WFMJ gets 1-on-1 exclusive tour of Carbon Limestone Landfill

For the last couple of months, 21 News has reported on numerous violations at the Carbon Limestone landfill in Poland township. Everything from gallons of hazardous wastewater spills to elevated gas well temps.

In a sign of transparency, the landfill opened its doors to one of our crews, while also giving residents a tour of its operations. 21 News reporter Corey McCrae got a first hand look at how the company is taking corrective actions in the wake of recent violations.

On any given day you’ll see hundreds of customers taking waste into the Republic Services-owned Carbon Limestone Landfill in Poland Township. Every ton of waste has to be monitored and recorded.

“We are strictly municipal solid waste, industrial and commercial wastes that are nonhazardous. They go through a profiling process and approval process through the company,” said Mark Jobe, general manager at the Republic Services-owned facility.

Each area where trash will be buried is planned out a year in advance. In that time, protective liners and layers are put in place to protect the soil and groundwater beneath it. All the while leachate, the byproduct of rainwater filtering through trash, can create hazardous waste. Leachate is collected, stored, and treated.

“Some times in those processes, mother nature can become a little bit more than what a site can handle, given the amount of monitoring that you do have in place.” Jobe explained.

Excessive rain at the landfill this year has led to six Ohio EPA violations since June for unintentional leachate discharge. In every instance it was reported to the EPA. Prior, it’s been a clean bill back to 2024.

“We have put several things into place since then, we have added additional monitoring to our leachate collection systems that now will text myself and our operations team when levels reach a certain limit. We can then act immediately,” said Jobe.

Jobe says the many monitored gas wells serve to trap trash gas before the smells can escape. Recent gas temperature exceedances are being tended to with solutions that often involve adding more soil, or replacing the gas wells altogether.

People living nearby also got to see operations first hand.

“You worry about the water seepage you know, but then you see how thick the liners are and how well they take care of this place, and there is no concerns, I don’t have any, anyhow,” said John Augustine, a Poland resident.

After recent leaks, the Mahoning County Health Department tested nearby residential wells. The results of those tests are anticipated to be compiled next week.