickinson Landfill is committed to restoring a portion of the property to native prairie grasses and plants. In 2007 the site conducted a controlled burn to remove invasive plant species and promote the growth of a healthy prairie ecosystem. The site is also committed to improving bird nest habitat, and has placed 20 bluebird nest boxes throughout the site and plans to place wood duck nest boxes near wetlands. In addition to these projects, the site has also established and maintains four acres of pollinator gardens. Future plans for the site include maintaining and enhancing current projects, as well as establishing a 20 to 30-acre wetland on-site.

Eagle Valley Recycling and Disposal Facility, Lake Orion, Michigan

Wildlife at Work certified since 2010
Acres managed for wildlife:  45

The Eagle Valley Recycling and Disposal Facility in suburban southeast Michigan includes about 45 acres of land available for wildlife habitat. The facility has become a popular tour destination for learning about modern waste management practices and sustainability. To help students learn about the importance of connecting with nature, the wildlife team planted and maintains a pollinator garden in collaboration with a variety of community members; daily monitoring of the pollinator garden is performed by site staff during the spring and summer months. Also, students from a local school built nest boxes for wood ducks, which have been placed near on-site ponds, and another local cub scout troop built roosting boxes for bats. All habitats installed at the site are monitored on an ongoing basis.

Community outreach and public education are continuous priorities for the wildlife team. The local chapter of the Audubon Society utilizes the facility to conduct an annual Christmas Bird Count, and staff at Eagle Valley are happy to boast about the turkey vulture they rescued in 2008. Named “Eva Orion,” the bird now helps educate community members in Muskegon, Michigan.

Eco-Vista Landfill, Springdale, Arkansas

Wildlife at Work certified since 2009
Acres managed for wildlife: 20

The Eco-Vista Landfill includes 20 acres of wildlife habitat enhancement projects. The wildlife team works diligently to cultivate partnerships with local conservation organizations, including Ducks Unlimited, Inc., Quail Forever and Ozark Ecological Restoration, Inc. The site provides the University of Arkansas, local schools and the public with opportunities to experience nature.

Habitat enhancements include reseeding of borrow areas to provide resources for wildlife, enhancing and maintaining several pond areas, establishing a pollinator garden, and installing and actively monitoring 24 bluebird nest boxes along the nature trail.

El Sobrante Landfill & Wildlife Preserve, Corona, California

Wildlife at Work certified since 2003
Corporate Lands for Learning certified since 2008
Acres managed for wildlife: 688

El Sobrante Landfill, including the active landfill and undisturbed open space on the property, is covered by a Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP) approved by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the California Department of Fish and Game. The total site is composed of approximately 1,333 acres, of which 688 acres south of Lake Matthews are actively managed wildlife areas.

The plan area is located within a regionally significant area for both the Stephens’ kangaroo rat and the coastal California gnatcatcher. The HCP provides connectivity between the habitat on-site and sections of the Lake Matthews-Estelle Mountain Reserve, which is linked to another parcel of preserved land. El Sobrante Landfill’s long-term Stephens’ kangaroo rat plan combines the addition of occupied habitat and adaptive management measures when necessary, and is designed to ensure the continued existence of Stephens’ kangaroo rat in its natural ecological region. Current techniques that the team is experimenting with are using the return of sheep grazing to land that is overgrown with invasive grasses. These grasses inhibit the kangaroo rats, so the team hopes that the removal of the invasive species will allow for the kangaroo rat population to increase. Coastal California gnatcatchers in the plan area are part of a high-density gnatcatcher population in northwestern Riverside County. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service estimates that there are 300 pairs of the highly sensitive species present in the region.

A nesting pair of barn owls was discovered at El Sobrante Landfill, prompting the wildlife team to install four owl boxes to ensure the safety and success of the breeding pair. Burrowing owls were also sighted at El Sobrante, and with help from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the final locations for building artificial burrows will be identified.

Restoring and managing the wildlife area for native species is a top objective for the wildlife team. Native shrubs, cacti and flowers were planted and have been maintained since 2005. These include California sagebrush, brittle brush, valley cholla, barrel cactus, prickly pear cactus, monkeyflower, fuchsia-flowered gooseberry and many-stemmed dudleya. In 2009, 9,600 many-stemmed dudleya were planted in the restoration area to encourage native vegetation. Eight members of the wildlife team participated in the removal of tamarisk and Chinese elm trees the following year. The team is also attempting to restore cactus habitat for 16 coastal cactus wrens by spreading prickly pear and valley cholla cactus pieces across 33 acres and hydro-seeding with native shrubs. These areas were reseeded in 2008, 2009 and 2010 where needed.

After a fire in 2007, much of the native tree and riparian vegetation were damaged or destroyed, but in 2008 the wildlife team worked with Cub Scouts to plant western sycamore and cottonwood saplings to replace those trees. On Arbor Day in 2010, the wildlife team and a Boy Scout troop planted 20 sycamores in that same area. The wildlife team integrated native plant species into landscaping near the office entry, scale house and visitor parking lot, including identification signs with the common and scientific names of each species. In 2008, the Chino Boy Scout troop assisted in the enhancement of a pollinator demonstration garden by planting native species and removing invasive plant species.

The team developed an exceptionally creative education initiative while establishing an employee natural resource reference library in the landfill’s office. Native wildflower packets, species identification cards and wildlife posters were created by the wildlife team as educational resources. The team also educates as many as 250 visitors to the landfill and wildlife preserve a year.

Educational opportunities for students, scouts and other community members are offered through the El Sobrante Landfill and Wildlife Preserve’s Corporate Lands for Learning (CLL) program, which has been certified since 2008. Students from schools throughout and beyond Riverside County visit the site for tours focused on wildlife, landfill operations and the connections between them. Prior to each visit, the El Sobrante Landfill and Wildlife Preserve team talks with the visiting teacher to identify concepts that will be relevant to the class. During the tour, students visit several learning stations, including a Wildlife Preserve station that overlooks the site habitat area. At this station, students work with a biologist to discuss habitat management, identify native plants, listen to bird calls and go on nature walks. At another station, Water Quality Monitoring, a landfill technician leads students in a water table measurement activity and discusses the importance of protecting water sources for the benefit of both humans and wildlife.

In addition to regular site tours, El Sobrante Landfill and Wildlife Preserve offers opportunities for scouts to learn about habitat management and help enhance site habitat through native plantings. A Brownie troop prepared and planted a native garden that offers habitat components for birds and butterflies, and two Boy Scout troops worked together on a riparian restoration project. The boys from the older of the two troops met with an El Sobrante Landfill and Wildlife Preserve biologist to develop an action plan, and then they took on a leadership role and guided the younger troop in planting sycamores and cottonwoods.

The El Sobrante Landfill and Wildlife Preserve team also participates in community conservation education beyond the borders of its site through the Preserve the Plateau Roundtable, a partnership initiative to increase awareness about biodiversity of the Gavilan Hills Plateau. Additionally, opportunities to expand educational offerings through partnership research projects with local university students are being explored. 

Elk River Landfill, Elk River, Minnesota

Wildlife at Work certified since 2010
Acres managed for wildlife: 198

Almost two hundred acres of the Elk River Landfill are set aside for wildlife habitat enhancement projects within the 476-acre property northwest of Minneapolis. The site contains quality native plant communities, including oak savannah and tamarack swamp. The latter is part of a larger wetland complex that the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources deemed a Regionally Significant Ecological Area. Sugarbush Park, a township park that protects rare maple-basswood forest, is also adjacent to the wetland complex. Preservation of undeveloped open space at Elk River Landfill would benefit a suite of wildlife species both on-site and in the surrounding area.

The wildlife team observes bald eagles, wood ducks and white-tailed deer on-site. In 2009, the team installed ten wood duck boxes in a wooded area near a water source. While no nests were observed the first year, 80% of the nest boxes were occupied in 2010. Six bluebird boxes were also installed in grassland habitat; one bluebird nest was observed in 2009. The team also maintains a brush pile near a pond to provide nesting and roosting cover for turkeys, rabbits and foxes.

The wildlife team partners with the Minnesota Deer Hunters Association – Sherburne County Swampbucks Chapter and Sherburne County 4-H Shooting Sports and Wildlife Program. 4-H participants expressed interest in improving turtle and duck habitat, and creating a pollinator garden. Local citizens have access to an abandoned railroad bed on the property that currently serves as a recreational trail for walking, biking and cross-country skiing. The wildlife team hopes to increase public awareness of the wildlife enhancement area by creating a boardwalk from Sugarbush Park through the site’s oak savannah.

Evergreen Landfill, Coral, Pennsylvania

Wildlife at Work certified since 2010
Acres managed for wildlilfe: 2

The Evergreen Landfill is situated on 311 acres in central Pennsylvania. The site is surrounded by Pennsylvania State Game Lands and some agricultural and rural residential areas. A wild trout stream, part of the Laurel Run headwaters, runs through the 118 acres of forested land to the south and west of the operating landfill. Wetlands and ponds cover approximately two acres of the property, including three newly constructed mitigation wetlands. The wildlife team includes three regional staff and six Evergreen Landfill employees.

The team decided to redesign existing wetland construction plans to enhance wildlife habitat and water quality. The new design funnels most of the site’s storm water runoff into three highly vegetated terraced wetlands. These features provide additional treatment of the water, decreasing suspended solids and absorbing excess nutrients. These improvements in water quality are particularly critical for the wild trout population identified in the property’s stream and the rest of the Laurel Run watershed. In June of 2009, Waste Management employees worked with environmental engineers and landscapers to plant thousands of native plants, from pickerelweed to buttonbush to groves of eastern cottonwood trees. The wildlife team conducts monthly monitoring, and employees have observed American toads, spring peepers, green frogs and red-spotted newts using the new habitat.

To further enhance the new wetlands, the wildlife team partnered with a Boy Scout troop to build and install bluebird and wood duck nest boxes in the early spring of 2010. The scouts placed the boxes on posts with predator guards to increase nesting success. Later in the year, the scouts returned monthly to monitor the boxes for nesting activity.

The wildlife team also manages upland areas. Non-native invasive Japanese knotweed is a particular problem on the property, and employees control it through hand-pulling and herbicide treatments to free up space for native vegetation. The wildlife team partnered with the Pennsylvania Game Commission to plant a quarter-acre native switchgrass demonstration plot on the landfill cap. This provides habitat for white-tailed deer, which the wildlife team manages by conducting deer counts and allowing hunting when needed, as well as for wild turkeys.

Fowles Wetland, East St. Louis, ILL 

Wildlife at Work  certified since 2009
Acres managed for wildlife: 98

The Fowles Wetland Area is a 98-acre tract preserved and enhanced in an effort to go above and beyond mitigation requirements for wetland impacts associated with past landfill activities and the expansion of the Milam Recycling and Disposal Facility. The Fowles Wetland Area is located within Fairmont City, Illinois, approximately two miles east of St. Louis, Missouri. The site is bordered to the south by Cahokia Canal and to the north by the Union Pacific Railroad, beyond which is Horseshoe Lake State Park. Canteen Lake borders the site to the east while agricultural fields border the site to the west. The site consists of constructed wetlands, preserved wetlands and upland habitat.

Additional acreage was preserved within the wetland area to provide more and better-quality wildlife habitat. The Fowles Wetland Area wildlife team continues to monitor these wetlands for vegetation as well as to observe the hydrologic patterns to be sure they are consistent with those found in natural systems. A number of different species have been observed using the site, including waterfowl, shorebirds, mammals, amphibians, reptiles and fish. Channel catfish and fathead minnows were added to site ponds, most recently in April 2011. Invasive plant species including nodding thistle and common reed have been monitored and removed as necessary. In the winter of 2010 and the spring of 2011, more than 100 trees, including cypress and persimmon, were planted alongside the wetlands to provide additional wildlife habitat. In April 2011, three wood duck boxes were installed to provide a nesting habitat for this migratory waterfowl species.

Three plantings of the federally threatened decurrent false aster were conducted on the site, which is one of only approximately 30 known populations in the world. In addition, the state-threatened Hall’s bulrush was also planted at the site in the summer of 2009 and October, 2010. Dr. Marian Smith of Southern Illinois University - Edwardsville wrote the management plan for the decurrent false aster, which now includes the planting of Hall’s bulrush in its implementation. Dr. Paige Metler-Cherry of Lindenwood University has assisted in the planting of both species. Students from Lindenwood University use the area as an outdoor classroom and assist with the planting of both species should numbers fall below the desired population.

Waste Management hopes to pursue future projects at the Fowles Wetland Area. These projects include the control of invasive species by monitoring and controlling observed species on the site, as well as hydrologic enhancements such as basking logs, snags, waterfowl nesting platforms and upland brush piles. The wildlife team also intends to manage game species such as deer and waterfowl by keeping track of their numbers and the types of species that may have been removed. The team will also continue to manage the sensitive species that live on the site and conduct a prescribed burn to promote new vegetation growth in maintained areas. At the landfill itself, WM hopes to develop a native seed mix that can be used on the landfill when it is closed and reclaimed.

Geneva Landfill, Geneva, Ohio

Wildlife at Work certified since 2007
Acres managed for wildlife: 33

The Geneva Landfill is a 436-acre facility located in northeast Ohio. Six of the site’s nine employees manage wetland and upland habitat. Many acres of open grassland and forest are available to wildlife, although not actively managed.

Several years ago the Geneva Landfill’s wildlife team went above and beyond wetland mitigation regulations and constructed more than six acres of wetlands, maximized shorelines to create diverse microhabitats, placed tree stumps in the water to create cover and basking areas for wildlife, and planted exclusively native plants.

Native tree planting events have occurred annually on site since 2006. The wildlife team planted red maples, silky dogwoods, pin oaks and arrowwood viburnums. In 2009, the team and two groups of children planted approximately 250 native trees, including silver maple, silky dogwood, arrowwood viburnum, black willows and button bush. The team also taught a third-grade class from Geneva Elementary School how to cut and root black willows, a species with high wildlife value.

The wildlife team started a songbird nest box monitoring project in December 2008, when team members asked a local sawmill employee to cut timber for the boxes. In January 2009, the team met with a local Boy Scout troop and discussed the importance of wetlands. The Scouts built boxes and installed approximately 40 of them at the site in May 2009, in conjunction with the annual tree-planting event, and earned their World Conservation Badge.

The conservation education program is directly related to the songbird boxes and tree planting events. The wildlife team also partners with a local Boy Scout troop and the Geneva School District for programs that include wetlands education and tree plantings.

Glanbrook Landfill, Glanbrook, Ontario

Wildlife at Work certified since 2010
Acres managed for wildlife: 306

Waste Management operates the City of Hamilton’s Glanbrook Landfill, and partnered with City of Hamilton staff, the local Glanbrook Conservation Authority and the Glanbrook Landfill Coordinating Committee to manage buffer areas for wildlife. The wildlife team initiated a multi-year program of planting a variety of native tree species to re-forest a section of the property. Additional plantings will include native shrubs and grasses for more diversity. Basking logs and a floating platform were installed in on-site drainage ponds. The team also put up nest boxes for wood ducks, mallards, bluebirds and purple martins. To enhance foraging habitat for the bluebirds and purple martins, mowing is reduced in the vicinity of those structures. The nest boxes are regularly monitored, and employees and wildlife team members are encouraged to report wildlife sightings, which are logged to document the growth of biodiversity on-site.

Grand Central Sanitary Landfill, Pen Argyl, Pennsylvania

Wildlife at Work certified since 2007
Corporate Lands for Learning certified since 2008
Acres managed for wildlife:  201

The Grand Central Sanitary Landfill occupies 537.5 acres in Northampton County, Pennsylvania. The site contains three main habitat types: forests, grasslands and wetlands. More than 200 acres of the site are available as wildlife habitat.

The wildlife team maintains numerous habitat enhancement programs on the site. A nest box program was initiated in 2005 to augment existing habitat for native birds. This program has expanded over the years, with the help of Boy Scout Troop 33, and now consists of 67 nest boxes. Numerous bird species have benefited from these nesting structures, including Eastern bluebirds, tree swallows, American kestrels, house wrens and wood ducks. Girl Scouts further expanded the program by building a barred owl nest box in 2009. The team also has plans to further enhance the site for native birds by creating an osprey nesting platform as well as a barn owl nest box.

The wildlife team has also enhanced the site for numerous species of wildlife through its grasslands habitat project. The project began with the removal of an existing structure on the site, and native warm-season grasses were planted. The grassland habitat includes 24 acres of warm-season grasses and 17 acres of cool-season grasses. To enhance environmental education opportunities, the Grand Central Environmental Education Center was completed in 2008. A total of 41 acres are currently managed as a Wildlife Sanctuary and Education Center. The grasslands provide valuable habitat to a diversity of species, including six species that have been documented on site and listed on the Audubon Society’s Top 20 Common Birds in Decline. These include the Eastern meadowlark, horned lark, field sparrow, snow bunting, common grackle and grasshopper sparrow. The wildlife team hopes the grasslands will also attract the long-eared owl to the site. Walking trails are planned to facilitate educational and wildlife viewing opportunities in the grasslands.

