FEASIBILITY FOR SITING A MUNICIPAL SOLID WASTE LANDFILL IN TIPPECANOE COUNTY INDIANA, A PROPOSAL REVISITED

The Tippecanoe County Sanitary Landfill was closed in 1988 under federal Superfund regulations. It had operated for a number of years under poor management, yielding serious violations according to Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) Citizens of Tippecanoe County paid more than $10 million for landfill closure through a limited increase in the state income tax. This resulted in a negative reaction to local landfill operations by county citizens which added to the normal NIMBY concerns. County officials became aware of the low support for a local landfill. Net effect, no new county landfill gained approval and MSW is transported out of county at an increased cost. Nearly 25 years later, economic analysis of improved construction and operational procedures indicates that current costs could be reduced 25 % using alternate daily cover design and other improvements. However, additional social analysis and discussions are needed to convince the public that economic factors favor a local landfill operation. Seven possible sites were considered in the county but before performing on-site investigations, citizens must be convinced that the cost savings outweigh the negative effects of landfill operation.