Shawano County is getting out of the landfill business.
The Shawano County Board on Dec. 20 approved a resolution approving the closure of Unit 5 of Phase 2 of the Shawano Landfill at the end of 2025. The resolution also addressed new per diem payments for the Shawano Solid Waste Management Board (SWMB) beginning in 2024.
“This is basically the first step to formally closing the landfill, and the MOU (memorandum of understanding) that’s referred to in there will have to be worked out, just what those fine details will be,” County Board Chairman Tom Kautza said. “But, this actually first establishes now a final date that we will be out of the landfill business.”
Effective Dec. 31, 2025, Unit 5 of Phase 2 of the Shawano Landfill, located on Rusch Road in the city of Shawano, will no longer accept waste, with the area then transitioning solely to a transfer station.
“I think the resolution here explains it pretty well,” Supervisor Randy Young said. “It’s something we’ve been working awhile, a little give and take from both sides.”
Supervisor Arlyn Tober wondered where the towns, especially those in the western part of the county, will be able to take their garbage.
“Can they just haul it straight over without coming to the transfer station?” he asked.
Kautza said towns will be able to take their trash to the location of their choosing.
“At that time, it will be up to everybody to decide what they would like to do – if they want to bring it to the transfer station, if they want to take it directly to Ringle, or if they’re goofy enough and they want to haul it to Milwaukee, they can pay to haul it all the way down there. It’s up to them,” he said. “They’re on their own, and the county is completely out of it then.”
Capping of this section in the Shawano Landfill will be completed as soon as possible thereafter or within 18 months after official closure, as required by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources.
Officials with the SWMB, Shawano County and the City of Shawano expect to execute an agreement that will address future capping costs for this section and management restructuring of the Shawano Landfill Transfer Station.
Per diem payment for the SWMB are to be paid by funds acquired through tipping fees, effective Jan. 1, 2024.
kpasson@newmedia-wi.com
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