The site also enhanced habitat for pollinators through the creation of two pollinator gardens. In 2008, Boy Scouts created a 20x20-foot pollinator garden, and in 2009, Girl Scouts created an additional smaller pollinator garden. The Girl Scouts also built a butterfly hibernation box to support the local pollinator population. 

Grandby Landfill, Grandby, Massachusetts

Wildlife at Work certified since 2011
Acres managed for wildlife: 97

The Granby Landfill is located in the rural town of Granby, within Hampshire County. The site is about 129 acres and is adjacent to the Bynan Conservation area. It encompasses forest, shrub scrub and wetland areas, including the Stony Creek riparian corridor. This stream flows through the towns of Granby, Chicopee and South Hadley prior to discharging into the Connecticut River. The wildlife team actively manages about 97 acres, which includes 42 acres of forest and 24 acres of wetland that are protected from development and integrated into the wildlife team’s avian habitat management program. Twenty-eight acres of grassland habitat are also integrated into the avian habitat project, as well as wildlife rehabilitation projects. The grassland areas are currently under evaluation for modification of mowing schedules to enhance their utility as breeding areas for grassland birds.

The avian habitat management project aims to enhance the existing habitat in order to provide resources for a variety of bird species. In February 2010, a local Girl Scout troop helped to construct nest boxes for owls and American kestrels, and installed the nest boxes the following month. Though minimal nest activity has been seen, the team is optimistic about future nest box use and will continue to monitor and maintain the boxes. The team also participated in a Wildlife and Raptor Festival that worked to educate the local community about the importance of raptors and the preservation of their habitat. In addition, the wildlife team works with Urban Wildlife, a local wildlife rehabilitator, to provide suitable on-site habitat for species such as squirrels, rabbits and raptors that require a safe place to be released.

In April 2010, the wildlife team began a project to install two pollinator gardens and a rain garden on-site, totaling about 520 square feet. Its goal is to provide suitable habitat that will enhance the diversity of pollinator species on-site while also providing a water source through natural drainage to the rain garden. The rain garden will also help control stormwater runoff, thus enhancing the quality of water downstream. Native plants for the gardens were purchased from a local farm, and include black-eyed Susan, scarlet bee balm and butterfly milkweed. The team monitors and weeds the gardens as needed and, in the future, will consider adding bee and butterfly boxes.

Greater Wenatchee Regional Landfill and Recycling Center, Wenatchee, Washington

Wildlife at Work certified since 2010
Acres managed for wildlife: 30

The Greater Wenatchee Regional Landfill and Recycling Center is located in a rural area of Washington about 95 miles east of Seattle. Historically, the land has been used for agriculture (primarily fruit production), although landfill operations have been ongoing here since 1962. Our 280-acre property is currently surrounded by cherry and apple orchards, although some industrial development has been occurring and we are situated within projected urban growth boundaries. Wildlife habitat activities at the site are focused on 140 acres that are not involved in active landfill operations.

The primary habitat is classified as shrub-steppe, which in this region is an endangered ecosystem due in part to human land use and conversion. With access to local, regional and national resources and a strong environmental commitment, Waste Management is uniquely positioned to make a significant environmental contribution by preserving and expanding eastern Washington’s shrub-steppe ecosystem.

The facility’s wildlife team is working to expand biodiversity and improve habitat quality while educating the local community on vital environmental principles. As a result of the property’s location within the “rain shadow” of the Cascade Mountains, water is an especially important resource, and the team has added two water guzzlers to support mule deer and native birds. We are also combating invasive species, using a biological control method (the lesser knapweed flower weevil) to manage knapweed and experimenting with various methods to manage the starling population, including the installation of nest boxes for American kestrels. Also in progress are plans to rehabilitate a 4.7-acre section of the property that was formerly an orchard, and is currently considered unsuitable for optimal use by wildlife.

GROWS/Tullytown Landfills - Warner Properties, Morrisville, Pennsylvania

Wildlife at Work certified since 2001
Corporate Lands for Learning certified since 2001
Acres managed for wildlife: 4,100

The GROWS/Tullytown complex is a 6,000-acre site with a long history of human use for a variety of commercial, industrial and agricultural purposes. It is located in an industrial area, partially in Falls Township and partially in the Tullytown Borough. Wildlife habitat enhancement and protection have been a primary focus at the facility since Waste Management aquired the site in 1984. The Wildlife at Work program involves more than 100 employees managing about 4,100 acres for wildlife, including wetlands, freshwater lakes, woodland and grassland habitats.

The landfill continues to expand its habitat program and community partnerships. Through the Wildlife at Work program, projects are developed to cover a wide range of habitat needs. For example, the wildlife team worked with two Eagle Scouts to design, construct, launch and monitor six basking platforms for the red-bellied turtle, which is a threatened species in Pennsylvania.

The wildlife team also partners with the Bucks County Audubon Society to manage habitat for grassland birds. (The Society has identified 250 species of birds on the landfill site).  In the summer of 2008, a pair of Pennsylvania state threatened dickcissel (a stocky, sparrow-sized bird) was observed on the landfill cap. The cap was seeded with native grasses and is typically mowed on a regular basis to prevent tap roots from damaging the landfill cover. The wildlife team decided to delay mowing on a portion of the landfill cap to ensure that dickcissels and other grassland birds would have adequate nesting habitat. 

Invasive species control is also a priority of the wildlife team. Partnering with the U.S. Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service and the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, the wildlife team released purple loosestrife beetles as an alternative to using herbicides. This biocontrol method has been a success thus far, with the beetles predating a significant density of purple loosestrife plants within the 4.8 acre wetland.

GROWS/Tullytown also partners with schools in the Pennsbury School District. The philosophy behind the facility's Corporate Lands for Learning (CLL) program is that “environmental awareness extends beyond the walls of the classroom.” The facility has offered Pennsbury students a “classroom in the community” to study the basics of ecology, land use, air and water quality for more than a decade.

Waste Management employees worked with the Village Park Elementary School and community members, including the Audubon Society, to develop an outdoor classroom at Village Park. The Pennsbury Center for Student Learning and the North Penn Alternative School use the wildlife habitat to provide environmental education for students in a non-traditional learning environment. The Oxford Elementary School studied a program titled, “Habitats and Environments” concerning native species of plants and animals

Guadalupe Rubbish Disposal Company (GRDC), San Jose, California

Wildlife at Work certified since 2009
Acres managed for wildlife: 210

The Guadalupe Rubbish Disposal Company (GRDC) is located on the west side of San Jose, California, in the foothills of the Santa Cruz Mountains. About half of the 411-acre site remains in natural habitat, including oak woodland, grassland, chaparral and riparian areas along Guadalupe Creek.

The current focus of the GRDC’s wildlife enhancement activities is the Guadalupe Creek corridor. This corridor is the site of the U-frame channel fish passage, which is being modified to enhance habitat for steelhead trout and Chinook salmon migration. The steelhead trout in the area are listed as federally threatened, and the particular population of Chinook is listed as a Species of Special Concern by California and as a Species of Concern by the federal government. GRDC worked with the Santa Clara Valley Water District to design, install and monitor the revised U-frame channel. The site also worked in conjunction with NOAA’s National Marine Fisheries Service, the Army Corps of Engineers, the California Department of Fish and Game, and the state Regional Water Quality Control Board on the project.

In 2009, the Bay Area Puma Project (BAPP) approached GRDC to assist with research efforts. The project is the first major study on this top predator in the Bay Area. The study will provide essential information to researchers working to conserve native pumas. Several pumas have been fitted with GPS-accelerometer collars to supply biological information about their daily behavior. GRDC has installed a camera to monitor pumas and their kill on the landfill. 

The GRDC wildlife team has a broad range of future projects planned. These include plans to stabilize and restore the creek banks with native riparian vegetation and create an interpretive trail along the length of the creek. Restoring oak woodlands on-site, improving stormwater basins to enhance habitat for the California red-legged frog and the foothill yellow-legged frog, identifying and managing invasive species, and installing a native pollinator garden will provide both habitat value and educational opportunities for the community.

Harlem River Yard Transfer Station, Bronx, New York

Wildlife at Work certified since 2010
Acres managed for wildlife: 0.32

Originally developed in 1887, the approximately 14-acre Harlem River Yard is located on former salt marsh habitat along the Harlem River. Wetland vegetation includes eastern cottonwood, willow oak, black oak and Canada goldenrod. There is an urgent need for green space in the community, as most of the surrounding areas are heavily industrialized and lack public access to the riverfront. Waste Management promotes environmental awareness in the neighborhood through the annual South Bronx Get Green festival.

The wildlife team’s inaugural project is a 0.3-acre pollinator garden. A variety of native wildflowers and trees were selected for their high value to wildlife, including serviceberry, elderberry and eastern red cedar. Community partners such as Sustainable South Bronx, Friends of Brook Park and the Council for the Environment of New York City, assisted in this effort. Additionally, more than 80 volunteers from the Boston Consulting Group helped with weed removal and planting activities. Japanese knotweed, tree of heaven, and phragmites are invasive species that the wildlife team has targeted for removal.

Hickory Hill Landfill and Recycling Center, Ridgeland, South Carolina

Wildlife at Work certified since 2008
Corporate Lands for Learning certified since 2009
Acres managed for wildlife: 110

The Hickory Hill Landfill and Recycling Center wildlife team manages approximately 110 acres of the 420-acre property for wildlife habitat. The managed habitat on the site consists of grasslands and wetlands, and an additional 32 acres of forested uplands are available to wildlife but are not actively managed. Employees at the site work closely with members of the LowCountry Institute, a local organization that educates the community on the value of the unique environments of the Low Country region, as well as with local residents to maintain the wildlife habitat on the site.

The wildlife team’s main project is monitoring and maintaining the 21 wood duck nest boxes that are located throughout the wetland. Volunteers from nearby Spring Island clean the nest boxes annually. During the breeding season, the volunteers monitor the eggs and fledglings found in the nest boxes, and report their findings to Cornell University’s NestWatch program. The wood duck boxes have been very successful; almost 400 wood ducks hatched in the boxes between 2008 and 2009.

Other projects occurring in the wetland habitat on the site include a partnership with the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources to provide new homes for alligators that are causing human-wildlife conflicts and need to be relocated. Dr. Chris Marsh, Executive Director of the LowCountry Institute, and local volunteers work to collect seeds from the rare fevertree found on the site, and plan to propagate this plant in the future to increase its numbers. The wildlife team also maintains the wetland by cleaning up any trash found there monthly, leaving a buffer around the wetland unmowed, and maintaining a speed limit on the road adjacent to the wetlands to decrease the impacts of traffic on wildlife.

The wildlife team also manages grassland habitat and ensures its availability to nesting grassland birds by not mowing the area during the nesting season. The wildlife team plans to further improve this habitat by implementing a rotational mowing regime in the future, so that both one and two year-old grassland habitat will be available to wildlife.

The Corporate Lands for Learning (CLL) program at the Hickory Hill Landfill is strongly tied to on-site habitat, with activities developed and correlated with South Carolina’s state education standards.
Tours of the site use a well-defined trail area with signage that allows the audience to pace themselves while learning about the local flora and fauna. The South Carolina Low Country habitat that the site is composed of is home to grasslands and wetlands. These areas attract a great number of migratory birds and wood ducks, which the wildlife team specifically manages with artificial nesting habitat. Tours and activities on “the hill” provide area audiences opportunities to see uncommon birds for the geographical area, as well as learn about migration and bird ecology. Wood duck life cycles and reproduction are also taught on the tour.

Due to the wetland area, also specific to the Low Country, audiences are provided with the chance to learn about freshwater wetlands, the intricacies of the water cycle and the creatures that depend on this type of habitat. Live animal presentations highlight native animals of the area. In conjunction with this lesson, students try out identification and monitoring techniques and data collection tips. The wood duck habitat on-site is also highlighted this way. The audience learns about the species, how to monitor and how to manage for it.

The site is very successful in integrating the workings of the landfill into audience presentations. In addition to the extensive habitat areas, the landfill is also a working facility, and this important and interesting fact is demonstrated to audiences during several activities. A tour focusing on the landfill is augmented by tours of the habitat that mention the operations, as well as activities and lessons that illustrate the need to recycle. This provides students and tour groups with opportunities to learn about waste reduction, the recycling process, and environmental stewardship.

High Acres Landfill and Recycling Center, Fairport, New York

Wildlife at Work certified since 2006
Corporate Lands for Learning certified since 2010
Acres managed for wildlife:  440

The High Acres Landfill and Recycling Center is a 908-acre facility located in Monroe and Wayne Counties in New York. In addition to the active and closed landfill areas, the property is composed of a variety of habitat types, including forested wetlands, hardwood forests, fallow farm fields and former pastures, floodplain forests and emergent marsh. Approximately 440 acres of the site, known as the High Acres Nature Area (HANA), are managed for wildlife habitat enhancement projects.

A recent habitat enhancement occurring on the High Acres property is a sanctuary for pollinators. The seven-acre pollinator project includes the establishment of two wildflower meadows, two formal pollinator gardens, grassy verge, woodland edges and pond margins. Volunteers and team members meticulously selected plant species that would provide food and cover habitat for a variety of pollinating species.

Eighteen wetland areas are delineated on the site, with many other vernal pools and undocumented wetlands scattered throughout the property, making High Acres an important habitat for amphibians, reptiles and countless numbers of local and migratory bird species. Since 2003, volunteers at the site have participated in an amphibian monitoring project following a protocol developed for the Marsh Monitoring Program of Bird Studies Canada (BSC). Surveys are conducted three times during the spring and summer months, and the data are submitted to BSC for inclusion in the Great Lakes Marsh Monitoring Program. The program is sponsored by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Environment Canada. The wildlife team also conducts butterfly census surveys, and submits the data to the Rochester Butterfly Club.

Grassland meadows, including those on the landfill cap, are under a biannual mowing schedule to improve habitat for grassland-nesting birds. Mowing is performed late in the growing season so as not to interfere with the breeding season of grassland birds that nest on the ground. Surveys performed in collaboration with the New York Department of Environmental Conservation’s Atlas 2002 Breeding Bird Survey confirmed breeding of several species of special concern, including the vesper sparrow, bobolink and grasshopper sparrow. Nest boxes placed on the landfill also attract breeding pairs of American kestrel. In 2000, 15 nest boxes were placed around the site targeting various bird species.

In 2009, four bat boxes were built as an Eagle Scout project. The boxes were placed in locations that were next to water, as suggested by Bat Conservation International. The wildlife team is sharing data with agencies tracking white nose syndrome, a disease that is devastating bat populations in New York State.

The facility is also testing the viability of planting spruce trees and shrubs on the landfill cap to promote greater diversity. The property maintains more than four miles of hiking trails, called the Trails at High Acres, which pass through seven different plant communities. The trails offer the community ample recreational opportunities and include a strong environmental education focus. Plans for expansion and improvement of the trail system are continuously being developed with the help of local partnerships.

Partnerships with local organizations and community members have become an integral component of the habitat programs underway at the High Acres Landfill and Recycling Center. Committed volunteers have worked diligently to enhance habitat for birds and pollinators on the property, while monitoring and recording their populations. Volunteers monitoring populations of birds and pollinators on the site have been initiating studies and submitting data to various organizations, including the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Bird Studies Canada, and the New York Water Environment Association.

The High Acres Landfill and Recycling Center’s Corporate Lands for Learning (CLL) program, which achieved certification in 2010, highlights the site’s diversity of habitats and wildlife in order to teach adults and children about ecological concepts and resource conservation. The program includes hands-on and structured activities that foster experiential learning.

Employee volunteers have acted as mentors for Eagle Scout projects and hosted scouting days during which Boy Scouts may pursue the “Don’t Trash Our Future” patch and Girl Scouts can participate in “Try-Its” associated with the pollinator habitat. The High Acres Landfill and Recycling Center team also works closely with the local Venturing chapter and the Seneca Waterways Council to organize events for hands-on educational experiences. School students tour the landfill to learn about site operations and the team’s efforts to create and maintain new wildlife habitat.

Key goals of the CLL program are to increase employees’ knowledge and promote volunteering in the community. The team holds employee “lunch‘n’learn” sessions and, to encourage employees to build up their wildlife observation skills, established a library of field guides and a wildlife observation reporting system. To extend the CLL program beyond the site’s borders, the team offers outreach presentations for area garden clubs, nursing homes and other groups interested in learning more about topics such as gardening for wildlife and supporting biodiversity through land management.

Hillsboro Landfill, Hillsboro, Oregon

Wildlife at Work certified since 2003
Acres managed for wildlife: 125

The Hillsboro Landfill is a construction and demolition waste landfill on an approximately 420-acre site in rural Washington County, Oregon. The landfill began operation in 1962, and was purchased by Waste Management in 1993. Throughout this period, the facility's staff has established a history of environmental stewardship while partnering with local environmental organizations and becoming involved in community service and education. Seven of the fifteen permanent staff members actively participate in these ongoing projects.

