Landfill Initiatives Task Force

Yes - the link it listed in multiple places here on the webpage (and is being shared today on social media and in the Town's Weekly Update newsletter) and is: https://bit.ly/June26LTF. Anyone can tune into the live meeting on June 26 at 6:30 p.m. to hear the discussion from the Task Force and submit questions. 

Multiple routes are under consideration by the Task Force. The "open land" by those areas you mention is mostly privately owned, so if the Task Force recommends using those areas to create dedicated routes, the Town would need to investigate the cost/ability to purchase land. 

The Task Force is scheduled to meeting through September. There are more meetings between now and them for the group to come to a consensus on a recommendation to the Council.

Hi Karen - the meeting on June 26 is indeed virtual, but it is not closed to the public. Anyone is more than welcome to tune in and watch/submit questions during the meeting. Use the link https://bit.ly/June26LTF to attend the meeting at 6:30 p.m. on June 26. We had to switch to virtual simply because of scheduling issues, no other reason. Future meetings are planned to be back in person.

We have added your other comments to the list of comments for the Task Force to consider. 

What is to be gained for WC by moving the entrance? There are currently significant issues with the current location regarding WCR 5 and hauling through the intersection of WCR5/Erie Pkwy and the proximity to Erie High. Additionally, the current entrance location will eventually be used for waste deposition, so the entrance will need to be moved at some point. The question is,  should the entrance be moved now or the can kicked to a future date. 

It seems like all planning and engineering would have been done considering the current entrance for the past , current and into the future. Conditions surrounding the landfill have changed significantly, and continue to change, since the entrance was established 30+ years ago. The current recommendations being considered by the Task Force will dictate the planning and engineering that is needed (and where) to address current and reasonably foreseeable future conditions.  

As for the maintenance facility, it seems that it and a new entrance would invite traffic down roads landfill traffic is supposed to avoid. Both WCR 7 and WCR 6 are posted accordingly. How do you plan to avoid this? The Waste Connections fleet of trucks already visits the landfill, then routes to the maintenance facility on County Line Road, thus that traffic would be avoided without addition. 

With respect to the accident report on WCR7 and Erie Parkway, what are the numbers pre traffic light and post traffic light. I think it is important to distinguish the figures for both. These data are being evaluated currently. 

A suggestion, would it be possible for Erie to purchase land east of WCR 7 and cut a diagonal path to Erie Parkway near I-25? Purchase of lands and construction of a haul route has not been explored by Waste Connections or the Town to date.

Answers are in bold. 

It is my understanding that the current permit and available space would allow to operate until 2051. Is that correct? The lifetime of currently permitted landfill activities is not known as rates of disposal can vary widely due to future waste diversion efforts (e.g. recycling/composting/etc.), contracts, rate of compaction, and many other unknown factors, particularly as the landfill approaches permitted capacity. 

If not, what is the anticipated date for discontinuing the landfill operations? There is not currently an anticipated date to end operations. The landfill operates under a permitted capacity, which is dictated by total volume and compaction, not a future date certain. 

If the above is correct, how much longer would the additional 36 acres extend the life of the landfill? This is also not known due to the variables above. 

Does Waste Management already own the 36 acres southeast of the current landfill operations? Yes. 

If so, are they simply looking for a permit to extend landfill operations to the land they already own? Yes, as well as annexation into the Town as this land is currently in unincorporated Weld County. 

What financial benefits does the Town of Erie receive from Waste Management for the landfill operations? The Town receives 10% of disposal fees, totaling between 2.5 and 3 million dollars per year. 

If landfill operations were to cease, how would the Town replace the lost revenue stream? This revenue will be lost without replacement once operations cease. 

Are revenues received from the landfill operations earmarked for specific purposes, such as parks or open space, or do they become part of the general fund? Most of the funds are applied to road repair and maintenance to offset wear from the heavy traffic to/from the landfill.  

The landfill operation is almost completely surrounded by existing or planned residential communities (Broomfield, Vista Ridge, Red Tail Ranch, Sunset, Westerly and Ranch Eggs). Is it wise to expand a landfill operation that sits in the middle of so much residential development? Residential development is not restricted by state or local (in this case Erie, Broomfield, and Weld County) regulation.  

We noted your comments about the traffic levels in that area.

Thank you - we will add this into the comment form for the Task Force members to review. 

While some studies* in the mid to late 1990’s showed some negative impact (~5-7%) on rural residential property values, the Town is not aware of more current or relevant studies of the issue. Note that a statistically valid study of this type would be extremely expensive and would need to be carried out over a large geographic area.

*The Impact of Landfills on Residential Property Values, Reichert et al., 1992; The Effect of Landfills on Rural Residential Property Values: Some Empirical Evidence, Bouvier et al., 2000; Price Effects of Landfills on Different House Value Strata, Nelson et al., 1997

Private entities have autonomy in most cases to set their prices how they best see fit. There are free drop-off days each spring and fall (we are in the middle of a drop-off week right now) that may be interesting to you. https://www.erieco.gov/744/Clean-Up-Days

Correct, Front Range Landfill is part way through its overall development. 

Here is a response from Front Range Landfill directly, "Waste Connections is continually evaluating its long-term development plan for each of its landfills, including its plan for the Front Range Landfill. After an exhaustive review of the Front Range Landfills' currently permitted footprint and the surrounding property boundary, two potential expansion areas were selected as the most viable way to further develop the business while minimizing any impacts to the surrounding community. In addition to both expansion areas being visually screened due to their location, it will also allow the landfill to maximize the efficiency of the buildout of future landfill cells as well as its gas collection and control system."

The landfill is a privately owned business which can manage their operations as the owners determine is best. The Front Range Landfill is likely to remain active for the foreseeable future under the current permit. 

A second major landfill in Erie, the Denver Regional South Landfill (on the west side of WCR 5), closed in December 2020, so perhaps that was the source of the miscommunication.