Comprehensive Environmental Guideline
Landfills & Waste
The Macon County Solid Waste Management Plan designates the method of landfilling as our county’s best management practice for disposing of waste that may not be recycled or composted.
Modern, engineered landfills are not the dumps of yesteryear. Landfills must be permitted by the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency and are operated to prevent pollution and off-site impacts. Landfill control measures and collection systems manage landfill gases and leachate. Veolia ES Valley View serves as the county’s sole municipal solid waste landfill.
Municipal solid waste landfills and garbage haulers are required to reject the following wastes: tires, liquids, kitchen appliances, hazardous materials, landscape waste, electronics such as computers and televisions as well as specified commercial and industrial wastes.
Most of the material that is deposited in Illinois landfills is recyclable. The Illinois Waste Characterization Study cites that most of the waste that is placed in our state’s landfills could have potentially been diverted from landfilling.
Regulations
County
Macon County Refuse Ordinance
Licensed Waste Haulers
State
Illinois Environmental Protection Act
Title 35 of Illinois Administrative Code
- Clean Air Act (CAA)
- Clean Water Act (CWA)
- Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA or Superfund)
- Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA)
- Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA)
Reporting an Environmental Issue
ENVIRONMENTAL EMERGENCIES (24-HOURS)
Illinois Emergency Management Agency
(800) 782-7860
Open Dumping of Waste
Macon County Environmental Management
(217) 421-0291
Active Open Dumping of Waste
(weekend & evening hours)
Macon County Sheriff’s Office
(217) 424-1319
Illegal Burning (active)
Local Fire Protection District
Illegal Burning of Wastes
Macon County Environmental Management (217) 421-0291
Air Pollution
Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (217) 278-5800
Water Pollution
Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (217) 278-5800
Hazardous Waste – Illegal Disposal
Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (217) 278-5800
Open dumping by abandonment or illegal disposal is illegal as well as a threat to human health and the environment. Learn more about Open Dumping.
Benefits of Landscape Recycling
Decomposed lawn clippings and leaves provide nutrients to growing plants, retain water and improve soil composition. In turn, fewer fertilizers, pesticides and soil amendments need to be purchased. The application of fewer synthetic products reduces chemical run-off and dependence on non-renewable resources used in the manufacturing of fertilizers.
Landscape recycling eliminates the cost, fuel consumption and carbon emissions of transporting bags and bundles of landscape material by your waste hauler. Landscape recycling benefits you, your community and the environment.
Benefits for You
- Cost savings
- Availability of resources for your lawn and plants
- Healthier lawn and garden
Benefits for the Community
- Fewer waste collection trucks on the road
- Less unsightly waste at the curb
Benefits for the Environment
- Energy saved
- Reduced carbon emissions
- Fewer resources extracted
Using Compost and Mulch
Recycling is using a material again to produce something of value. Landscape recycling begins with the first step of collecting plant materials by mowing, trimming, pruning or removal. In the second step, the materials are directly reused, composted or processed into mulch. During the third step, the compost and mulch are used as soil amendments, nutrient sources or applied for moisture retention and weed suppression.
All three of the steps must be completed to close the recycling loop. Residents can complete all three of the landscape recycling steps within their own yard or, on a smaller scale, apartment while container gardening.
Recycling Grass Clippings
The urban myth that grass clippings cause thatch build-up is not true. Thatch is primarily composed of grass parts that contain slowly decomposing lignin. Lignin is predominantly present in the lower portions of the grass plant, not at the top of the shoot. Grass clippings break down in the lawn within a few days and release nutrients back into the soil. Up to 4 pounds of usable organic nitrogen, a pound of phosphorous and three pounds of potassium are in 100 pounds of grass clippings. In fact 25% of your lawn’s fertilizer needs can be met by leaving grass clippings on the lawn, reducing the need for supplemental fertilizers.
For a healthy lawn:
- Mow when the grass is dry to allow an even dispersion of discharged grass clippings
- Set your lawnmower deck high to encourage deeper roots and defend against weeds
- Keep the mower blade sharp and consider using a mulching blade
- Limit chemical use to allow beneficial organisms to thrive in the soil
- Apply excesses of chemical-free clippings in a thin layer over your garden and plant beds
Recycling Leaves
For large volumes of leaves, a multi-faceted approach is best. The best options include:
- Let some leaves rest around the base of plants to serve as mulch
- Regularly mow over dry leaves, leaving them on the grass
- Shred leaves with a mower, then apply thin layers around plants, work into garden soil, or add to the compost pile
Recycling Limbs, Branches & Woody Material
- Incorporate layers of woodchips or materials of less than ½-inch diameter in your compost pile
- Contact a professional tree service to chip and haul the material
Composter & Rain Barrel Sales Program
During the Spring of 2011, Macon County Environmental Management is selling compost tumblers and rain barrels that are fabricated from used food-grade plastic barrels. The units are made in Illinois by Upcycle-products.com.
Contact the Macon County Environmental Department by telephone at (217) 425-4505 or by email at EnvironmentalManagement@co.macon.il.us to learn more about the program.
Macon County Permitted Compost Sites
Landscape materials collected by waste haulers are transported to Macon County Compost Facility for grinding. The ground material is then transported to Decatur Composting, Inc. to finish the composting process. The end-products, mulch and compost, are available for purchase in bulk loads at Macon County’s permitted composting sites.
- Decatur Composting, Inc.
3680 N. Bearsdale Road, Decatur
Telephone: (217) 519-7696
Operated by Don Roderick
Open by appointment
Products: Compost, woodchips – delivery available
- Macon County Composting Facility
3520 N. Bearsdale Road, Decatur
Telephone: (217) 424-1626
Operated by Evans Recycling, Murrayville, IL
Open 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Monday through Friday. Saturday hours vary by season.
Products: Mulch, woodchips
Self-Hauling Landscape Materials to Permitted Compost Facility
Macon County Composting Facility at 3520 N. Bearsdale Road accepts landscape materials in containers and paper bags or by the truckload. Fees apply based upon the amount of material. Normal operating hours are 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Monday through Friday. Saturday hours vary by season. Call 424-1626 for more information.
Guidelines for Landscape Waste Curbside Service
- Place landscape materials in paper bags, dedicated containers or bundles for weekly collection by your waste hauler.
- Containers must be no more than 32 gallon capacity, have opposing handles and a tight-fitting lid (some haulers/local units of government do not allow containers to be used).
- Each bag, container or bundle must weigh less than 35 pounds. Please be considerate of your waste hauler employee repetitively lifting multiple bags.
- Do not mingle litter and municipal waste in containers and paper bags.
- Tie limbs and branches in bundles of less than 48 inches in length.
- Place containers, paper bags and bundles within 3 feet of the curb within 24 hours of collection.
Residents outside of the City of Decatur, may contact their regular garbage hauler to inquire about seasonal pick-up schedules, fees and volume limits for landscape wastes.
City of Decatur residents’ landscape waste services are based on the city’s waste services subscription menu. Basic and Expanded Basic waste removal services include limited yard waste pickup for six weeks in the Spring & six weeks in the Fall. Premium waste removal service includes a year-round, unlimited yard waste option for an additional fee. The City of Decatur website contains further information.
Be a Good Neighbor
Do not burn landscape materials – burning is illegal in many areas, wastes organic resources and exacerbates respiratory problems.
Do not sweep leaves or discharge clippings onto the street – clogged storm sewers contribute to localized flooding.
