Stevinson Disposal Site - Landfill in Merced County, California | Solid Waste Management

Stevinson Disposal Site is an operational landfill located in Merced County, California, United States. It is classified under NAICS code 562212 for solid waste landfill operations, indicating a focus on municipal or industrial waste disposal. The facility is situated in California's Central Valley, an agricultural region with significant waste generation from both urban and rural communities. As a landfill, Stevinson Disposal Site operates under the US EPA's Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) Subtitle D, which governs municipal solid waste landfills. California also enforces stringent state-level regulations through the California Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery (CalRecycle), including requirements for landfill gas collection and leachate management. The facility likely manages waste from nearby communities and agricultural operations, with typical landfill infrastructure such as liners, gas wells, and groundwater monitoring systems. The environmental significance of Stevinson Disposal Site lies in its role in managing solid waste in Merced County, an area with growing population and agricultural activity. Proper landfill operations are critical for preventing groundwater contamination from leachate and reducing methane emissions through gas collection systems. The facility contributes to regional waste management infrastructure, supporting public health and environmental protection in the Central Valley.

Landfills like Stevinson Disposal Site pose environmental risks primarily through methane leakage from decomposing waste and potential groundwater contamination from leachate. In California's Central Valley, where agriculture relies heavily on groundwater, proper leachate management is critical. The facility's proximity to rural communities also raises concerns about odor, traffic, and air quality from landfill gas. Regulatory oversight under RCRA Subtitle D and California's stringent landfill rules aims to mitigate these risks through liners, gas collection, and monitoring systems.