The centerpiece of the landfill's wildlife habitat program is a large wetland restoration project that was initiated in response to state and federal permitting requirements associated with various landfill expansion projects. This ongoing project will eventually result in the conversion of more than 125 acres of farmed Taulatin River floodplain into riparian wetlands. Waste Management began the first phase of its three-phase wetland restoration plan in 1989, and is currently moving into the final phase of the restoration, having completed approximately 60 acres as of 2002.

The staff also manages a number of ponds and natural areas adjacent to the landfill that provide valuable habitat just outside the Taulatin River floodplain, including a complex of three large ponds and a mature forest stand supporting a large heron rookery. In addition, several of the existing buffer corridors of vegetation that separate landfill facilities from adjacent properties provide additional habitat for local wildlife, particularly neo-tropical migratory birds.

Besides conducting five to ten tours on-site annually, the facility and its employees actively support the adjacent Jackson Bottom Wetland Preserve. Landfill staff members have served on the Jackson Bottom steering committee for several years, and since the 1980's the landfill has helped with the master planning efforts at the preserve, lending equipment, providing personnel for project tours or donating funding for restoration efforts.

Hoot Landfill, Fouke, AR 

Wildlife at Work certified since 2009
Acres managed for wildlife: 215

The Hoot Landfill is a 215-acre closed landfill located in southwestern Arkansas near the Texas-Arkansas border. The dedicated eight-member wildlife team consists of both Waste Management employees and volunteers from local community organizations such as the Sulphur River Waterfowl Association, Boy Scout Troop 85, the Fouke Independent School District, and Arkansas Game and Fish. The team actively manages all 215 acres of the property for wildlife.

The Sulphur River Waterfowl Association manages the site in cooperation with WM with the goal of enhancing habitat for bird species. The team maintains artificial nesting structures for songbirds and waterfowl, including ten nest boxes for Eastern bluebirds, 32 nest boxes for wood ducks, and more than 35 nesting tubes for Canada geese. In 2010, an additional 20 raptor perches were installed on-site (for a total of 25 perches) in order to enhance habitat for birds of prey.

The team also conducts rotational mowing on the landfill to enhance cover resources for raptor prey species and other animals. On the capped landfill and around each of the site’s ponds and wetlands, the team maintains food plots for game species such as white-tailed deer, ducks and geese. The food plots, first established in 2005 by Sulphur River Waterfowl Association personnel, were planted to offset the impact that site operations might have on the site’s wildlife species.

The wildlife team hopes to add additional projects to its habitat management goals, such as planting a pollinator garden by the lake and conducting a controlled burn on-site with the help of Arkansas Game and Fish.

The Corporate Lands for Learning (CLL) program at Hoot Landfill was newly certified in 2011. The Education Advisory Committee (EAC) is composed of volunteers from Waste Management and representatives from the Sulphur River Waterfowl Association, school district, Arkansas Game and Fish and the Boy Scouts.

The EAC works with Fouke Independent School District and Texarkana School District. For the past five years, an annual three-day event called Outdoor School has worked with sixth-graders to involve the students in science, investigation and other disciplines. Students rotate through ten stations, including botany (plant identification), bird identification, a creek study (including macroinvertebrate sampling techniques), and nature sounds. These lessons correlate with the classroom curriculum, and teachers frequently perform follow-up activities, including essay writing about what the students learned on-site. Approximately100 students attend this fun program each year.

 Another program that the EAC is committed to is providing internships for alternative education high school students. About 20 students work monthly at the site supporting events and doing infrastructure work (such as facilitating the outdoor school, preparing for the fishing derby, and rehabilitating the classroom). These activities are followed by class discussions and essay writing at school. For the past five years, this program has helped many students who otherwise would be in danger of dropping out of high school. To date, 16 students have received their diplomas thanks to this internship program.

The CLL program also began a new partnership with a Texarkana inner-city youth group. About 50 students aged from five to 18 are given the chance to experience nature through wildlife observations. Many of these students live in extremely urban environments and have not seen natural areas like the habitat at Hoot Landfill.

The EAC also works to help Boy and Girl Scouts earn their badges. In the spring of 2010, Boy Scouts built infrastructure (fire rings, handicap ramp) around the site and constructed and installed nest boxes to be used for the program’s habitat projects. Girl Scouts visited three times during the springs of 2010 and 2011 to do nature observation, species identification, a creek study and safety exercises.

The CLL program hosts annual events for the community as well. The fishing derby allows children to participate in competitive fishing events and learn how to identify each species of fish. The program also hosts a youth deer hunt, including discussions of wildlife population dynamics and hunting ethics. Participants learn about the biology and ecology of each game species too.

In the future, the EAC has plans to complete the nature trail and develop programming for it. Also, the EAC plans to host more overnight programming for scouts.

Kahle Landfill, Owensville, Missouri 

Wildlife at Work certified since 2009
Acres managed for wildlife: 24

The Kahle Landfill is a closed municipal waste landfill. The property consists of 166 acres located in Gasconade County, about 80 miles west of St. Louis. The site is located in the northern Ozark Highlands, near the junction of two broad ecosystem types, Eastern broadleaf forest and savannah. Fifty acres of the property are actively managed for wildlife habitat.

The wildlife team consists of one employee at the site who works with Pigg Hollow Farms and a representative from the Missouri Department of Conservation and Quail Forever to enhance wildlife habitat. The team’s efforts to restore grasslands to native conditions and control invasive species began in the spring of 2009. The wildlife team sprayed and conducted a prescribed burn to eradicate lespedeza to improve existing habitat for grassland birds. Since then, native species have re-grown. The team continues to monitor and evaluate treated areas for regrowth of invasive plants. The team also implemented a project to enhance grasslands and ponds for wildlife by creating brush piles and basking areas.

King George County Landfill, Fredericksburg, Virginia 

Wildlife at Work certified since 2009
Acres managed for wildlife: 200

The 685-acre King George County Landfill is located in a predominantly agricultural and residential area west of Fredericksburg, Virginia. Approximately 200 acres are actively maintained for wildlife, including grasslands, wetlands and ponds. Thirteen employees are involved in habitat enhancement projects on-site.

The landfill is a pollinator-friendly site with a variety of habitat opportunities. A wildflower meadow was planted with native grasses and wildflowers above the capped landfill to create habitat for a diversity of species. The meadow is frequently monitored by employees for evidence of wildlife. Two pollinator gardens provide bees, hummingbirds and butterflies with habitat. In addition, four new bee hives and queen bees were added to the site in 2011, further supporting the local pollinator population.

Brush piles have been created throughout the site. Brush piles provide habitat for smaller animals, which in turn are a source of prey for larger animals such as the frequently spotted bald eagles. The team has recently added dirt mounds around the brush piles to allow for easier monitoring of wildlife. Basking logs were added to the ponds on the site to provide the opportunity for turtles to bask in the sun. Waterfowl and other wildlife also use the logs for perching. In 2009, duck and bat boxes were installed at the site to enhance habitat for these species.

The King George County Landfill wildlife team is dedicated to working with the local community and providing educational opportunities. The team has collaborated with the local elementary school, Sealston Elementary. The school takes field trips to the site to learn about wildlife and recycling. There are future plans to work with local Boy Scout troops to erect bird boxes and raptor perches. The site has partnered with the local Audubon Society in an annual Christmas Bird Count to monitor the number of bald eagles and other birds found on the site.

Kirby Canyon Recycling & Disposal Facility, Morgan Hill, California

Wildlife at Work certified since 2002
Acres managed for wildlife: 600

The wildlife team at Kirby Canyon Recycling & Disposal Facility is committed to providing solid waste management services while proactively protecting and enhancing the serpentine soil grasslands and populations of endangered and threatened species present on-site. The property encompasses approximately 827 acres, with 255 acres devoted solely to habitat enhancement projects and scientific study. The ecosystem is one of the San Francisco Bay area's few remaining serpentine soil grasslands that support the federally listed bay checker-spot butterfly and rare plants such as jewel-flower. The site also supports the threatened California red-legged frog.

The Kirby Canyon Landfill Conservation Trust funds and oversees activities related to conservation of the bay checker-spot butterfly. The wildlife team fenced off 250 acres of prime butterfly habitat and placed grazing restrictions on the area to protect the plant community on which the butterfly depends for food, protection and reproduction. The team also initiated studies and experiments into methods to restore the final landfill slopes to serpentine grassland habitat. Employees began work on a Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP) for the entire site with assistance from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Completion of the HCP and accompanying Implementation Agreement will further commit employees to protecting the endangered and threatened species on site.

The team collaborates with a number of organizations, including the California Native Plant Society, Santa Clara Valley Audubon Society, Stanford University and Western Washington University. Local experts and university students help the team monitor habitats and conduct studies to test whether enhancement programs benefit their targeted species. The wildlife team and its partners annually monitor the bay checker-spot butterfly population, take inventories of plant species in the serpentine grassland, and study the effects of grazing and nutrient-cycling in the grassland. The team also monitors the California red-legged frog population, which uses a constructed wetland area on the site. Vegetation introduced to this area provides cover and egg attachment sites for frogs. Future plans include installation of an additional wetland area to provide habitat for rare plants and animals, as well as continuation of monitoring activities for the rare species that inhabit the site.

The facility's program was cited by the Wildlife Habitat Council as Rookie of the Year in 2002.

Lake County Recycling and Disposal Facility, Chesterland, Ohio

Wildlife at Work certified since 2009
Acres managed for wildlife: 195

The Lake County RDF was an active landfill used for municipal and commercial waste from 1927 until 1993, when it was closed with a state of the art vegetated cap. The site covers 195 acres, all of which are devoted to enhancing wildlife habitat, increasing biodiversity and providing educational opportunities via partnerships with the Gates Mill Environmental Center and the Geauga Park District. The site has 106 acres of meadows, 86 acres of forest and a one-acre wetland. More than 11,000 feet of watercourses are present on-site, including five tributaries of Caves Creek and Caves Creek itself, which flows into the Chagrin River. The site is ideal for wildlife to flourish, creating excellent opportunities to observe deer, bobolinks, bluebirds, white-breasted nuthatches, green frogs, eastern newts, white-tailed deer and beavers.

The wildlife team is dedicated to building native habitat and enhancing the existing one. In May of 2009, the team sent soil samples to Penn State University for analysis before planting 135 native trees and shrubs, including American witch hazel, black chokeberry, cranberry bushes and gray dogwoods, in the “bowl” area of the site in an effort to create a transitional area that will further enhance biodiversity. Since 2008, the Lake County wildlife team has been actively managing the site for invasive phragmites and teasel.

In the summer of 2008, the team began a rotational mowing program on the site’s vegetated cap. The grassland was divided into three strips, with each strip being mowed once every three years to encourage growth. Also, the team decided to perform this mowing after the bobolink’s breeding and nesting season because of this species’ “concerned” status in Ohio. Twenty bluebird nest boxes were erected in the summer of 2011. Thus far, 18 of the nests have been occupied.

In 2009, the team constructed brush piles on the site’s forest-meadow edge, as well as snags on which birds of prey can perch. It has since observed chipmunks, meadow mice, black snakes and great horned owls using the brush piles for shelter and hunting. In the future, the wildlife team would like to establish bat boxes and add bee poles to its pollinator meadow.

Lake View Landfill, Erie, Pennsylvania

Wildlife at Work certified since 2008
Corporate Lands for Learning certified since 2008
Acres managed for wildlife: 68

The Lake View Landfill covers 526 acres near the shore of Lake Erie. The wildlife team was joined by consultants from Beran Environmental Services, Inc. and volunteers from a number of community organizations, including the Collegiate Academy, Presque Isle Audubon Society and Lake Erie-Allegheny Earth Force, to help create a Habitat Management Area (HMA) south of the active landfill.

The HMA consists of 68 acres of created marshy emergent wetlands, woodlots and grasslands with established shrub communities. In addition, more than a mile of reconstructed stream channel runs through the HMA. Waste Management exceeded mitigation requirements by restoring a greater wetland area and more linear feet of stream than required, and by planting the HMA with 250 species of native upland and wetland plants. The site serves as a model for wetland mitigation, and state agencies conduct mitigation field trainings on-site.

The wildlife team installed two wood duck boxes by the wetland in 2005, and one of them was used by wood ducks the following year. In the fall of 2007, student volunteers helped the wildlife team build and install eight bluebird nest boxes; volunteers from another school installed 12 more in the spring of 2008 and marked their locations with a GPS unit.

Invasive purple loosestrife and common reed were identified in the wetlands. The wildlife team chemically treated these plants to stop their spread and maintain the wetlands' high plant diversity. These areas will be monitored closely for any re-growth of the invasive species.

One main goal of the program includes educating the community on responsible waste disposal practices through recycling and "green energy" programs. In addition, the site looks to educate the community on different habitats on-site and how they allow for a diversity of species. Since 2007, the facility has engaged more than 1,000 visitors in its programs, including students, scouts, universities, resource professionals, and government agencies.

Curricula introduced during Lake View’s  programs use components of the habitat. Participants learn characteristics and the importance of wetlands, wetland design and construction, stream ecology, human demands on the environment in relation to resource protection, green initiatives, and sustainable practices. In addition, groups have learned about artificial nest structures, their significance and design. Following the presentation, participants assisted in site selection, installation and GPS mapping of these nesting structures.

Several colleges and universities have taken advantage of this outdoor learning laboratory as well. Students from Mercyhurst and Allegheny College, Penn State University, and Edinboro University have visited the site to explore waste disposal, methane collection, wetland ecology and geology.  In addition, the Benedictine Sisters of Erie (Margarita Dangal, Pat Lup, Annette Marshall) were named Community Partner of the Year in 2010, in cooperation with Lake View Landfill.

Liberty Landfill, Monticello, Indiana

Wildlife at Work certified since 2008
Corporate Lands for Learning certified since 2008
Acres managed for wildlife:  138

Liberty Landfill is a municipal solid waste landfill located in northern Indiana. The site spans 480 acres, 138 of which are devoted to wildlife habitat. The area includes ponds, a wetland, a wooded area, and a prairie environment. The site's six-person wildlife team began its habitat enhancement program in 1993 by simply allowing the site's fields to grow instead of keeping them mowed. Since then, the program has expanded to include extensive annual plantings, strong relationships with local conservation organizations, and community outreach efforts.

The work of Liberty Landfill's wildlife team benefits a broad range of species. The team works to improve habitat for the local wild turkey population; turkey habitat includes brush piles, a dusting area, managed snags and food plots. The team also enhanced the site for pollinators by planting wildflowers, and created a nesting habitat for ducks by installing duck boxes and planting winter wheat, going above and beyond the requirements of its compensatory wetland work.

In addition, the wildlife team recognizes the need to build strong relationships with conservation organizations and local groups. The team has partnered with local Boy Scouts, Ducks Unlimited, Pheasants Forever and other groups to create a habitat program whose impact extends beyond the landfill and into the community.  

The site's Corporate Lands for Learning program uses the fields, forests and wetlands at the site as an outdoor classroom to teach wildlife conservation, habitat management, hunter safety courses and hunting as a tool for land management. 

Partnering with the Nature Conservancy, Sportsmen Acting for the Environment, the Boy Scouts, the National Shooting Sports Federation and Pheasants Forever, Liberty Landfill exposes youth and adults to exemplary wildlife habitat management practices as well as hunter safety education.  the facility has also helped to complete extensive development and habitata projects at Camp Buffalo, a Boy Scout camp adjacent to the faility.

Live Oak Landfill, Conley, Georgia

Wildlife at Work certified since 2010
Acres managed for wildlife: 184

Located in Conley, Georgia, the Live Oak landfill became the first synthetically lined landfill site in Georgia. Since the landfill’s closure in 2008, a wildlife team has emerged to help restore, protect and enhance the biological diversity of native wildlife and vegetation on the property. The site consists of 412 acres, 184 of which are now managed for wildlife. Located near the Atlanta metropolitan area, one of the country’s fastest-growing regions, the landfill provides much-needed habitat for native species.

In February 2009, wildlife team members, with assistance from outside technical experts, met to develop a seeding plan for the landfill. Two plans were developed—a wildflower plan and a native warm-season perennial grass plan. In the spring of 2009, 40 acres of the landfill were seeded with a mixture of big bluestem, little bluestem, switchgrass and Indian grass. The meadow is maintained on a rotational mowing schedule to maximize its use by native species.

In the spring of 2010, the team initiated an integrated avian management plan to include the installation of a purple martin house and 15 cedar bird houses. The team regularly monitors these structures. Future plans include the placement of two additional purple martin houses.

The site houses three ponds, two of which were enhanced by the installation of basking logs. The logs provide habitat for aquatic life such as turtles and bird species. The wildlife team plans to further improve the ponds by establishing rock piles, installing wood duck boxes and stocking with native fish species.

Lockwood Regional Landfill, Sparks, Nevada

Wildlife at Work certified since 2010
Acres managed for wildlife: 10

Lockwood Regional Landfill is located in Storey County, near the Truckee River in western Nevada, and has roughly 1,500 acres of available wildlife habitat. Within this acreage, the predominant habitat type is high desert, a type that can form in areas receiving less than eight inches of rain per year. Vegetation throughout the site is dominated by sagebrush species, with a few interspersed areas of singleleaf pinyon pine.

