Talking trash

County landfill continues to set records

The Flathead County landfill could take in more than 12,000 tons of garbage this month, setting its second all-time record in as many months.

The landfill, which serves as the primary dumping ground for the valley, took in more than 111,000 tons of garbage and construction debris in 2004, an increase of 15.7 percent from the previous year.

Despite that huge increase, new monthly records for garbage intake have been set during four of the first six months this year - including a record of 11,872 tons during June.

Given the amount of debris coming in from the reconstruction of Central School in Whitefish, Landfill Director Dave Prunty predicted that the July total would exceed 12,000 tons.

The landfill has a few years of capacity left within its current lined "cell."

It also has room to extend the liner by another 14 to 16 acres, after which the existing hill will be capped and a new garbage hill will start taking shape immediately to the south.

Excavation work recently began on the next lined cell, which will cover about six acres near the western edge of the existing garbage hill.

The project, which costs $1.25 million, includes digging a 40- to 50-foot-deep hole and removing about 400,000 cubic yards of dirt.

A number of trees next to Prairie View Drive also have been removed to make way for a 20- to 50-foot-high berm.

The berm will be seeded with grass mix this fall.

Next year, a high-tech plastic liner will be installed in the hole. That cell might hold five to 10 years' worth of garbage, depending on how fast the county grows.

To stay ahead of demand, the landfill is seeking a license from the Montana Department of Environmental Quality for the new garbage hill to the south.

If approved, the project will give the landfill another 50 to 75 years of capacity.

Prunty expects a public hearing about that proposal during the next few months.