Virginia DEQ issues emergency order for Waverly’s Atlantic Waste Disposal landfill

The Atlantic Waste Disposal landfill in Waverly, Virginia, is now under an emergency order from the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ), due to violations of the Virginia Waste Management Act stemming from excess heat in the landfill.

The landfill’s internal temperatures have led to increased odor, decreased slope stability, and increased volumes of leachate, or waste-contaminated water. The excess leachate is flowing outside the lined disposal area and into nearby wetlands, impacting an estimated 3.4 acres.

The order, which does not include any potential enforcement actions, requires the landfill to address the leachate by removing it from unlined areas, prevent it from moving outside of the lined disposal areas and remove no less than 2.5 million gallons per week, a figure that will increase to 3.5 million gallons after 60 days. Additionally, Atlantic is required to reduce its waste intake to a maximum of 35,000 tons per week and backfill sinkholes in the waste mass. The company must also fulfil several reporting requirements, including cost estimates, notification on non-compliance within 24 hours, and weekly monitoring data on the landfill’s temperature, waste intake and leachate removal.

The DEQ will also continue monitoring the landfill to ensure compliance with the emergency order and the Waste Management Act.