The main goal of the facility’s wildlife team is to enhance the environment for the benefit of endemic species and educate the surrounding communities about the native species in the region. To achieve this goal, the wildlife team built three raptor perches, each with its own brush pile. This enhanced habitat for raptors by providing shelter for prey species and a platform from which the raptors can hunt. While the wildlife team is exploring community partnerships, its members are also formalizing plans to construct a path and an educational kiosk to provide visitors and volunteers a user-friendly trail through the high desert as well as information about the wildlife habitat projects being managed on the property.

Magog Landfill, Magog, Quebec

Wildlife at Work certified since 2006
Acres managed for wildlife: 13

The Magog Landfill is located in the Eastern Townships of Quebec, a popular outdoor tourist destination approximately 120 kilometers southeast of Montreal. Forested areas are the major natural component at the Magog Landfill. Part of the property is occupied by balsam fir and red maple stands, while other areas are dominated by early successional species such as red maple, pin cherry and quaking aspen. The northern part of the property is characterized by older stands of yellow and grey birch, beech and eastern hemlock. An intermittent stream is also found on-site and leads to the Beaver Pond which covers one acre.

The Magog wildlife team initiated its wildlife habitat enhancement program by starting a beaver habitat restoration project. Considering the unique location of the site, implementing a project that would benefit a wildlife species emblematic of the Canadian environment was seen as a great opportunity. The project benefits the health of the aquatic ecosystem as well as other species known to frequent the property. More specifically, the site shows a strong use of the resources on site by white-tailed deer, and a moose has been spotted several times by employees. Tracts of forested landscape also provide valuable bird habitat on-site.

Maplewood Recycling and Waste Disposal Facility, Jetersville, Virginia

Wildlife at Work certified since 2008
Corporate Lands for Learning certified since 2009
Acres managed for wildlife: 20

The Maplewood Recycling and Waste Disposal Facility lies in a rural area of central Virginia, covering just under 800 acres. Approximately 400 acres are available for wildlife. Four of the 15 employees participate in the habitat enhancement program, in addition to two Amelia County employees with on-site offices. The wildlife team is committed to providing sustainable wildlife habitat enhancement for wildlife diversity, recreational opportunities for the community, and environmental education opportunities for students.

In 1994, mitigation required the construction of a 5.2-acre wetland. The management at Maplewood went above and beyond requirements by creating a total of 10 acres of wetland. Employees also collect discarded Christmas trees from county residents every year. The trees are taken to a wildlife management area and placed in lakes for additional habitat structure.

With the assistance of Amelia County solid waste inspectors, the wildlife team performs stream quality surveys. The annual surveys monitor the wetlands for macroinvertebrates such as dragonfly and beetle larvae. The macroinvertebrate counts are used to calculate an ecological condition rating.

White-tailed deer populations are managed through the use of hunting, habitat management and food plots as necessary. Each spring the site uses rotational mowing of the grassy area to create a variety of habitat areas while minimizing undesired woody species. A pollinator garden was planted near the administrative office that includes rosemary, purple coneflower, goldenrod and coreopsis.

Maplewood Recycling and Waste Disposal Facility initiated a Corporate Lands for Learning program in 2009, seeking to provide students and the community opportunities for hands-on learning activities. These programs aim to enhance the public’s knowledge of wildlife, habitat, landfill operations and environmentally responsible management practices. Actively involved in the Virginia Save Our Streams program, Maplewood employees recently used their knowledge and expertise to benefit visiting students, providing them with a chance to observe and identify macroinvertebrate species collected from an on-site stream. Students also learn about stream ecology and characteristics of healthy stream habitat during their lessons. This provides an opportunity for the education team to incorporate its wildlife habitat projects into a curriculum that correlates with the Virginia Standards of Learning. 

The education team also incorporates community events as opportunities for educating the public. The team began the “Tire Amnesty Project,” partnering with Amelia County, to collect used tires and batteries and dispose of them properly. Because of its success, the team is considering making this an ongoing, rather than annual, event. “Spring into Green” is another event that involves tree planting and a T-shirt contest to raise community awareness about environmental issues. The “Outdoor Adventure Club,” which consists of Boy and Girls Scouts and 4-H members, decorated bat boxes in 2010, which were placed around the site.

In March of 2009, the site wildlife team constructed two honeybee hives that are used as a teaching tool for student visitors and employees. Visiting groups get a first-hand look at how a honeybee hive works and learn about the significance of honeybees as pollinators. In addition, participants receive a fact sheet detailing the role of each type of honeybee, such as queens, drones and workers, as well as the synthesis of honey.

In addition to employee and local school education opportunities, Maplewood includes university studies in its program. In 2009, North Carolina State University students began a 10-year research project on biodegradation. The purpose of the project is to compare the benefits of leachate recirculation in conjunction with a limited bioreactor mode of operation with traditional landfilling practices without leachate recirculation.

The education team continues to expand its program in the hopes of improving its education initiatives and raising awareness about environmental issues and conservation.

Meadowfill Landfill, Bridgeport, West Virginia

Wildlife at Work certified since 2010
Acres managed for wildlife: 318

The Meadowfill Landfill is situated on 340 acres in Clarksburg, Harrison County, in north central West Virginia. The area was strip-mined in the past and currently contains a landfill permitted for municipal waste disposal. The property contains 16 acres of forest, 60 acres of fields, three sediment ponds and a stream.

The wildlife team has implemented a variety of projects on-site, including wildflower plantings, stream rehabilitation, bluebird boxes, raptor perches and grassland management. A stream on-site receives acid drainage from the closed coal mine and heavy bank erosion from flash storms. The team partnered with the local Salem School, MSES consultants, Mountain State University and WHC to plan and carry out a planting event along the stream. Bluebird boxes were built by local Boy Scout troops and have been installed around the property. Native flowers were planted near the facility’s entrance to beautify the property and provide a nectar source for native pollinators. The team is currently awaiting approval from the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection to convert the grasses on the inactive, capped portion of the landfill to native warm-season grasses. This will provide a native food source for wildlife, cover for birds and small mammals, and a vital source of a rare native habitat for the area.

Menominee Landfill, Menominee, Michigan

Wildlife at Work certified since 2009
Acres managed for wildlife 1,000

The 1,440-acre Menominee Landfill is located in a rural area, surrounded by mixed conifer swamps as well as a few homes and farms. The site contains diverse habitat types including grasslands, forests, wetlands and ponds. Approximately 1,000 acres are actively managed for wildlife, including 45 acres of freshwater wetlands.

The wetland was created in 1997, and a vegetative buffer was planted around it to filter sediments and pollutants and control erosion. Upland native plantings around the wetland provide additional habitat for a variety of wildlife. An observation deck was constructed to provide an area for educational tours to observe the wildlife. The wildlife observation area has hosted school groups, scouts, bird watchers and other local groups. The area was named the “Elmwood Wildlife Observation Area” and a nature trail was established to further improve wildlife observation opportunities. The wildlife team monitors for invasive species in the wetland area and manages the spread of invasive buckthorn and phragmites.

The Chappee Rapids Audubon Society conducted a bird survey in 2009, and identified 96 species of birds on-site. The wildlife team installed songbird and wood duck nest boxes in 2009 to enhance existing habitat on the site for cavity-nesting bird species. Several snags were also created to provide additional habitat for cavity-nesting birds. The wildlife team monitors the nest boxes and snags to ensure that they will benefit wildlife for years to come.

In an effort to improve the fishing in the area and increase fish diversity, Menominee Landfill allows the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (MDNR) to raise walleye in a six-acre sedimentation pond. Although MDNR suspended rearing walleye in 2007 because of concerns about spreading the viral hemorrhagic septicemia (VHS) virus, the project was resumed in limited areas in 2010. More than one million walleyes have been reared at this pond and stocked in Michigan rivers and lakes.

Mesquite Creek Wildlife Habitat Area/Mesquite Creek Landfill, New Braunfels, Texas

Wildlife at Work certified since 2010
Acres managed for wildlife: 275

The Mesquite Creek Wildlife Habitat Area (MCWHA) lies adjacent to Waste Management’s Mesquite Creek Landfill. The land had been used for cattle grazing and was slated to be a housing subdivision until Waste Management purchased the property and set aside 275 acres for wildlife habitat development. The site’s rolling hills and valleys foster diverse habitats, including grasslands, small forested areas, brushy areas and seasonal floodplains. Mesquite Creek runs into the property from the south and feeds a 26-acre man-made lake. Five small man-made ponds were once used for cattle tanks. The wildlife team includes WM employees, community volunteers and conservation partners from local schools, community and environmental groups.

As the wildlife team developed a pollinator garden, it left about 15 species of naturally occurring native plants in place. Members left native trees and shrubs to serve as established cover for the pollinator species that the project hoped to attract. The team carefully researched and developed a list of more than 70 native plant species that provide habitat for multiple life stages of bees, butterflies and hummingbirds. The majority of the species were obtained through local plant sales. Volunteers enriched the clay soil with local municipal compost, and planted the garden in May of 2009. When monitoring officially began at the end of June, pollinator species were already using the habitat.

The wildlife team began working on Domino’s Turtle Pond in January of 2009. During the planning phase, the team researched and analyzed issues such as prior land use and its impact on water quality as well as pond ecosystem functions. The pond was originally a cattle tank, but the team eradicated cattails and re-shaped the shoreline to provide shallow ledges that increase the pond’s value to various species. The team planted a diverse mix of native trees, shoreline plants and aquatic plants, and seeded various wildflowers and grasses around the pond. Basking logs and a floating island provide additional habitat. A solar-powered aeration system and cold-water microbes and enzymes were introduced to improve water quality. Team members regularly monitor the plantings for survival and the pond for wildlife use, and a volunteer conducted a turtle study of the pond.

The MCWHA Invasive Species Task Force targets non-native invasive species such as Chinese tallow, Johnson grass and Japanese honeysuckle. Volunteers were trained to walk transects across the property to survey for non-native invasive plants. They use a GIS tracking system to map the location and size of affected areas. The team will identify appropriate control methods and select native species for planting to enhance habitat for wildlife.

Education and outreach are important components of the facility’s program, and the wildlife team has numerous partners. Volunteers constructed nature trails with the help of an aspiring Eagle Scout. The team conducted multiple detailed plant inventories in partnership with the Nature Conservancy, and Comal County Birders conducted a 12-month bird inventory. The wildlife team also opened the MCWHA to RavenStar Outdoor Education for use as an outdoor classroom.

Middle Peninsula Landfill and Recycling Facility, Glenns, Virginia

Wildlife at Work certified since 2011
Acres managed for wildlife: 30

Middle Peninsula Landfill & Recycling Facility covers 592 acres, of which more than 30 acres are managed for wildlife habitat. The site’s habitat is composed of wetlands, woodlands, open grasslands and ponds.  In an effort to conserve wood duck populations, which have decreased due to hunting and wetland habitat destruction, the wildlife team installed four wood duck boxes to provide habitat. Although the team didn’t find any eggs, the boxes have already been moved to a new location near the ponds. Monitoring will continue.

Another project the wildlife team worked on is a wildflower meadow that was planted in 2009 on 25 acres of grassland to improve stabilization of the soil cover. The wildflower meadow will benefit pollinators and will also provide cover for small game birds. The meadow is monitored on a monthly basis by a team of three employees.

Middle Peninsula Landfill is involved with many local schools and Boy Scouts to promote environmental education and awareness by providing educational tours and talks on the site. It also provides funding and resources for environmental events in its community, such as Clean the Bay Day, Gloucester Clean up Day, and VIMS crab pot recycling.

Milam RDF, East St. Louis, Illinois

Wildlife at Work certified since 2009
Acres managed for wildlife: 98

The Fowles Wetland Area is a 98-acre tract preserved and enhanced to mitigate wetland impacts associated with past landfill activities at the Milam Recycling and Disposal Facility. The Wetland Area is located within Fairmont City, Illinois, approximately two miles east of St. Louis, Missouri.

Additional acreage beyond regulatory requirements was preserved within the Wetland Area to provide a larger, higher-quality habitat. A number of different species have been observed using the site, including waterfowl, shorebirds, mammals, amphibians and reptiles. Two plantings of the federally threatened decurrent false aster were conducted on the site, which is one of only approximately 30 known populations in the world. Dr. Marian Smith of Southern Illinois University – Edwardsville wrote the management plan for the plant, and a group from Lindenwood University uses the area as an outdoor classroom.

The wildlife team hopes to pursue future projects at the Fowles Wetland Area, including control of invasive cheatgrass and autumn olive, creation of upland brush piles, and a number of hydrologic enhancements, such as adding underwater brush piles, basking logs, snags, and coarse woody debris for ponds. The site also intends to manage game species such as deer and waterfowl, as well as the sensitive species that occur at the site.

Mill Seat Landfill, Bergen, New York

Wildlife at Work certified since 2004
Acres managed for wildlife: 225

Located in a rural area of Monroe County, New York, Mill Seat Landfill actively manages 225 acres of a variety of habitat types, including upland deciduous forest, succession upland shrub, deciduous swamp and shallow marshes. As part of the Wildlife at Work program, the WM wildlife team focused on bird conservation, animal rehabilitation and invasive species control.

Recognizing a need for nesting habitats, the wildlife team established a nest box program for a variety of species, including bluebirds, tree swallows and wood ducks. The program was expanded in 2008 with the installation of 30 additional bluebird nest boxes, which were constructed by students from the Churchville-Chili High School. Waste Management employees and local volunteers carefully monitor the bluebird nest boxes to ensure their continued success.

The wildlife team established a rotational mowing program to ensure that a variety of habitats are available at all times. The quality of the numerous habitats on-site is such that, through a partnership with the Black Creek Wildlife Station, rehabilitated animals are released on the site.

Lastly, the team worked to control the invasive phragmities found on the site. Controlling this invasive species allowed native plants with greater value to wildlife to become established. To support native plantings, the wildlife team established a community nursery to grow native flowers, trees and shrubs used for community greening programs.

Mobile Bay Environmental Center, Mt. Vernon, Alabama

Wildlife at Work certified since 2008
Acres managed for wildlife: 6

The Chastang Landfill/Mobile Bay Environmental Center is about 467 acres in size, with six acres currently managed for wildlife habitat, although wildlife such as deer and turkey use much of the site. The site is located north of Mobile and is largely open grassy areas and disturbed construction areas. The borders of the site are generally secondary forest. Four sedimentation ponds are located on the property, and one pond was created specifically for the benefit of wildlife.

The wildlife team has put considerable effort into creating artificial habitat to supplement the natural habitat on the site. This has included the installation of five bluebird nest boxes, four purple martin gourd condos, one purple martin nest house and two wood duck boxes. The boxes are currently maintained but a monitoring program has not been established.

The wildlife team understands the importance of aquatic habitats and wants to protect and enhance these areas on the site. The team arranged for the natural wetlands on the site to be delineated by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and then had signs installed around the wetland highlighting the area to employees and visitors. In September 2007 the wildlife team removed invasive species from the wetland perimeter area. Also, the team designed and constructed a pond on the site, taking advantage of a natural spring for the water source. The pond was created with an uneven bottom to enhance the underwater habitat. Also, two wood duck boxes were established on the edges of the pond. In July, the pond was stocked with 250 bream and 250 catfish, and the wildlife team plans to continue enhancing this resource.

The wildlife team plans to plant at least one wildflower meadow this fall and will plant a pollinator garden near the entrance. The pollinator garden will provide visitors and community members a highly visible example of Chastang Landfill’s habitat projects.

Model City Facility, Model City, New York

Wildlife at Work certified since 2007
Acres managed for wildlife: 125

Model City is a commercial hazardous waste treatment, storage and disposal facility that encompasses 750 acres. Approximately 400 acres of the site are composed of wetlands, forests and grasslands. Wildlife enhancement plans were initially designed around regulatory issues related to the landfill’s contents.

The wildlife team constructed and placed four bat boxes in the spring of 2008. The team consulted plans from the Organization for Bat Conservation prior to implementing the project. The boxes have been monitored regularly; currently, no bats are occupying the boxes, but the wildlife team intends to wait another year before relocating them.

The wildlife team researched appropriate pollinator-attracting species that would tolerate a full-sun placement and planted a pollinator garden in the spring of 2009. The team reached out to Our Lady of Peace Nursing Home in 2010 and also planted a pollinator garden there. The plan is to expand this project every year to other places in the community. The team is working with Ransomville Free Library to plant a pollinator garden at the library in 2011. The team hopes to educate the local community on the importance of pollinators.

 A wild turkey management project was started by the wildlife team in 2010. The team consulted with the Wild Turkey Federation on how to best provide additional habitat for the wild turkeys occasionally seen at the landfill. Since the creation of the project, the presence of turkeys on-site has increased.

Mountain View Reclamation, Greencastle, Pennsylvania

Wildlife at Work certified since 2007
Acres managed for wildlife: 400

The Mountain View Reclamation property covers approximately 750 acres in south central Pennsylvania, of which 400 acres are used for wildlife habitat management. Historic uses include farming, the operation of an apple orchard and shale mining. The site’s habitat is composed of wetlands, woodlands and open grasslands. In addition, ten ponds and three streams provide habitat for different types of waterfowl, amphibians and fish. Approximately 97 acres of property are restricted to Pheasants Forever; nearly 50 acres of warm-season grasses have been planted, and cool-season grasses and woodlands have been maintained to provide habitat for pheasants. 

