Introduction
Nonhazardous Solid Waste Management and Landfill Capacity in Illinois: 1997 v 7
capacity gains in Regions Three and Four is 75 percent of the
statewide increase in capacity.
Per capita views alter perspectives
Perhaps even more revealing is the table below, which views wastes
disposed and landfill capacities on a per capita basis. This table
changes the perspective of Region Two’s waste consumption from an
exceptional 33 percent to a reasonable fewest cubic yards per capita
(nearly one and a half cubic yards below the statewide average).
Regions Two and Six (Metro East St. Louis) had landfill capacity per
capita which was the lowest in the state; however, this table warns
that the regions could run out of space by 2005 and 2006 respectively
unless wastes are landfilled elsewhere or new capacity is added, or
both.
Just as important, this table reveals that remaining capacities and
landfill life expectancies in Illinois are generally good, especially in
Regions Three and Five. (Region Five, even after subtracting 11.5
million gate cubic yards of capacity tied up in a court-ordered closure
of Springfield’s Sangamon Valley Landfill, would still lead the state
with 34.9 years of landfill life expectancy.)
The charts below illustrate there is no capacity crisis in Illinois, nor is
one likely to occur. They show that while the number of active
landfills fell sharply before leveling off in 1994, average landfill
capacity has been growing, while quantities of wastes landfilled have
remained in a narrow band for the past 10 years.
Still, it’s wise to remember, as with investments, past performance is
not an indicator of future results.
and Landfill Capacity Per Capita; Landfill Life Expectancy
Wastes Disposed and Landfill Capacity Per Capita; Landfill Life Expectancy
Estimated
Population Wastes Disposed, Cu. Yds. Remaining Capacity, Cu. Yds Landfill Life
Region 7-1-97 1997 Per Capita Jan. 1, 1998 Per Capita Years1
One: Northwestern Illinois 781,202 3,096,371 4.0 71,707,000 91.8 23.2
Two: Chicago Metropolitan 7,792,278 13,349,763 1.7 108,364,000 13.9 8.1
Three: Peoria/Quad Cities 759,040 5,388,428 7.1 174,979,000 230.5 32.5
Four: East Central Illinois 849,354 8,673,130 10.2 108,884,000 128.2 12.6
Five: West Central Illinois 562,783 2,028,147 3.6 70,756,000 125.7 34.9
Six: Metropolitan East St. Louis 713,921 6,027,589 8.4 54,978,000 77.0 9.1
Seven: Southern Illinois 437,271 1,830,364 4.2 33,426,000 76.4 18.3
Totals 11,895,849 40,393,792 3.4 623,094,000 52.4 15.4
1Remaining capacity divided by wastes disposed. Tells how long a region may be served by local landfills at current disposal rates, barring capacity
adjustments, until capacity is depleted.
