Rawlins County Landfill - Municipal Solid Waste Landfill in Atwood, Kansas

Rawlins County Landfill is a municipal solid waste landfill located at 16278 Highway 25 in Atwood, Kansas, United States. It serves the waste disposal needs of Rawlins County and is owned and operated by the county government. The facility is currently operational and has a projected closure year of 2058, indicating a long-term waste management solution for the region. As a landfill in the United States, this facility operates under the regulatory framework of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), specifically RCRA Subtitle D for municipal solid waste landfills and Clean Air Act regulations for landfill gas emissions. Landfills in Kansas must comply with state and federal requirements for liners, leachate collection, groundwater monitoring, and gas management to minimize environmental impact. The facility's scale is typical for a rural county landfill, handling waste from local communities and potentially small commercial sources. The landfill's location in rural Kansas, with a semi-arid climate and agricultural land use, influences its environmental considerations. Proper leachate management is critical to protect groundwater resources, and landfill gas collection systems may be employed to reduce methane emissions. The facility plays a key role in providing essential waste disposal services to the county, supporting public health and environmental sanitation.

The Rawlins County Landfill is situated in a rural agricultural area of northwestern Kansas, where groundwater protection is a primary environmental concern. Landfills in this region must manage leachate to prevent contamination of the Ogallala Aquifer and other local water sources. Additionally, methane emissions from decomposing waste require monitoring and control to mitigate greenhouse gas impacts. The facility's proximity to Highway 25 and the town of Atwood also necessitates management of traffic and odor to minimize community disruption.