Local scouts and Venture Crew members helped to build and install nest boxes for bluebirds, kestrels, mallards and wood ducks. Four bat roosting boxes were also constructed and installed. Employees and scouts maintain and monitor the nest boxes. Employees also placed two barn owl nest boxes following recommendations from the Pennsylvania Game Commission for this species of growing concern. Although nesting has not been successful, some bluebirds have been seen on-site and wood duck boxes are still in place. The wildlife team members also planted a quarter-acre pollinator garden and created brush piles.

In an effort to promote environmental awareness, the Mountain View Reclamation site involves students and community members in landfill tours to teach the importance of environmental protection, earth and its resources. In addition, various universities and colleges conduct environmental research projects and stream water studies on-site. The team also sponsors and participates in Earth Day events at local schools each spring by providing outdoor environmental activities for students.

Northwestern Landfill, Parkersburg, West Virginia

Wildlife at Work certified since 2009
Acres managed for wildlife 101

The Northwestern Landfill occupies 345 acres, of which 101 are managed for wildlife. Many habitats are present on-site, including woodland, grassland, and natural and manmade wetlands and ponds.

Students from a local vocational-technical school built 25 bluebird nest boxes, which were later installed on the landfill property. Local Cub Scouts visit the site to clean out the nest boxes; their efforts were recognized at Youth Day in North Bend State Park.

The team planted a 1/2-acre grass plot with native seeds, including anise hyssop, aster, golden star, goldstrum rudbeckia, white wildflower, snowflake phlox and zagreb coreopsis. The plot provides a source of food and cover for grassland birds. The plantings also minimize soil erosion and improve surface water quality.

Oak Ridge RDF, Logansport, Indiana

Wildlife at Work certified since 2009
Acres managed for wildlife: 133

The Oak Ridge RDF site is located in northwest Indiana near the town of Logansport. Located in a rural area, the site’s surrounding properties are primarily agricultural. Of the site’s 396 acres, approximately 175 are available for wildlife habitat enhancement projects, with 133 of those acres actively managed for wildlife projects. The site is composed of a variety of habitats, including grasslands, native tallgrass prairie, upland mixed forest, emergent wetland, riparian habitat and open water. In addition to the landfill, the site contains a recycling center and a waste-to-energy generating facility.

The Oak Ridge wildlife team is involved in a number of projects to increase biodiversity on its site. These projects include prairie and grassland restoration, wetland creation and restoration, reforestation efforts, bird nesting boxes, recreational trails and an outdoor classroom for public outreach.

The wildlife team planted a mix of switchgrass and native wildflowers, such as purple coneflower, blazingstar and butterfly weed. The team partnered with Pheasants Forever to release pheasants in 2007. Forty-six pheasants were counted using the field in 2009. In 2011, a portion of a trail near the restored wetlands was constructed, with plans to expand the trail in the near future. Another recent effort was the planting of native species to create a pollinator garden around the office buildings at the site. This was done to attract important pollinators, such as bees and butterflies, to utilize the garden and increase biodiversity.

The Oak Ridge RDF wildlife team takes great pride in its conservation endeavors. The team has plans for numerous future projects, including the expansion of existing projects as well as the creation of new ones. One of those exciting new projects will be the addition of a wildlife and nature center at the site within the next two years. Another proposed project is the rerouting of a stream and improvements to the riparian corridor.

Okeechobee Landfill, Okeechobee, Florida

Wildlife at Work certified since 2003
Acres managed for wildlife: 2,000

The Okeechobee Landfill, a 4,100-acre facility in rural Florida, continues to provide habitat for a variety of sensitive species, including the sandhill crane, gopher tortoise, eastern indigo snake and American alligator. The employee wildlife team remains dedicated to enhancing and maintaining wildlife habitat and creating partnerships with the community.

More than 2,000 acres of the site are managed for wildlife and consist of restored marsh and forested wetland habitat. These habitat communities provide employees and visitors with the unique opportunity to view the endangered Florida sandhill crane. Maintenance and monitoring of the 180-acre created wetland known as the Posey Creation Area and the Southwest Swamp for the cranes is a primary goal for the wildlife team. The team recently created 30 acres of new wetlands and enhanced 11 acres of wetlands as part of the North Borrow Mitigation Project. The wildlife team conducts biannual monitoring of areas that the cranes occupy, as well as their access to food, water and shelter. The team also allows low-density cattle grazing to enable young cranes to move and hunt in the grasses more easily. Native plantings of bald cypress, slash pine, and pickerelweed enhance these areas for the cranes. During the North Borrow Mitigation Project invasive plants were controlled to allow the establishment of native species. 

The wildlife team also maintains and enhances habitat for a number of species that are common on the site, including wild turkey, deer, wood ducks, gopher tortoise and a variety of birds. To provide ideal habitat for wild turkeys, the wildlife team leaves dead trees and brush piles to provide snags for roosting and cover, and coordinates a rotational mowing schedule. The wildlife team follows all regulations concerning gopher tortoises and takes extra effort to provide ideal habitat for the tortoises. A berm was constructed at the edge of the landfill to protect the tortoises from entering the active area. As stable populations are noted on the site, monitoring and enhancement will continue to ensure the success of the populations.

In 2006, Okeechobee High School’s Environmental Science Club built six wood duck boxes with the help of the wildlife team. The team installed the wood duck boxes in November 2006. However, after discussions with an environmental consultant, the wood ducks boxes were relocated in 2007. The wildlife team will continue to monitor and maintain the boxes, checking them frequently and cleaning them out when needed.

In addition to habitat enhancement projects, the Okeechobee Landfill also hosts 4-H campers to teach them about environmental conservation. The wildlife team is also working with Boy Scout Troop #964 to allow the scouts to complete the Fish and Wildlife Management Badge on the site.

Ottawa Waste Management Facility, Carp, Ontario

Wildlife at Work certifed since 2008
Acres managed for wildlife: 240

In operation since 1971, the Ottawa Waste Management Facility is situated in the mixed-wood plains of Ontario, and consists of 142 hectares of land. The landscape features a surface water pond, two sediment ponds, wooded areas, a grassy berm and a sand pit.

The Ottawa Landfill wildlife team aims to implement a wildlife management program that can concurrently protect habitat, involve other Waste Management employees, improve company morale and develop stronger community relations. During the first year, the team will control the existing algae growth in the South and Southeast ponds, prepare the berm for landscaping and implement a gull management program. The team will consult with neighboring farmers and consultants regarding the use of barley straw in the ponds, native vegetation for the berm and gull removal devices. Longer-term goals include habitat enhancement for grey horned owls, mallard ducks, purple martins and bats.

The landfill's habitat program is still in its early stages. The site has been observed; the habitat has been assessed and the wildlife team is now beginning work on projects. Barley straw has been applied to pond areas to remove algae, and poplar trees have been planted on-site. In addition, owl nesting platforms and nesting tubes for mallard ducks were installed. 

Orchard Ridge Recycling and Disposal Facility, Menominee Falls, Wisconsin

Wildlife at Work certified since 2010
Acres managed for wildlife: 40

The Orchard Ridge Recycling and Disposal Facility lies 13 miles northwest of Milwaukee and serves five counties in southeastern Wisconsin. The facility has operated since 1974 and consists of a combined area of 720 acres. The surrounding area is suburban and the adjacent properties are a mix of residential, farmland and commercial lands.

In 2009, ten employees formed a wildlife team and partnered with EC3 Environmental Consulting, Pheasants Forever and the Bluebird Restoration Association of Wisconsin to form a management plan for 18 contiguous acres of wetlands, riparian and prairie habitats. The installation of 13 wood duck boxes and 28 bluebird boxes was quickly undertaken and close records are kept of the boxes’ inhabitants. The bird boxes have been very successful and the wildlife team broadened its goals by beginning a prairie restoration and invasive plant management effort. With the help of volunteers from Pheasants Forever, Cedarburg High School and Dr. Kent Hall, the wildlife team made extensive efforts to eradicate non-native/invasive plant species and to re-seed native species in their place. Habitat enhancements were also made to a centrally located four-acre pond, with shoreline improvements and the creation of submerged refugia.

Patterson Avenue Landfill, Hamilton Township, New Jersey

Wildlife at Work certified since 2008
Acres managed for wildlife:  18

The Patterson Avenue Landfill consists of approximately 18 acres in the Township, New Jersey. The inactive landfill with a soil cap is located in a residential and light industrial portion of Trenton. The property consists of grassland habitat, deciduous woodlands and wooded and emergent freshwater wetlands.

The goal of the facility's Wildlife at Work program is to enhance on-site habitats via the removal of non-native invasive plant species, planting native grassland species (including butterfly host and nectar plant species), and installing nest boxes, raptor perches, bat houses, and brush piles. The site first initiated the removal of non-native invasive species in November of 2006, and has continued to inventory and remove them ever since. In an effort to increase and enhance habitat for grassland bird species, the site has designated two grassland management areas. The remainder of the grassland areas have been placed on an annual mowing schedule where mowing will not interrupt bird nesting. Working in conjunction with the New Jersey Audubon Society's Citizen Science Program, the team has helped to conduct grassland bird surveys in June of 2007 and 2008 in an effort to assess grassland species' use of the property.

Petrolia Landfill, Petrolia, Ontario

Wildlife at Work certified since 2004
Acres managed for wildlife: 45

Petrolia Landfill is located on 100-acre site in a mixed land use area near the Town of Petrolia, Ontario. Nearby land includes forests, agricultural lands and oil fields. The site itself consists of native grasslands, shrub communities, wetlands and riparian habitats. Little Bear Creek and Bear Creek surround the south and east perimeters of the site, providing additional aquatic habitat. The Petrolia Wildlife at Work program actively manages 45 acres for wildlife and habitat enhancement. 

Working with the University of Waterloo, the wildlife team is conducting a lagoon pilot project on the site. The lagoon project involves the creation of a wetland known as a “swamp in a box.” By traveling through a series of these wetland cells, leachate will be broken down and treated. This technique has been tested in warmer climates, and the project here will determine the feasibility of this technique in areas which have seasonally cold climates. 

Pioneer Rock Landfill, Brown City, Michigan

Wildlife at Work certified since: 2011
Acres managed for wildlife: 75

The wildlife team at Waste Management’s Pioneer Rock Landfill actively manages almost 75 acres of prairie, two acres of wetlands, and three acres of woodlands. The habitat is surrounded by agricultural land, rural residential development, and two sand and gravel mining operations. The three man-made ponds are water sources for the various wildlife that can be observed on-site, like white-tailed deer, skunks, coyotes and leopard frogs. The site also provides a home for pheasants, wild turkeys, killdeer and more.

Since 2009, the team has enhanced the grassland areas by planting native seed mixes, including sand coreopsis, coneflowers, wild lupine, wild bergamot, big bluestem and little bluestem. Almost 50 native trees and shrubs were also planted in 2009, such as silver maple, shagbark hickory, sugar maple, black walnut, elderberry and grey dogwood. An additional 45 shrubs were planted on-site in 2010, and 30 more trees were added to the property in 2011.

The treatment of autumn olive, an invasive species, is an ongoing project for the wildlife team. Progress has been made by using the cut-stump treatment and spraying the stumps with herbicide. The cut autumn olive is used to create brush piles on-site to be used as cover for small mammals and reptiles. National Resources Conservation Service guidelines are followed to provide maximum benefit to wildlife.

In the future, the wildlife team has plans to continue enhancing the habitat at Pioneer Rock Landfill by planting one acre of native prairie seeds. The team also plans to maintain the grassland area through rotational mowing and continue the removal of the invasive autumn olive.

Pine Bluff Landfill, Ballground, Georgia

Wildlife at Work certified since 2009
Acres managed for wildlife: 800

The Pine Bluff Landfill is located in northwestern Georgia, in Cherokee County. The property now encompasses more than 1,100 acres of mixed acreage and provides the perfect setting for game species management and the preservation of natural wildlife habitats. These habitat areas are predominantly grassland, bordered by shortleaf and loblolly pine, mature hardwood and snags. Two creeks located on-site provide a natural water source for many of the native mammals found on the property, including coyote, beaver, wood ducks, mallards, wild turkeys, red foxes and white-tailed deer.

Since 1996, the site has hosted a game species management program for Eastern wild turkey and white-tailed deer on portions of the site not being used for waste disposal. The program is managed by ten wildlife team members, under the direction of retired game warden and former Georgia Department of Natural Resources Conservation Corporal David Phillips.

Both white-tailed deer and wild turkey frequent the mature hardwood and mixed forest habitat areas of the property, as they provide roosting, food, water and cover. Turkey broods in particular require habitat with abundant, moderately dense herbaceous ground cover and brushy areas nearby for cover. These types of natural habitats also support invertebrate populations, which are one of the main food sources for juvenile turkeys. The ultimate program goal is to couple the current game management program with habitat enhancements to ensure that all habitat components are provided in a sustainable manner.

The site also manages several invasive species—thistle, trumpet vine and kudzu—by rotary cutting, herbicide treatment and hand weeding. Future plans include the planting of a meadow with native grasses and wildflowers.

Pine Grove Landfill, Pine Grove, Pennsylvania

Wildlife at Work certified since 2006
Acres managed for wildlife: 360

Pine Grove Landfill began operations in 1990. The contiguous, rural farmland known as the Longenecker property was acquired in 1998 for a total of 105 acres of farmland and fallow fields. Together with 59 acres of woodland and 27 acres of wetlands, these areas are managed by Waste Management employees who focus on the quality of ecosystems and biological diversity. The entire property is bounded on the north by Interstate 81, with forested mountains in the background. The areas south and east of Pine Grove Landfill are primarily residential and commercial, with open farmland to the west. The site’s main habitats include second-growth woodlands, a mix of deciduous and coniferous trees, and a grassland area planted on more than 70 acres of capped landfill.

Bird species, coyotes, deer, butterflies, small mammals, amphibians and reptiles make their home at the Pine Grove Landfill and its surrounding properties. Growing partnerships between the Pine Grove Landfill and community organizations and agencies are transforming the uses and opportunities of this Waste Management property and facility. Current partners include the Schuylkill County Conservation District, Pennsylvania Game Commission, Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission, Natural Resources Conservation Service, the state’s Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) Bureau of Forestry, Pheasants Forever, Trout Unlimited, Red Creek Wildlife Center, Pennsylvania Outdoor Writers Association, and a local resident and butterfly expert.

Initial projects to gain habitat certification began in 2005, and included native pollinator gardens, feed plots, and birdhouses for kestrels and falcons. The wildlife team at Pine Grove Landfill installed 12 blue bird nest boxes along the perimeter road of the closed landfill in 2006. During the active nesting season, April through August, employees conduct nest box monitoring on a weekly basis. Results from this monitoring show that between 2008 and 2010, 143 bluebirds and 25 tree swallows successfully fledged.

The 59 acres of woodland and forested areas are being managed under the guidance of the DCNR’s Forestry Stewardship Program. Together, the DCNR and Waste Management are conducting extensive outreach to the community to engage them in this effort. The Schuylkill Conservation District is working with Pine Grove Landfill to design and develop additional trails for environmental education and interpretation in the forests and grassland fields.

In addition, the wildlife team started a new project, consulting Trout Unlimited and the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission for plans to construct a trout nursery, which was completed in 2010. The nursery is stocked with native and brook trout, which are then used to stock local streams and Swatara Lake. Tours, educational sessions and presentations are available for members of the surrounding community, as well as school groups interested in learning more about landfill operations, environmental technology and the wildlife programs available on-site. The team also participated in a county clean-up in fall 2008, where community members dropped off tires, appliances and scrap metal at the facility.

Pine Tree Acres, Inc., Lenox, Michigan

Wildlife at Work certified since 2010
Acres managed for wildlife: 80

Pine Tree Acres consists of more than 450 acres located in a historically rural part of southeast Michigan. Existing natural habitat includes forested and emergent wetlands. The Kirkham Drain and several of its tributaries traverse the property. Wood duck, blue heron, great horned owl, bald eagle, American kestrel and green leopard spotted frog have been observed at the site by employees and noted in the wildlife monitoring journal.

The wildlife team includes employee volunteers, as well as representatives from the Michigan Duck Hunters Association, Lenox Township, Huron Point Sportsmen’s Club, Clinton River Watershed Council, and a native plant nursery. In 2008, Macomb Community College students helped install a pollinator garden, which features a variety of native plants. The team also promotes pollinator populations through the maintenance of four beehives by a Pine Tree Acres employee and team member who keeps bees as a hobby, as well as the installation of bat houses. Local scout troops helped build ten bat houses that were designed according to Bat Conservation International guidelines; six houses were placed on-site and the remainder were installed at another Waste Management facility. Ten wood duck houses were also installed near ponds on-site and will be monitored for nesting activity. A family of wood ducks was observed in the spring of 2010 at the site.

