Benewah County Sanitary Landfill - St. Maries, Idaho Solid Waste Management

Benewah County Sanitary Landfill is an operational solid waste management facility located on Highway 3, 2 miles south of St. Maries, Idaho. As a landfill serving Benewah County, it plays a key role in the region's waste disposal infrastructure, handling municipal solid waste from the surrounding area. The facility operates under the regulatory framework of the US EPA, including RCRA Subtitle D for municipal solid waste landfills and Clean Air Act landfill gas rules. The landfill's scale is typical for a rural county facility, managing waste from a small population base. Landfills in Idaho are subject to state-level oversight and must comply with groundwater monitoring and methane control requirements. Environmental considerations for this landfill include leachate management to protect local groundwater and methane gas collection to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The facility's location near the St. Maries River and in a forested region underscores the importance of proper waste containment. Community proximity and truck traffic are also relevant factors for local residents.

The landfill is situated in a rural, forested area of northern Idaho, near the St. Maries River. Groundwater protection is a key concern due to the region's hydrogeology, requiring robust leachate management systems. Methane generation from decomposing waste must be controlled to minimize greenhouse gas emissions and odor impacts on nearby communities. Traffic from waste hauling vehicles also affects local roads and air quality.