GRAND CENTRAL LANDFILL

Environmental Stewardship

Environmental Protection

WM is committed to protecting human health and the environment. This commitment is a cornerstone of all that we do and the following principals are applicable to company operations worldwide:

Protection
We will conduct all operations in a manner that protects the environment and our employees, neighbors, and customers.

To learn more, watch: The Modern Landfill & Protecting the Environment

Compliance 

We will comply with all legal requirements and proactively implement procedures to ensure compliance.

Conservation
We will practice and promote the conservation of nature and the earth’s energy resources. The science of landfill construction has progressed remarkably from the days when waste was deposited in open, unlined “dumps.”

Today, modern landfills like Grand Central are carefully designed to contain waste and protect the environmental integrity of the surrounding area – including the air, water and soil. Our landfill incorporates advanced design features, including multi-layer liner construction, gas extraction and leachate removal systems.

WM is committed to meeting and or exceeding all regulatory requirements. Each facility is maintained carefully with a goal to meet or exceed federal, state and local regulations.

Environmental Monitoring Program

In accordance with the PADEP permit, Grand Central Landfill monitors groundwater, surface water and the air at the facility.

Groundwater monitoring is completed quarterly through a network of perimeter monitoring wells and landfill gas is monitored in accordance with the Title V permit. Leachate is collected and treated at GCSL's WWTP and is monitored daily. Stormwater is sampled and analyzed annually.

Landfill gas is a naturally occurring byproduct of waste and represents a low-cost green resource that can help generate alternative sources of power. Each person in the United States generates about 4.5 pounds of waste per day, and more than 50% of this waste is managed in municipal solid waste landfills such as Grand Central Landfill. Landfill gas typically consists of about 50% methane and 50% carbon dioxide.

Instead of simply flaring the gas, WM uses this gas in a variety of applications to create green energy. Grand Central partners with the Green Knight Economic Development Corporation to turn landfill gas into electricity. The Green Knight Energy Center and Grand Central manage 230 gas extraction wells located throughout the site and up to 3,000 cubic feet per minute of landfill gas.

The facility generates enough energy to power nearly 7,000 homes and replace 100,000 barrels of oil each year. With a large and growing number of beneficial-use gas projects around the country, WM is a nationwide leader in turning landfill gas into electrical power. The company has 136 landfill gas to energy related projects operating in 19 states.

To learn more about the Green Knight Economic Development Corporation, please visit gkedc.org.

Environmental Education

The Grand Central Landfill was certified by the Wildlife Habitat Council in 2007 for dedicating 200 acres to wildlife preservation. It is home to over 50 acres of grassland habitat, walking trails and an education center. The property is open to the public 365 days a year from dawn till dusk. The education center is open for events only.

The team works closely with bird experts, Federal Bird Banders, the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources and the Audubon Society.

Located to the south side of the landfill and buffered by 100 acres of contiguous cool-season grasslands, the Grand Central Environmental Education Center and habitat houses many species of birds and mammals. Several bird species have been identified at our habitat and are included on the Audubon's Species of concern list. These species include the Eastern Meadowlark, Bobolink, Northern Harrier, Bald Eagle, American Kestrel and the American Tree Swallow.

In addition to the WHC certification, the Grand Central Landfill is also a certified Audubon site.

In June of 2010, the landfill habitat team worked with Jacobsburg State Park to identify several Blue Grosbeaks. This finding put Grand Central Landfill on the map for the most northern nest site for these birds.