Since 2008, the number of annual visitors touring the site has increased dramatically, from 134 to 1,200. As a well-known educational tour facility, the site is poised to provide the general public with conservation education opportunities that highlight ongoing wildlife habitat management practices. Waste Management employees also collaborated with Macomb Community College on the curriculum for an Alternative/Renewable Energy class.

Prairie Hill Recycling and Disposal Facility, Morrison, IL

Wildlife at Work certified since 2008
Acres managed for wildlife:

The Prairie Hill RDF occupies 423 acres and is located in Whiteside County in northwest Illinois. The site was purchased by Waste Management in 1992. As part of the initial licensing process, site manager Mike Wiersema and the site development team developed a closure plan. The closure plan envisioned the site as a community resource with publically accessible bike trails, a nature trail with interpretative signage and learning stations and perhaps a full-blown nature center. In the interim, whenever possible, the site is managed in accordance with this vision.

In 1995, the company decided to convert some unused land around the site's entranceway into a restored natural prairie. Working with the Whiteside County Soil Conservation and Natural Area Guardians, a prairie was established with native grasses and locally-collected native prairie wildflower seed. The seed was collected by the WCSC, NAGs, at the Sauk Valley Community College prairie. A management plan was developed and after three growing years of mowing, general maintenance -- and patience -- the prairie finally was established, not only to the site's enjoyment, but also that of drivers-by and the local pheasant and northern bobwhite quail populations. The prairie is maintained through scheduled burns in cooperation with the soil conservation office and control of invasive species by occasional mowing and targeted applications of herbicide.

In accordance with the vision for the site, educational opportunities are being pursued. For example, every year from August through October the soil conservation office in conjunction with NAGs arrive to harvest seeds which are sold as a fundraising event for their group. Future plans include enlisting local school children in creating a demonstration garden with ID tags to help site employees and visitors become familiar with prairie plants.

Phoenix Resources, Wellsboro, Pennsylvania

Wildlife at Work certified since 2010
Acres managed for wildlife: 1,884

The Phoenix Resources facility is located in northern Pennsylvania near the town of Wellsboro. The property includes a 61-acre area permitted for landfill-related operations. The site’s remaining 1,884 acres are managed for wildlife. Habitat types found on-site include forest, grasslands, and natural and mitigation wetlands. Beavers created and continue to maintain another pond near the wetlands. Surrounding areas are also relatively undeveloped; the facility is adjacent to a 2,500-acre property operated by a private forestry company and 4,150 acres of forested state land managed by the Pennsylvania Game Commission. All four Phoenix Resources employees participate in the wildlife management team, which also includes the chairman of the local watershed association and employees involved in Wildlife at Work programs at other Pennsylvania Waste Management facilities.

Historical coal mining on the Phoenix Resources property left a significant impact on nearby Babb Creek. Waste Management provides ongoing support of a local water treatment plant that helps reduce the effects of acid mine drainage on the creek. Sensitive species such as mayflies, minnows, newts and trout have returned to the creek, indicating an improvement in water quality and attracting sportsmen and outdoor enthusiasts.

Waste Management created three mitigation wetlands on the property in 2007. The mitigation team planted exclusively native plants around the wetlands, including white birch, green ash, fox sedge, green bulrush, lizard’s tail and swamp milkweed. Brush piles and basking logs were part of the wetlands’ design and provide habitat for reptiles, amphibians and birds. As the new wetlands continue to mature the wildlife diversity continues to increase. Employees observed salamanders, young water snakes and a number of species of tadpoles in the wetlands during recent monitoring activities.

Aware that populations of important pollinators are under stress or declining, the wildlife team developed the three large gardens near the landfill’s entrance and offices as one of its habitat projects. The team added to the black-eyed Susans and purple coneflowers already part the landscaping by planting pollinator-friendly species, including bee balm and Joe-Pye weed.

Employees first installed songbird boxes on the property in 2008. Additional boxes were installed in the spring of 2010, and team members have observed bluebirds and tree swallows frequenting a number of the boxes.

Pottstown Landfill, Pottstown, Pennsylvania

Wildlife at Work certified since 2010
Acres managed for wildlife: 203

The 296-acre Pottstown Landfill is a closed municipal waste landfill located on the border of Berks and Montgomery Counties. Goose Creek flows along the site’s western and northern boundaries and eventually joins Manatawny Creek, a tributary of the Schuylkill River. The site’s habitat includes 202 acres of grassland closed landfill caps and a 79-acre transition buffer with wooded riparian corridor, shrub forest and ponds. Notable wildlife species present include the American kestrel, which utilizes the landfill’s gas vents as hunting perches. A bobolink, whose populations in Pennsylvania have declined by 80% over the past 50 years, was also observed on the landfill. Future monitoring efforts will determine if there is a breeding pair on site.

The wildlife team, which consists of five Waste Management employees, focuses on invasive species control. Herbicide and/or mechanical treatments were applied to phragmites, autumn olive and multiflora rose populations surrounding East Pond. The wildlife team also implements a modified mowing schedule for the grassland habitat to accommodate breeding by grassland birds.

Employees are encouraged to play an active role in the site’s environmental stewardship. Copies of the site inventory form are posted to allow employees to add their observations and report new sightings. The wildlife team invited representatives from the Pennsylvania Bureau of Forestry, Schuylkill River Heritage Area, and Green Valleys Associations to visit the site and evaluate its wildlife management plan. A group is also working to develop conservation education opportunities for the general public.

Richmond Landfill, Napanee, Ontario

Wildlife at Work certified since 2006
Acres managed for wildlife: 558

The Richmond Landfill is set in rural Ontario near the eastern shore of Lake Ontario, and is close to Hemplfly Swamp, Beechwood Swamp and the Salmon River Area of Natural and Scientific Interest. Several ecosystems exist within the 563-acre property, including deciduous forest woodlots, wooded wetland, ponds, marshes, cultural savannah and cultural meadow.

The focus of the wildlife management plan is a 37-acre area of red maple swamp and wet forest. Avian conservation is a high priority at the Richmond Landfill. The wildlife team maintains nest boxes in the swamp area for wood ducks, which were installed in 2006. This area was chosen as it will provide wood ducks with proper food and space requirements, along with access to the water. Though current placement of the boxes has made them difficult for the wildlife team to monitor, the team plans to make adjustments and add additional boxes in new locations to make for easier observation. Ducks Unlimited assists with the identification of species, particularly in the winter when wood ducks may not be the primary inhabitants. Houses for bluebirds were installed in 2008, and are located near suitable food and water sources. They were placed in areas that would provide open space for the birds to enter and exit, and also provide cover for the young exiting the nest. Tree swallows are a common species seen using the nests.

The wildlife team also promotes healthy forests through restoration of micro-habitats known as “pits and mounds,” which historically were formed as large trees toppled. Chosen areas were excavated to create the pits and mounds, and native trees such as red cedar, prickly ash and beech were planted to attract wildlife. The planted trees appear to be thriving and, after a rainfall, the pit areas retain much of the water, which is then used during drier weather. These tiny ponds attract dragonflies, insects, amphibians and small mammals, and the area is beginning to resemble an early forest rather than the abandoned farmer’s field it previously was. The team also maintains snags throughout the site for the benefit of the many invertebrates, birds and mammals that depend on these structures. Wildlife tracks can be seen entering and exiting the snags, particularly in the winter. The wildlife team monitors these areas frequently, as they are easily visible, even from the nearby road. The team is considering erecting a few educational signs along the roadway to inform visitors about the importance of decay and growth cycles in the context of the swamp ecosystem.

In 2008, stormwater ponds were constructed with a natural habitat approach in mind. Cattail species surround the pond area, and on a daily basis many species can be seen utilizing the area, such as snapping turtles, red-winged blackbirds, muskrats and frogs.

In 2007, the team launched a Learning Centre adjacent to the swamp area to allow community members to observe and learn about the surrounding habitat. A building was acquired and displays are under continuous development. Trails and observation points were constructed using recycled materials. Scout troops and students find the Learning Centre a valuable resource and often participate in building bluebird boxes in the hopes that they will install them on their own properties and apply what they’ve learned. The wildlife team hosts day camps and senior tours and allows students from Loyalist College to conduct plant studies on-site. The team has also installed a small pollinator garden near the entrance to the boardwalk that leads to the swamp area. 

Ridgeview Recycling and Disposal Facility, Whitelaw, Wisconsin

Wildlife at Work certified since 2010
Acres managed for wildlife: 200

The Ridgeview Recycling and Disposal Facility is a landfill and recycling facility in northeastern Wisconsin that includes about 550 acres of agricultural land and available wildlife habitat. The wildlife team launched a carefully planned program in cooperation with the Bluebird Restoration Association of Wisconsin (BRAW) to boost the population of eastern bluebirds by providing suitable nesting habitat. The team installed 26 nest boxes, which are monitored weekly to track the success of nesting bluebirds, tree swallows and house wrens. In the first year of the program, the nest boxes produced a total of 141 songbird fledglings, averaging 5.42 birds per nest box, which roughly equals the Wisconsin state-wide average according to BRAW.

Riverbend Landfill, McMinnville, OR

Wildlife at Work certified since 2005
Acres managed by wildlife: 500

The Riverbend Landfill encompasses 620 acres, with about 500 acres set aside for wildlife habitat. The site is primarily surrounded by agricultural land, including pastures, row crops, orchards and some associated rural residences. The South Yamhill River flows through the southern half of the site, and its highly meandering channel leads to the creation of floodplain forests along the southern riverbank. Oregon ash, black cottonwood and willows dominate the floodplain areas.

Poplar trees are used and a 20-million gallon pond used as irrigation to a 45-acre poplar plantation. The poplars absorb the water and then the trees are harvested. This generates high-quality clear dimensional lumber and pulp for the paper industry.

Employees maintain a nest box program to provide habitat for cavity-nesting birds. The site features nesting structures for bluebirds and wood ducks, as well as an osprey nesting platform. Future plans include installation of nest boxes for American kestrels.

To promote the growth of native vegetation, employees implemented projects to control invasive plant species. Employees cleared dense patches of Himalayan blackberries, performed mowing to clear a variety of weeds in grassland areas, and continue to monitor the site for infestations. In addition, a team of eight employees cleared patches in a dense orchard to allow sunlight to penetrate the forest floor and encourage growth of understory species. The clearings are meant to promote vegetative diversity, and employees monitor the areas to ensure that invasive species do not colonize them.

The Riverbend Landfill program features community education and outreach. Primary school students and members of the McMinnville Area Chamber of Commerce recently toured the facility. Employees also give off-site presentations to governing bodies of nearby cities and other organizations.

S&S Landfill, Clarksburg, West Virginia

Wildlife at work certified since 2011
Acreage managed for wildlife: 5

The S&S Landfill lies on the Western Allegheny Plateau in Harrison County, West Virginia. The five-member wildlife team carries out the mission to enhance the diversity of wildlife habitat at the site while creating environmental educational opportunities for the public. The key initiatives of S&S Landfill’s Wildlife at Work program include the installation and monitoring of bluebird and wood duck boxes, rotational mowing and wildflower plantings.

The wildlife team obtained 14 bluebird boxes built by students from a local vocational school. The team installed them in the early spring of 2009. Employees monitor the nest boxes to determine that they are successful in attracting bluebirds and not invasive species. The team recently installed wood duck nest boxes, also constructed by vocational students. Employees and a contractor added predator guards to protect future residents of the boxes.

Site managers requested and received approval from the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection to implement rotational mowing on five acres of the landfill cap. By mowing parts of the landfill cap less frequently, the wildlife team provides grassy habitat for animals found on-site, such as the American goldfinch.

The team planted a northeastern wildflower seed mix with the help of the local 4-H Club. The plantings were intended to provide habitat for pollinators, and include pollinator-friendly species such as blanketflower, prairie coneflower and lupine. To provide nesting habitat for native bees, the team installed bee poles by the wildflower meadow.

Saint-Nicéphore Landfill, Quebec

Wildlife at work certified since 2006
Acres managed by wildlife: 9

The Saint-Nicéphore Landfill is located in the southeastern portion of Quebec, approximately 100 km southeast of Montreal. The 773-acre property is bordered on the east by the St. Francois River consists mainly of second-growth forest. Wildlife habitat enhancement, employee participation, and public outreach are the primary objectives of the sites Wildlife at WorkSM program.

The St-Nicéphore landfill is located in the sugar maple-bitternut hickory domain which shelters more than half of the flora and nearly seventy percent of the fauna of Quebec, in addition to about half of the threatened or vulnerable species of the province. Since the region is under development, the wildlife team chose to initiate a habitat enhancement program by replanting bare areas on site to provide additional habitat and increase biodiversity. Close to ten thousand trees were planted on site covering an area of 3.75 hectares. Exclusively native species including white spruce, jack pine and sugar maple were chosen for the planting as they all offer benefits for wildlife.

The health of the St. Francois River is one of the main environmental concerns in the region and forms the basis for the sites wildlife habitat management plan. The Paul-Boisvert Creek, which runs through the site, was thoroughly inventoried in 2004 and the results showed the potential for enhancement for wildlife. The creek is to be part of a voluntary restoration effort in partnership with the local high school science group starting in 2006.

Sainte-Sophie Landfill, Quebec

Wildlife at Work certified since 2006
Acres managed by wildlife:

The Sainte-Sophie Landfill consists of 736 acres approximately 50 kilometers north of Montreal, Quebec. The property is set within a region characterized by agricultural activities. The immediate surroundings of the Sainte-Sophie Landfill have remained mainly as forested land, making the site a good location for wildlife habitat enhancement potential. The Sainte-Sophie wildlife team investigated forested areas, wetlands and open lands in regeneration as well as the main stream “Ruisseau aux Castors” for potential habitat enhancement projects.

The wildlife team initiated a wildlife habitat enhancement program that would help the same perform in a better, Greener Way. The projects include increasing habitat diversity by first conducting thorough inventories followed by planting native evergreens to enhance the habitat for noted species. Two hundred spruces were planted to create valuable nesting and cover habitat for a number of species of birds. Small mammals also eat the seeds of the tree that fall to the ground. The Sainte-Sophie Landfill has collaborated for a decade with the community to maintain horse trails and stables on site for use by the local horseback riding club.

S.C. Holdings, Inc., SCA Independent Landfill, Michigan

Wildlife at Work certified since 2008
Acres managed by wildlife: 202

Waste Management's SCA Independent Landfill and adjacent wetlands complex located in Sullivan Township, east of Muskegon, show that it is possible to restore an area to a high quality after use by industry. The 40 acre SCA Independent Landfill operated from 1968 to 1986. An adjacent 30 acre sand borrow area was operated from 1997 until 2004. After the closure of the landfill, a mining permit was acquired to develop the adjacent sand borrow area into a wetland/upland complex for habitat restoration. Including undisturbed buffer areas, the total site area is 202 acres of wetland/upland complex that is a haven for wildlife, including the state of Michigan special concern species sand grass (Triplasis purpurea).

The created wetland shows a natural groundwater-fed hydrology that has lead to a vegetative community characteristic of Coastal Plain Marsh, a rare natural community in Michigan. Because of the care the project partners took in designing the wetland, few species needed to be planted - a diverse mix of mainly native species colonized the area directly from the existing seed bank. Additionally, Waste Management planted about 6 acres of disturbed upland with a prairie mix that should both stabilize the exposed area as well as outcompete with the invasive species that occur in the upland areas. Waste Management also planted a variety of shrubs and native trees to diversify the available vegetative communities and provide additional habitat.

The main goal of the site with regard to habitat is to preserve the high quality habitat that has been created through the wetland restoration project. The primary threat to this vegetative community is an array of invasive species that are present in adjacent areas. Biological, mechanical, and chemical controls will be used to control invasives and preserve the high habitat values of this successful wetland restoration project. Prescribed fire will also be used both to control invasives as well as manage the upland areas planted with native prairie species.

Sullivan Township has expressed interest in using the area for education programs in the future, which would be a wonderful way to use this property for the benefit of the entire community. Already, there has been a community planting day, organized by Pheasants Forever of Muskegon County where 700 bare-root seedlings were planted by the local Ravena High School and Future Farmers of America members

Seneca East Recycling and Disposal Facility, Republic, Ohio

Wildlife at Work certified since 2010
Acres managed for wildlife: 188

The Seneca East Recycling and Disposal Facility occupies 280 acres in northwest Ohio. The property consists of closed landfill, leased farmland, forested wetland, open grassland and three ponds. No WM employees are stationed on-site. The wildlife team, composed of two off-site employees and several dedicated community representatives, carries out the mission to enhance and preserve diverse habitat, foster volunteerism and cultivate environmental education in the community.

In order to create and enhance contiguous grassland habitat, a strategic conservation priority for the state of Ohio, the wildlife team planted 6.5 acres of the landfill cap with native prairie grasses in the fall of 2009. To create a transitional zone, the team also planted the half-acre between the landfill and the wet forest edge with a native sedge meadow mix.

In addition to participating in statewide efforts to reverse the decline of open habitat, the wildlife team wanted to increase the amount of habitat available to grassland birds during the nesting season. To this end, they installed 11 nest boxes designed for eastern bluebirds. To expand the nest box program, the team added three wood duck nest boxes. The nest boxes were used by bluebirds, tree swallows and wood ducks during the 2010 nesting season.

