(New York, N.Y.) The E.P.A. and the Municipality of Lajas, Puerto Rico, have reached a legal arrangement that will result in numerous upgrades at the Lajas Landfill, and a project to permanently close the landfill by July 2017. Lajas will also implement a recycling and composting program.
"This arrangement sets the Municipality of Lajas on the right course- more material will be recycled and composted, and more will be done to protect the environment and the health of area residents," said E.P.A. Regional Administrator Judith A. Enck.
As part of the arrangement announced today, Lajas will establish regular curbside pickup of recyclable materials, scrap tires, certain auto parts, white goods, and food and yard waste throughout urban areas of the municipality, and will establish recycling drop-off centers in rural areas. The municipality will create a pilot composting plan for the collection of compostable materials. Lajas will use information from this pilot plan to establish a permanent composting plan by mid-2015.
The Municipality of Lajas has also agreed to make enhancements at its landfill, including covering exposed areas on a daily basis, implementing measures to reduce stormwater, and reducing the amount of dust at the landfill. In addition, the municipality will level out steep slopes at the landfill, which will decrease the chances of a landslide and runoff. The municipality will enhance the landfill's security, and will inspect all incoming loads of waste to the landfill to prevent the disposal of hazardous wastes, certain liquid wastes, scrap ties, recyclable materials, and refrigerators and other appliances. Finally, Lajas has agreed to close all areas of the landfill that are currently being used by July 1, 2017. The closed areas of the landfill will instill a cap, which will reduce the amount of rainwater entering the landfill, as well as measures to reduce methane and other landfill gas emissions from rotting waste and collect leachate. Leachate is a liquid that has percolated through or been generated by decomposition of waste material.
The Lajas Municipal Solid Waste Landfill has been receiving waste since 1977. The majority of the waste deposited in the landfill includes solid household waste, as well as commercial solid waste and construction and demolition debris. Following inspections, the E.P.A. determined that the landfill lacked proper run-off controls, a leachate collection system, and operational groundwater and methane monitoring systems. The landfill has extremely steep and potentially unstable slopes.
The suggested Administrative Order on Consent that details this arrangement is subject to a public review period that ends on August 31.
The E.P.A. will hold a public meeting on August 28, 2014 to explain this arrangement and is encouraging public comments. The meeting will be held at 7:00 p.m. at Avenida 1ero de Julio de 1883 in Barrio Sabana Yeguas, Lajas.
Written comments may be mailed to:
Meghan LaReau
E.P.A. - Region two
290 Broadway - 21st Floor
New York, N.Y. 10007-1866
212-637-4067
[email protected]
