Leachate Management

Autumn Hills Recycling and Disposal Facility has served the west Michigan community for more than 25 years, providing safe, environmentally-sound management of solid waste. Beyond the detailed landfill engineering, design and construction, protecting the environment involves effective collection and management of landfill liquids (also known as leachate) and landfill gas, which is generated during the natural decomposition of the waste.

The historical method of managing leachate at Autumn Hills, through the sanitary sewer to the Holland Board of Public Works, is no longer an available option. After an extensive review of leachate management alternatives, WM and the team at Autumn Hills have determined the most reliable and proven, long-term environmentally sound alternative is deep well injection. Continued safe management of leachate is the objective of this project, ensuring liquids are disposed of without compromising any aspect of public health or the environment.

Autumn Hills is seeking regulatory approval from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) to construct and operate a Class I Injection Well on its property for the safe and reliable disposal of non-hazardous liquids collected at the landfill. The proposed well will be similar to numerous other deep injection wells safely operating throughout Michigan. In fact, with the extensive sound and protective geologic conditions present in western Michigan, there are seven other Class I injection wells operating in the Holland/Zeeland area safely managing wastewaters for over 45 years.