Rumpke 91仓库 & Recycling has officially opened its new Effingham County Landfill, a major milestone for the company that strengthens the waste disposal infrastructure in south-central Illinois. The landfill accepted its first load of waste on Monday, Oct. 26, after receiving final permit approval from the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency in mid-October. Located at 15325 East Highway 33 in Teutopolis, immediately east of Rumpke鈥檚 existing Landfill 33, the new facility is expected to provide approximately 30 years of additional waste disposal capacity for the region.
鈥淥ur goal was to develop a safe, compliant and reliable disposal site for the region and it鈥檚 incredibly rewarding to see the project come to fruition,鈥� said Austin Hayes, landfill manager for Rumpke. 鈥淭his site was developed using the best available technology for managing and disposing of waste. We鈥檙e proud to officially open the site and help expand the region鈥檚 waste disposal capacity for decades to come.鈥�
The landfill footprint spans about 100 acres, with 40 acres permitted for waste disposal. The landfill is permitted to accept municipal solid waste and construction and demolition debris. Hazardous waste is not accepted. In addition to the landfill, the property includes a scale house, heavy equipment maintenance building, wheel wash and a sediment pond to support daily operations and site management.
Rumpke began constructing the landfill in October 2024 and worked with several contractors to complete the project, including ARCO National Construction, Ameren Illinois, Blankenship Construction and Midwest Engineering and Testing, Inc. 鈥淎s a family business and leader in the waste industry, we鈥檙e committed to delivering first-class service while maintaining environmentally responsible disposal options,鈥� said Jeff Rumpke, Rumpke president. 鈥淲e鈥檙e proud to introduce this site as a critical part of the region鈥檚 waste disposal infrastructure and a reflection of our commitment to the communities we serve.鈥�
Modern landfills, like Rumpke鈥檚 Effingham County Landfill, are built in sections called cells. Before waste is placed in a cell, crews install a series of liners to protect the surrounding environment, including three feet of recompacted clay, a 60-mil-thick plastic liner, a protective geotextile layer and a drainage layer made of pea gravel.
The facility also features systems to collect and manage leachate, the wastewater generated when liquids come into contact with waste. Other systems include stormwater management, groundwater monitoring and landfill gas collection and monitoring. 鈥淧roper landfill management is key, and we strive to exceed all operational, environmental and regulatory standards while providing dependable, cost-effective disposal options for the community,鈥� Hayes said. 鈥淲e take pride in being a good neighbor and in managing our operations responsibly to protect human health and the environment.鈥�
Rumpke is currently placing an initial layer of household waste at the new site. This material is free of large, bulky items and helps protect the underlying liner system before routine disposal begins in spring 2027. Until then, construction and demolition debris will continue to be disposed of at Landfill 33, which is approaching its final disposal capacity. Rumpke expects to close Landfill 33 within the next few years as operations transition to the new site.