King and Queen Landfill - Municipal Solid Waste Landfill in Little Plymouth, Virginia

King and Queen Landfill is a municipal solid waste landfill located at 1000 Iris Road in Little Plymouth, King and Queen County, Virginia. Owned by King and Queen County and operated by Republic Services, Inc., the facility has been accepting waste since 1993 and is expected to remain operational until 2044. As a landfill in a rural area of Virginia, it serves the local community's solid waste disposal needs. The landfill operates under the regulatory framework of the US EPA's Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) Subtitle D, which governs municipal solid waste landfills, and the Clean Air Act's landfill gas rules. These regulations require liners, leachate collection systems, and gas monitoring to minimize environmental impacts. The facility's scale is typical for a county-owned landfill in the region, handling waste from surrounding areas. Environmental significance includes the management of landfill gas, which is a source of methane emissions. Modern landfills like King and Queen are required to collect and control gas, often converting it to energy. Leachate management is also critical to protect groundwater in the area. The facility's location in a rural setting reduces community proximity concerns but still requires careful monitoring of traffic and odor.

The landfill is situated in a rural area of Virginia's Middle Peninsula, where groundwater protection is a key concern due to the region's hydrology. Landfill gas collection systems are essential to mitigate methane emissions, a potent greenhouse gas. Leachate management must prevent contamination of local waterways and aquifers. The facility's proximity to residential areas is limited, reducing community exposure to odors and traffic, but ongoing monitoring is required to ensure compliance with environmental regulations.