The wildlife team planted a pollinator garden in the fall of 2009. Volunteers planted more than 70 plants, including purple aster, purple coneflower, sedum and bee balm. These will provide food and shelter for various life stages of pollinators.

The ongoing program includes monitoring, maintenance and additional projects for 2011, including the seasonal species inventory.

Seymour Road Landfill, Montrose, Michigan

Wildlife at Work certified since 2010
Acres managed for wildlife: 98

The Seymour Road Landfill is a former municipal waste facility, now closed, along the Flint River in southern Michigan. The 98-acre site includes three ponds, including a seven-acre pond that provides stop-over habitat for migrating birds and occasional fishing for bald eagles. The wildlife team planted native shrubs and trees to enhance the 10-acre wooded floodplain habitat along the river. The team also planted native prairie grasses and wildflowers on the capped landfill; the grassland will be maintained by rotational mowing to provide a variety of cover types. To make the grassland even more welcoming to wildlife, the team built brush piles to shelter small mammals, and raptor perches for the hawks and other birds of prey that visit the site. Invasive shrubs such as autumn olive are removed by selective cutting and herbicide treatment across the site.

Shade Landfill, Cairnbrook, Pennsylvania

Wildlife at Work certified since 2010
Acres managed for wildlife: 225

The Shade Landfill property covers 793 acres in Somerset County, Pennsylvania. Grasslands and forested areas cover a large portion of the site. Laurel Run and Beaver Dam Creek run through the property, and man-made sedimentation basins are also present. Approximately 80 acres are open to the local beagle club for training.

In 2002, the site received approval from the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection to amend its solid waste permit and plant native switchgrass on final closed sections of the landfill. These areas were planted with switchgrass in 2004, and are maintained by late summer mowing to prevent disturbance to ground-nesting birds. Wildlife team members monitor the grassland monthly and record observations of plant health and animal use. The native grassland area provides cover for wild turkey, white-tailed deer and eastern cottontail rabbits. Monitors also observe hawks hunting in the grassland.

The wildlife team’s future plans include hosting a fishing derby and implementing a bluebird nest box program. The team will continue removing non-native invasive multiflora rose and crown vetch from the habitat areas.

Simi Valley Landfill, California

Wildlife at Work certified since 2007
Acres managed for wildlife: 2

The Simi Valley Landfill and Recycling Center is located on 297 acres in Ventura County, California. Habitat on site consists of varied grasslands, venturian coastal sage scrub, chamise chaparral, oak woodlands and riparian areas.

The wildlife team established a two-acre pollinator garden and hiking trail that will serve as habitat for native pollinators. In addition, the garden provides the local community an outdoor educational experience while learning about native ecosystems, the importance of pollination, and protecting the environment. Cub Scout Pack 3663 earned their Conservation Award by planting historical trees in the new pollinator garden in celebration of Earth Day and Arbor Day 2009.

Simi Valley’s wildlife team continues to maintain nest boxes and perches for barn owls and other raptors at the site. The wildlife team wants to encourage raptor visitation as a natural and environmentally friendly way to control the rodent population on site.

Skyline Landfill, Ferris, Texas

Wildlife at Work certified since 2009
Acres managed for wildlife: 121

The 667-acre Skyline Landfill is located in a mixed use area surrounded by residential and agricultural lands and a golf course. The site contains diverse habitat types including uplands, wetlands and riparian areas. Through the Wildlife at Work program, approximately 100 acres are actively managed for wildlife, including 21 acres of wetlands.

As part of the certification program, the WM wildlife team created several pollinator areas to support native pollinator species. The first area was planted in 2007, with additional habitat created the following year. Students from Ferris High School helped to plant a third pollinator area in 2009.

With the help of local Boy Scouts, the WM wildlife team installed eight wood duck nest boxes at the site. These nest boxes further enhance wildlife habitat on site by providing shelter. The wildlife team monitors the shelters to ensure their success. A rotational mowing program has been implemented on approximately four acres of land surrounding the wetlands. By mowing the area in strips, the wildlife team provides a diversity of habitat types to wildlife at all times.

Southern Services Landfill, Nashville, Tennessee

Wildlife at Work certified since 2011
Acres managed for wildlife: 30

The Southern Services Landfill is located near Nashville, Tennessee, in Davidson County. The site is situated directly adjacent to the Cumberland River, northwest of downtown Nashville. The site consists of two main areas, the operational landfill area and the wetland area. The wildlife team has developed a comprehensive approach to enhancing wildlife habitat around the site and within its existing wetlands, while simultaneously working to involve community partners through education and outreach. This strategy involves focusing on a few targeted, highly visible projects, all chosen for their ease of implementation and high potential for involving community partners. The team has partnered with a number of organizations, including the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation Division of Solid Waste, Tennessee Ornithological Society, Nashville Chapter and Cheatham County High School biology students.

The wetland area is located on the portion of the site directly adjacent to the Cumberland River. The area consists of three distinct regions: a naturally occurring wetland created by an inlet off the Cumberland River, and two created wetlands. The first artificial wetland was created in 1994 and the second in 2007. Both wetlands were originally constructed as part of mitigation projects relating to expansions at the site. The first project’s installation and five-year monitoring requirements were satisfied more than a decade ago in 1999. The second wetland installation and its monitoring requirements were also completed in the two years immediately following its construction.

The freshwater wetlands contain a variety of native plants, including bald cypress, black willow, buttonbush and marsh mallow. The wetland is adjacent to an inlet off the Cumberland River and is bordered by a wooded river bank with some grassland areas around the perimeter of the wetland. The constructed ponds were used by several species of waterfowl this winter and are currently providing habitat for red-winged blackbirds, swallows, green and great blue herons, and common yellowthroats. The trees along the river provided habitat for many bird species this winter, including pileated woodpeckers. A great blue heron rookery is located in the wetland area in an American sycamore tree, and the surrounding brushy areas were used extensively by several species of sparrows.

The wildlife team has begun a variety of projects, including the construction and monitoring of wood duck boxes, avian monitoring and habitat enhancement. Other projects include heron rookery monitoring, the construction and monitoring of songbird/bluebird boxes, the control of non-native invasive plants, and planting native wetland vegetation. In 2010, the wood duck boxes were installed. Bluebird nest boxes were installed the following year. Tree swallows have been observed using the boxes. The team also began removing Bradford pears in the upland and wetland area. Future plans for invasive plant control involve controlling tree-of-heaven, Johnson grass and honeysuckle. The team also plans to create a citizen science project to monitor frog and toad species that occur in the wetlands. Cheatham County High School biology students will be involved in planting native shrubs around the wetland, including buttonbush and indigo bush. 

Springhill Regional Landfill, Campbellton, Florida

Wildlife at Work certified since 2006
Corporate Lands for Learning
Acres managed for wildlife:

The Corporate Lands for Learning program at the Springhill Regional Landfill allows learners to experience the site’s wildlife habitat value first-hand. A tour for local school children is the focal point of the program and highlights closed and active portions of the landfill, methane storage and landfill gas-to-energy processing areas. In addition to the landfill, students are treated to recycling activities and a video of “Mr. Cool Can,” showing kids how to reduce, reuse and recycle for the benefit of the planet.

The wildlife habitat is showcased in three focus areas; ponds, where students spy alligators and numerous fish; forests, where deer tracks, bird nest boxes and other animal signs can be observed; and the forested wetland, where learners walk on a recycled plastic boardwalk. Highlights of the boardwalk tour include plants and trees identified by the site staff, interesting spiders with webs weaved on the railings of the walkway, and a quick lesson on how to identify the endemic poisonous and venomous wetland dwellers.

In the future, the Springhill staff would like to arrange teacher training events to build local educators’ knowledge in the methods of environmental education, and work with Boy Scouts to increase artificial nesting habitat for birds.

Spruce Ridge Landfill. Glencoe, Minnesota

Wildlife at Work certified since 2002
Acres managed for wildlife: 95

The 543-acre Spruce Ridge Landfill is located in a rural agricultural area, west of Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota. The site contains a diversity of habitats, including prairies, wetlands and ponds. The Wildlife at Work program actively manages approximately 95 acres for wildlife.

The WM wildlife team maintains prairie habitat for a number of wildlife species by using controlled burns to simulate the natural fire disturbances that historically maintained prairies. The WM wildlife team also manages for invasive Canada thistle, to ensure that this species does not out-compete native prairie species, which are beneficial to wildlife. Along with the help of the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, the WM wildlife team also conducts bird counts to determine how habitats on site are affecting game bird populations.

Other enhancements have also been made by planting native plants. Native plants were planted in the wetland area in 2008, and will benefit aquatic species such as fish and waterfowl. An additional 2.5 acres were planted with native grasses and wildflowers to benefit pollinator species. Tours of the site’s habitat enhancement projects provide schools and other groups with opportunities to learn about wildlife and wildlife habitat.

Syracuse Hauling, North Liverpool, NY

Wildlife at Work certified since 2009
Acres managed for wildlife: 3

The Syracuse Hauling facility, located in Liverpool, New York, consists of 21 acres, three of which are actively managed for wildlife habitat. As part of the Wildlife at Work program, the WM wildlife team kicked off their program by planting a native pollinator garden and continues to add to the program by establishing a large native grass and wildflower meadow in an area that was previously mowed fescue. In addition to the pollinator garden and meadow, the WM wildlife team has begun working to enhance their storm water management pond.

In an effort to educate the WM wildlife team and other employees working at the facility, Syracuse Hauling started a library to aid in identification, management and enhancement of the facility. The site also coordinates with a local organization to educate children on native habitats and the importance of recycling.

Turnkey Recycling and Environmental Enterprises - TREE, Gonic, New Hampshire

Wildlife at Work certified since: 2007
Acres managed for wildlife: 150

The TREE facility is an environmental park encompassing approximately 1,245 acres, of which 150 are actively managed for wildlife. The main vegetative communities on site include mesic transitional hardwood conifer forest, red maple stream bottom floodplain forest/swamp complex, and shallow emergent graminoid marsh. Old field/agricultural land and clear cut old forested areas are also located on the property, which is bordered by both the Isinglass and Cocheco rivers.

As part of the Wildlife at Work program, the WM wildlife team provides habitat for a variety of bird species through its avian management project. Bluebird nest boxes were erected on the site in 1996, and these structures continue to provide cover for nesting birds. Management of grassland habitat and snags provides additional habitat for nesting.

A well developed Forest Management Plan helps to maintain healthy forests on the site. TREE’s sustainable forest management includes ongoing monitoring of species, including quality and quantity of trees, as well as the fauna that use the forest habitat. Interpretive trails through the forest and riparian habitats on site provide an opportunity for visitors to learn about wildlife and their habitats. The Gonic Trails were improved by an Eagle Scout, who repaired and added several erosion control bars, raised the level of a bridge, and installed a bat house.

The TREE site is part of the Isinglass River watershed, which drains approximately 75 square miles. Waste Management of New Hampshire (WMNH) participated in successful efforts to incorporate both the Isinglass River and the Cocheco River into the New Hampshire Rivers Management and Protection Program. WMNH also contributed to the health of the watershed by donating water quality monitoring supplies to conservation organizations. In 2008, TREE hosted a Get Wild about Water and Wildlife Day, during which visitors gained a better understanding of and appreciation for the importance of aquatic ecosystems.

Twin Bridges RDF, Danville, Indiana

Wildlife at Work certified since 2007
Acres managed for wildlife: 250

The Twin Bridges Facility spans 975 acres west of Indianapolis and includes about 240 acres permitted for solid waste disposal, including both active and closed landfill sections. Currently, Twin Bridges is creating about 250 acres of recreational amenities, including a golf course, soccer fields, a police shooting range, a skeet shooting area and softball fields for the community to utilize. Twin Bridges also maintains three miles of trails through the site for hiking and horseback riding. The remainder of the site, including some of the closed sections of the landfill, is operated as a nature sanctuary.

As part of the Wildlife at Work program, the WM wildlife team’s efforts focus on increasing the diversity and areas devoted to native plants at the site. The team has forged an innovative plan to adjust the seed mix used on the “final cap” to include native warm-season grasses. The new seed mix was planted on approximately five acres of the landfill in 2006 and is regularly evaluated for its benefit to wildlife as well as its ability to prevent erosion. In 2009, the WM wildlife team received approval and planted several plots of trees on the landfill. These trees should provide additional cover and travel lanes for small mammals and birds.

Twin Bridges has also been nominated the Pollinator Protection Award from the Wildlife Habitat Council and North American Pollinator Protection Campaign.  The recognition is offered for certified WHC sites that implement specific land management practices to promote pollinator populations. The WM wildlife team created four pollinator gardens that feature native plants. The first garden is a half-acre and has attracted butterflies and provided habitat for birds. In 2008, the team planted a second pollinator garden south of the landfill and in 2009, two additional pollinator gardens were planted.

Twin Creeks Landfill, Watford, Ontario

Wildlife at Work certified since: 2004
Acres managed for wildlife: 10

The Twin Creeks Landfill is located on approximately 750 acres in Lambton County, Ontario, east of the city of Sarnia. The site consists of native grasslands, a poplar plantation that links existing forested areas and the King property. The King property is an adjoining site purchased by Waste Management consisting of a mix of upland tree species and diverse understory plants, including the regionally significant species St. John’s wort and false mermaid weed. 

Working closely with a community committee and the St. Clair Region Conservation Authority, the WM wildlife team developed an environmentally sound leachate management program. The program consists of a ten-acre poplar tree plantation where the landfill leachate is applied by drip irrigation. This on-site phytoremediation program prevents the need to truck the leachate off site for treatment. The team hopes to expand the phytoremediation project to cover an additional 50 acres.

Also part of the Wildlife at Work program, a variety of deciduous trees were planted along the north perimeter of the site and closed landfill cells were seeded with native grasses to re-vegetate unused areas with a diverse array of species.

The WM wildlife team plans to continue re-vegetation efforts to create buffers to provide shelter for birds and small animals and to establish windbreaks for prevention of soil erosion. In the next few years, the team will also work toward the construction of four new storm water control facilities with wetland enhancement.

Two Pine Landfill, North Little Rock, Arkansas

Wildlife at Work certified since 2010
Acres managed for wildlife:  127

Two Pine Landfill is located between Jacksonville and North Little Rock. The 543-acre facility was historically agricultural land as well as wetland that held floodwater from Bayou Meto and Five Mile Creek. Since the property was purchased in 1989, the primary use has been municipal waste disposal and management. In 2009, the original 86-acre landfill reached its capacity.

Construction of a new landfill on 144.5 acres required wetland mitigation. Two Pine Landfill set aside 43 acres for habitat improvements to compensate for 14 acres of wetland impacts. To improve water quality and wildlife viewing opportunities, the landfill’s mitigation plan includes restoring herbaceous marsh and bottomland hardwood forest, and planting levees with native wildflowers and trees.

Two Pine Landfill’s wildlife team includes employees as well as members from Audubon Arkansas, Terracon, and Native Restoration and Management. In addition to the mitigation plans, the wildlife team excavated a 20-acre relief channel for floodwater and wildlife habitat and planted native grasses, wildflowers, marsh plants, and trees in the channel and mitigation areas. Additional recreational and educational facilities are planned and bird and bat boxes have been installed. Plant and animal inventories are ongoing.

The wildlife team is also developing a “Vision” that will be the foundation for a comprehensive 10-year plan for wildlife habitat improvements and will serve as the roadmap for all planned activities.

Valley Landfill, Irwin, Pennsylvania

Wildlife at Work certified since 2009
Acres managed for wildlife: 325

The Valley Landfill is a 482-acre site located in western Pennsylvania. The property includes woodland, grassland, farmland and a 60-acre wetland. As part of the Wildlife at Work program, WM actively manages 325 acres of the property for wildlife.

In June 2009, 15 WM employees created the Chuck Law Memorial Pollinator Garden in memory of Chuck Law, a 20-year site employee who passed away the previous year. Partnering with the Westmoreland County Master Gardener program and the Botanical Club of Westmoreland County, employees planted native species such as black-eyed Susan, coreopsis, anise hyssop and eastern purple coneflower. 

The WM wildlife team also partnered with Boy Scout Troop 239 to clean up and restore the Civil War-era Beulah Cemetery on site. The scouts, troop leaders, and more than a dozen WM employees righted headstones, planted grass, and removed excessive brush that included invasive Japanese knotweed. The team plans to continue this partnership and expand the cemetery renovation through an Eagle Scout project that involves planting native shrubs, building a walking path and creating a meditation area with a bench and native plantings.

Valley Trail Recycling and Disposal Facility, Berlin, Wisconsin

Wildlife at Work certified since 2010
Corporate Lands for Learning certified since 2010
Acres managed for wildlife: 33

The Valley Trail Recycling and Disposal Facility is located in Green Lake County in northeast Wisconsin, about 18 miles east of Oshkosh.  The site occupies 260 acres with a total landfill footprint of 110 acres.  The site is bordered on the east by a Rails-to-Trails alking trail, with a 33-acre wildlife area to the west.  This area includes a sedimentation pond-wetlands area and a 15-acre prairie grassland.

