The department completed the work on a $216,133 grant awarded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, or USDA. The goal of the project was to assess the condition of some of Missouri’s older closed rural landfills that operated under less stringent standards than modern landfills are required to meet.

The assessment of 58 landfills began in November 2010 and was completed by May 2011. Following those assessments, results of the evaluations were compiled into informational reports that were sent to each landfill owner, along with guidance materials and historical documents regarding their landfill.  

The department also developed and provided guidance to county collectors for distribution to potential buyers in the event a landfill is sold at a tax sale.  The information each collector received included the locations of all landfills in their county and guidance on landfill maintenance, buying and selling landfills, and future use of landfill properties to ensure the landfills and surrounding water resources are protected.  The objective is to help ensure that all landfill buyers are aware of the requirements, responsibilities, and potential liabilities of owning such properties.

The grant, entitled the Missouri Closed Landfill Technical Assistance Project and funded through USDA’s Rural Development Utilities Program, was managed by the department’s Solid Waste Management Program.