GLRA adds $200K to reserve fund ahead of landfill capping, cell construction

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In advance of future capital expenditures, the Greater Lebanon Refuse Authority is building its capital reserve fund with periodic contributions.

GLRA added $200,000 to the reserve account in May, executive director Skip Garner said at a board meeting on June 2. This year’s contributions are budgeted to total $2,087,000.

“This is a building year for the reserve in preparation for large construction projects,” Garner said.

Completion of the addition of 13 vertical wells to the Schilling landfill ahead of schedule reduced GLRA’s ability to contribute May’s full budgeted amount, which was to have been $400,000.

“Although we remain below our monthly forecast contribution, we expect to make up this shortfall by the end of the year,” according to Garner’s report to the board.

The future capital projects include construction of cell 9 on the Heilmandale landfill and phases II and III of the capping of the Schilling landfill.

In 2019-20, GLRA completed the first phase, capping roughly 18 acres, said Jim Zendek, GLRA engineering manager, in an email. Capping involves putting geotextiles and soil on areas of the landfill that are at final elevation.

Phase II, which will cap a section of about 11 acres, is required to be under construction by 2027, while Phase III will be constructed in 2030 and will cover the very top of the landfill and the haul road, Zendek said.

GLRA received 11,972 tons of waste in May, according to Garner’s report to the board. This is on par with May 2025.

Revenues were higher than budgeted, which Garner attributed to construction and demolition waste and revenue for use of incinerator ash as alternative daily cover, according to his report.

Sam Weiss announced his intention to step back from his position as GLRA’s attorney. The succession plan is to hire a co-solicitor who initially would work with Weiss. No timeline was provided.

In other business, the board:

• Approved changing management from GLRA’s reserve accounts to Janney Montgomery Scott LLC. The individuals that GLRA had relied upon moved to the new company, Garner said in his board report.
• Accepted GLRA’s 2025 audited financial statement. There were no findings, and the process went well, Garner said.

The board of the Greater Lebanon Refuse Authority meets at 1800 Russell Road. The next meeting will be 7 p.m. Tuesday, July 7. These meetings are open to the public and do not require registration.