Risley Landfill #2 - Operational Landfill in Sesser, Illinois

Risley Landfill #2 is an operational solid waste landfill located in Sesser, Franklin County, Illinois, United States. It serves the local region as a disposal facility for municipal solid waste, operating under the regulatory framework of the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency. The facility is classified under NAICS code 562212 (Solid Waste Landfill) and operates as a Subtitle D landfill, which requires compliance with federal standards for liner systems, leachate management, and groundwater monitoring. As a landfill in the United States, it is subject to the Clean Air Act regulations for landfill gas emissions, including gas collection and control requirements for larger facilities. Risley Landfill #2 plays a key role in the solid waste management infrastructure of Franklin County and southern Illinois. Its operational status indicates ongoing waste disposal activities, which contribute to local waste diversion and management. The facility's environmental performance is governed by state and federal permits that address leachate treatment, groundwater protection, and methane gas management.

Landfills like Risley Landfill #2 are significant sources of methane, a potent greenhouse gas, due to anaerobic decomposition of organic waste. Proper gas collection systems are critical to mitigate emissions. Leachate management is also essential to prevent groundwater contamination, especially given the facility's location in a rural area with potential proximity to aquifers. Community proximity and truck traffic are additional environmental considerations for this site.