OTERO COUNTY - MANZANOLA LANDFILL: Solid Waste Management in Manzanola, Colorado

OTERO COUNTY - MANZANOLA LANDFILL is an operational solid waste landfill located at 31889 County Road 11 in the Manzanola area, Otero County, Colorado, United States. The facility serves the local community and is classified under NAICS code 562212 for solid waste landfill operations. As a landfill in Colorado, the facility operates under the US EPA's Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) Subtitle D, which governs municipal solid waste landfills. It must comply with federal standards for liner systems, leachate management, groundwater monitoring, and landfill gas control. Colorado's solid waste regulations align with federal requirements, ensuring environmental protection. The landfill provides essential waste disposal services for Otero County and surrounding areas. Proper management of landfill gas and leachate is critical to minimize environmental impact. The facility's location in a rural area may reduce community proximity concerns, but ongoing monitoring remains important for groundwater protection.

Landfills in Colorado face environmental considerations including methane generation from decomposing waste, which requires gas collection systems to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Leachate management is crucial to prevent groundwater contamination, especially given the region's agricultural land use and proximity to the Arkansas River basin. Community proximity and traffic from waste hauling are also factors, though the rural setting of Manzanola may mitigate some impacts.