The site's wildlife team is composed of four full-time employees, and also partners with the Bluebird Restoration Association of Wisconsin, Pheasants Forever, and Woods and Wildlife LLC.

In the spring of 1998, the wildlife team partnered with Wings over Wisconsin to create a prairie grassland using seed provided by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources.  The wildlife team continues to enhance and protect the habitat in this area.  In May 2009, the prairie grassland was burned under the supervision of Pheasants Forever.  In the fall of 2009, herbicides were applied to control woody vegetation that was encroaching on the grassy habitat.  In the spring of 2009, 17 bluebird nest boxes were installed under the direction of Dr. Kent Hall of the Bluebird Restoration Association of Wisconsin.  The next boxes are monitored weekly from April through August.

Vickery Environmental, Vickery, Ohio

Wildlife at Work certified since 2009
Acres managed for wildlife: 250

The 500-acre Vickery Environmental site is located in the rural, unincorporated community of Vickery, Ohio. Habitats occurring on site include a 40-acre pond, mixed deciduous woodlots, open grasslands and several small wetlands. As part of the Wildlife at Work program, the WM wildlife team manages 250 acres of the property for wildlife.

One of the team’s priorities is the creation and use of a comprehensive database to track wildlife sightings on the property. The database tracks information such as species, location of the sighting, date, time, name of observer and number of the species observed. The second priority for the team is to enhance the habitats for native species. Working with Pheasants Forever, the WM wildlife team planted filter strips composed of warm-season grasses and forbs to reduce sediment loading in the nearby stream, improving water quality for wildlife. The team also placed five nest boxes around the property providing valuable nesting habitats for eastern bluebirds.

In addition to its partnerships with Pheasants Forever and Ducks Unlimited, the site maintains relationships with local colleges that occasionally tour the site, and has an open-door policy for members of the community wishing to schedule a visit to learn more about the site’s Wildlife at Work program. The team’s future plans include creation of a pollinator garden with bee blocks, and the construction and placement of raptor perches and wood duck nest boxes.

Voyageur Industrial Landfill, Canyon, Minnesota

Wildlife at Work certified since: 2011
Acres managed for wildlife: 30

The Voyageur Industrial Landfill is located approximately 25 miles north of Duluth, Minnesota, and is surrounded primarily by rural area with both forested and wetland areas on-site. The site consists of 210 acres, 30 of which have been set aside exclusively for wildlife habitat. The wildlife team enlists the help of six dedicated employees as well as assistance from community volunteers. Some common or notable animals that have been observed on-site include white-tailed deer, gray wolves, red foxes, mallards and bald eagles.

In October 2009, walking trails were created throughout the property for the benefit of local wildlife as well as employees and community members, all of whom enjoy having greater access to wildlife. The process of creating the trails involves cutting and clearing brush. Much of this brush has been made into brush piles to provide cover for small mammals on-site and provide a food source for larger mammals. The brush piles were constructed in conjunction with the trail clearing, with additional piles added in summer 2010. As the walking trail was cleared, the wildlife team also seeded the area with native wildflowers, including big-leaf lupine, purple coneflower and perennial gaillardia. A pollinator garden was planted in the summer of 2009 and butterflies have already been seen at the site.

Future plans include monitoring for invasive species, such as Canada thistle and purple loosestrife, along the trail. The wildlife team plans to expand the pollinator garden and add bee blocks to attract even more pollinators. It would also like to construct an observation area so that visitors can better view wildlife on-site. These ongoing projects will continue to evolve with the hard work and dedication of employees and volunteers.

Waste Management of Allentown, Kutztown, Pennsylvania

Wildlife at Work certified since 2010
Acres managed for wildlife: 1.5

Waste Management of Allentown is located in Lehigh County near the Appalachian Trail and Hawk Mountain, a critical reserve for eastern Pennsylvania wildlife. The surrounding area is agricultural, and 10 acres of the 12.5-acre site are open farm fields. A 10-foot wide tree and shrub buffer separates the facility from the fields. A large storm water basin retains water year-round and provides habitat for waterfowl and wading birds. The five-member wildlife team keeps a log of all wildlife sighted at the facility.

The wildlife team installed two bluebird nest boxes in the summer of 2009. Employees monitored the boxes and documented four bluebird fledglings in 2010. The team plans to expand this project by adding more nest boxes with the help of the neighboring elementary school and a local scout troop.

A representative from the Hawk Mountain Bird Sanctuary helped the team choose the best location for an American kestrel nest box. The team installed the nest box on a 25-foot pole in the summer of 2010. Although the team hasn’t observed any kestrels nesting in the box, staff members have seen many kestrels and other birds perching on the box, and the wildlife team is confident that the next season will bring a successful nest.

The team’s future projects include controlling non-native invasive species and creating pollinator gardens with the help of scouts, other youth groups, and garden clubs. The team is also working with a scout group to design and build bat roosting boxes. An educational kiosk will provide information to visitors about the habitat projects.

Waterford Recreation Association Sports Complex, Morrisville, Pennsylvania

Wildlife at Work certified since 2003
Acres managed for wildlife: 52

The Oliver Landfill Site is a 52-acre former municipal solid waste/industrial landfill site located near Waterford Township, Erie County, Pennsylvania. Closure of the site under the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection's (PADEP) Site Remediation Program involved the design of an alternative remedy that integrated ecological enhancement with beneficial reuse of the site as a baseball field recreational facility for the local community. The area is now named the Waterford Recreation Association Sports Complex.

Due to the community's interest in reviving the natural setting of the site, the beneficial reuse approach included phytoremediation and ecological enhancement techniques. Some of the methods include planting trees that readily adsorb water, installing a dense tree cap (EcapTM) on the waste cells and a living fence surrounding the waste cells and constructing a down-gradient wetland basin. The tree cap consists of dense stands of hybrid poplar trees, which were planted over the waste cells to promote stormwater uptake and reduce the ability of stormwater to permeate the ground under the cells. The initial plantings will be augmented by indigenous species of trees and shrubs, and species diversity will increase on the cap over a long-term period. In addition, an innovative approach in the form of a living fence, consisting of native trees and shrubs, provides wildlife habitat while being aesthetically pleasing.

The constructed wetland was designed as a wet meadow basin to collect stormwater runoff from the up-gradient area of the site. The mix of wetland vegetation types planted in this area has further diversified the habitat opportunities available to wildlife. Using the phytoremediation approach on-site helped to meet PADEP requirements, and it also simultaneously resulted in the creation of improved habitat and increased use of the area by a more diversified wildlife community.

Watertown Hauling Co., Felts Mills, New York

Wildlife at Work certified since 2008
Acres managed for wildlife:

Waste Managements Watertown Hauling facility is located in Black River, N.Y. The facility is used as waste management equipment maintenance and repair building as well as an office building. Waste Management's trucks are stored and repaired at the property. Historically farmland, the 30-acre hauling facility is buffered by a wooded tree line and is divided almost in half by a county road. A stormwater management pond is located along the entrance to the property with a tall grassland area along the eastern boundary of the property. Twenty-five employees are present on the site daily, five of whom have joined the facilities wildlife team.

Waste Management is a leader in environmental restoration and preservation efforts and encourages all of its facilities to exceed regulatory requirements for habitat enhancement. By implementing a Wildlife at Work program, the employees at the Watertown site will carry out that mission every day, making possible the company's long-term vision of preserving biodiversity.

The habitat enhancement program at the Waste Management of New York's Watertown facility is a dynamic project. Along with employees present on site, partnerships with numerous community groups make a Wildlife at Work program possible. By enhancing the stormwater management pond, installing and monitoring wood duck nest boxes, managing grassland areas, using native plants in landscaping, and planning pollinator gardens, the wildlife team members have exceeded what is required of them, and have made a notable contribution to increasing biodiversity at the facility.

Webster Hauling, Webster, New York

Wildlife at Work certified since 2010
Acres managed for wildlife: 5

The Webster Hauling facility, located in a residential and industrial area of western New York, currently provides five acres of actively managed wildlife habitat. In an effort to attract native pollinators, the wildlife team established five pollinator gardens in front of the facility. Sod removed while establishing the garden beds was reused on-site to cover areas damaged by snow plows. Great effort was made to include native wildflowers, such as New England aster, cardinal flower and lanceleaf coreopsis. Plant growth, presence of invasive species and visiting wildlife will be monitored. Three bee boxes that provide habitat for wood-dwelling native bees were added to complement the area. The wildlife team identified areas of high bee activity within the garden and used those observations to guide placement of the boxes.

Coarse woody debris is a critical habitat component for many species. Terrestrial amphibians, small mammals and birds seek shelter and food resources in debris piles, which usually consist of downed trees and other woody material. The wildlife team created a coarse woody debris pile by relocating brush from a drainage ditch to a grassy area. The location was chosen for ease of monitoring, vegetation height and availability of perches in nearby trees. A variety of wildlife, including garter snake, rabbit, ruffed grouse, killdeer and wasp are observed using the debris pile.

Nature trails that showcase different stages of forest succession are currently under construction and will provide an important educational opportunity for the local community. In the upcoming year, the early succession area will be enhanced through invasive species removal and the creation of two vernal pools. Additionally, nest boxes will be placed across the site for the benefit of cavity-nesting birds.

Westside Closed Landfill & Active Transfer Station, Fort Worth, Texas

Wildlife at Work certified since 2008
Acres managed for wildlife: 325

The Westside Facility is located 13 miles west of downtown Fort Worth, Texas, just north of Interstate 30. The facility comprises 325 acres with property that includes a closed landfill and adjacent buffer areas, as well as a former soil borrow area used while the landfill was active. Operations in this area were ceased in 2007, at which point the Westside wildlife team and outside consultants began to make plans for restoration and enhancement of the site into a wetland habitat.

The area is now the site of a 47-acre lake which has been constructed to mimic lake conditions found in nature, including shorelines which contain a variety of slopes, benches and shelves, a lake bottom of varying depths, and native vegetation around the periphery. In 2008, the lake was stocked with five species of fish including red ear sunfish, copper nose bluegill, fathead minnow, large mouth bass and black crappie. Local Boy Scout troops were also recruited to construct and erect bird boxes along the edges of the lake.

In addition to the large lake, several small wetlands were created on the south and north sides of the entry pond. These areas had wetland plants and willow "waddles" installed. The "waddles" are made from the branches of nearby willow trees and provide a natural barrier which traps sediment and helps enhance the development of wetland areas. The wildlife team noted that the wetland plantings were slow to become established, and supplemental plantings took place in 2008.

Employees at the Westside Facility developed three food plots to supplement wildlife sustenance during site disturbance. In recent years, these areas have been expanded and additional perennial seed mixes have been planted. The food plots have also been supplemented with feeders containing feed material for deer.

In 2004, the Westside Facility was required to re-vegetate areas adjacent to the soil borrow area (now the lake) with a combination of Indian grass, big bluestem, sideoats grama, and Illinois bundleflower. The wildlife team has gone above and beyond these restoration requirements by including switchgrass plantings which act as a transition zone between the newly created lake and the native prairie. Since 2007, native grasses have been planted throughout the site, including on the final landfill cap and on an old stockpile area of 13 acres.

An area that was once part of the landfill operations will be reclaimed as a two-acre pollinator garden. The area was filled with soil and graded to drain, and was seeded with vegetation to stabilize the soil in the spring of 2007. As of 2008, the formal delineation of the pollination area was determined and "no-mow" signs were installed.

Future goals for this site include continued enhancement and management of on-going projects, the creation of an environmental learning center for the utilization of community groups and schools, and the establishment of a wild turkey management program.

Wheelabrator Gloucester, Westville, New Jersey

Wildlife at Work certified since 2009
Acres managed for wildlife: 30

Wheelabrator Gloucester is located on 153 acres on the shores of the Delaware River in west-central New Jersey. The property includes three primary habitat types: grasslands, upland forests and wetlands. As part of the Wildlife at Work program, the WM wildlife team actively manages 30 acres of the site for wildlife habitat enhancement and restoration.

The WM wildlife team consists of six core members whose primary goal is to minimize and potentially reverse the impacts of invasive plants to restore native grassland and wetland habitat. Working with partner organizations including the New Jersey Quail Project, Gloucester County Nature Club and South Jersey Quail Unlimited, the WM wildlife team is taking a long-term approach to managing invasive plants on the property. In June 2008, the team initiated a plan to curb the most problematic invasive plant, Phragmites. The team cut down the Phragmites covering most of the site’s upland areas, then sprayed the re-growth later in the year; the process was repeated again in 2009. Other invasive plants managed by the team include mile-a-minute vine and princess tree. A partnership with the New Jersey Department of Agriculture released weevils to control the mile-a-minute vine, and periodic assessments show this method is proving successful.

In addition to controlling invasive species, the WM wildlife team created a nature trail through the site’s natural areas in the late 1990s. The trail is open to the public and includes observation stands for wildlife watching. The team recently partnered with an Eagle Scout to conduct improvements to the trail and repair a pavilion. The site also participates in the annual Environmental Symposium event for 200 middle school students and 30 teachers from eight states. The Environmental Symposium is designed to increase environmental and social awareness.

Wheelabrator Saugus, Inc., Saugus, Massachusetts

Wildlife at Work certified since 2008
Corporate Lands for Learning certified since 2008
Acres managed for wildlife: 200

The Wheelabrator Saugus site is comprised of 300 acres located in Essex County, Massachusetts. Initially established as a mitigation measure in the 1990s, the site has continued to maintain and enhance about 200 acres of the property for wildlife.  Wheelabrator has developed the project into the Bear Creek Wildlife Sanctuary, complete with an on-site meeting and teaching center. Through partnerships with local educational institutes, the site is actively used as a classroom and field laboratory for a variety of environmental studies.

The Bear Creek Wildlife Sanctuary is situated in the Rumney Marshes Area of Critical Environmental Concern as designated by the Massachusetts Executive Office of Environmental Affairs. The site developed and maintains numerous specific native habitats including coastal shrubland, early successional forest, native grasslands and wet meadows in order to attract targeted wildlife species.

The site's location along the North Atlantic Flyway was the basis for the habitat and wildlife goals for the site due to the high percentage of birds that migrate northward through Massachusetts. To increase diversity on the site to provide quality food sources, cover and space for migratory birds, the site has been controlling the non-native invasive species phragmites australis. The primary invasive control plan for the site is an adaptive management program designed to enhance natural selection to favor the long-term establishment of native species.

To accomplish this, the site implemented a number of programs based on soil and growing condition enhancements that favor indigenous plant communities. To track the health of the habitat for avian species the site has established partnerships with members of the Massachusetts Audubon Society who conduct annual Christmas bird counts as well as grassland bird counts.

The Corporate Lands for Learning program at Saugus takes advantage of the many learning opportunities provided by the surrounding Rumney Marshes. This site's CLL program is firmly based in the partnerships made in the area.

Many of the lessons in the pollinator gardens, biological field study station and nature trails are coordinated through the partnership with North Shore Community College. NSCC conducts annual arboriculture classes at the site, and hosts annual Christmas Bird Counts and Grassland Bird Surveys. They also use the site extensively in a dendrology (study of trees) course.

Other community partners include Project YES (Youth Empowerment and Success), who uses the site regularly, Waybright Elementary School, who tours the Sanctuary as part of their Ecology Club, and Essex Agricultural & Technical High School, which conducts an on-going transect study.

Wilsonville Landfill, Saint Louis, Missouri

Wildlife at Work certified since 2009
Acres managed for wildlife: 564

The Wilsonville facility is a 564-acre closed landfill located approximately 50 miles northeast of St. Louis, Missouri. The property consists of cropland, grassland, forest and two ponds. The West Fork of the Cahokia Creek runs through the western portion of the site.

The Wildlife at Work program consists of habitat enhancement efforts which began in May 2008 with the placement of underwater brush piles and basking logs in the site’s ponds. Since then, the site has controlled invasive Phragmites and rotationally mowed the site’s grasslands. The WM wildlife team and a group of dedicated volunteers conduct extensive bird surveys on a weekly basis to document avian diversity on the property. Future activities will include planting native vegetation around the ponds and restoring an area of oak savanna.

Woodland Recycling and Disposal Facility, South Elgini, Illinois

Wildlife for Work certified since 1991
Acres managed for wildlife: 20

Waste Management's 213-acre Woodland Recycling and Disposal Facility is located in South Elgin, Illinois. Landfill areas occupy about 121 acres of the site. Other areas include a substantial wetland, grasslands and patches of wooded buffer. The site accepted waste from the early 1970s until its closing in 2002. The site now captures methane released from decomposing organic material and burns it to produce electricity.

The site's wildlife habitat initiatives began in 1989 when the site enhanced a wetland mitigation project to expand the amount of required wetland by 20 acres and planted a buffer area with prairie species. In 1993, the site installed four wood duck boxes in the wetland area and monitored them. More recently, the site has created brush piles to provide habitat for small mammals and reptiles and amphibians.

The site's future plans include installing additional wood duck boxes, controlling invasive species such as Phragmites and seeding additional areas with a native seed mix.