DEP Issues Permit To Cease Tullytown Landfill Disposal Operations Within 2 Years

The Department of Environmental Protection Thursday issued a permit to Waste Management of Pennsylvania, Inc., directing that the Tullytown Landfill cease all waste disposal operations within two years.

WMPA is the owner and operator of the Tullytown Landfill, which is located in the Borough of Tullytown and Falls Township, Bucks County.

“After a complete review of the renewal application and consideration of public input, we concluded that a balance had to be reached to allow disposal operations to continue, but for a limited amount of time so that the landfill could close in a structurally sound and environmentally safe manner,” said DEP Southeast Regional Director Cosmo Servidio.

“We therefore renewed the permit but also are requiring that all waste disposal operations cease on or before May 22, 2017, and that the landfill be completely closed and capped after disposal operations cease. During this time, WMPA will need to minimize and control nuisances and will still be subject to enforcement actions or other measures, should offsite nuisances not be adequately controlled,” Servidio said. “In addition, negotiations to resolve penalty liability for past violations are underway.”

WMPA filed a permit renewal application seeking to extend waste disposal operations for at least another four years. During the application review, public concerns regarding ongoing odor, noise, bird and aesthetic nuisances were received, primarily from New Jersey residents.

Those concerns were a significant factor in the decision to direct the landfill to close within two years, said Servidio.

In addition, the permit contains conditions that WMPA is required to implement to continue to minimize and control nuisances during the remaining operational life of the landfill.

WMPA has operated the Tullytown Landfill since 1988. It is located along the Delaware River, directly across from Florence, New Jersey. The landfill has gone through several expansions since being originally permitted. The latest was the Valley Fill Expansion issued in 2013.