LAND & LAKES CO-WILLOW RANCH Landfill - Romeoville, Illinois Solid Waste Management

LAND & LAKES CO-WILLOW RANCH is an operational landfill located at 1371 N Joliet Road in Romeoville, Will County, Illinois. As a permitted solid waste facility, it plays a key role in managing municipal solid waste for the surrounding communities in the Chicago metropolitan area. The facility operates under the regulatory framework of the US EPA's Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) Subtitle D, which governs municipal solid waste landfills. Compliance includes requirements for liner systems, leachate collection, groundwater monitoring, and landfill gas management. The landfill's NAICS code 562212 indicates it is classified as a solid waste landfill, typically handling significant tonnages of waste annually. Environmental management at the site focuses on controlling landfill gas, which is primarily methane and carbon dioxide, through collection and flaring or energy recovery systems. Leachate management and groundwater protection are critical given the facility's location in an area with industrial and residential proximity. The landfill contributes to regional waste disposal infrastructure while adhering to state and federal environmental standards.

The landfill is situated in Will County, Illinois, within a region characterized by a mix of urban, suburban, and industrial land uses. Proximity to residential areas and the Joliet Road corridor raises considerations for community impact, including traffic and odor management. Groundwater protection is a priority due to the underlying hydrogeology, and the facility must comply with monitoring requirements to prevent leachate migration. Landfill gas generation presents both a greenhouse gas challenge and an opportunity for energy recovery, aligning with US EPA's Landfill Methane Outreach Program.