Refuse Authority approves resolution terminating closure trust

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The Greater Lebanon Refuse Authority (GLRA) approved a resolution to terminate the authority’s Closure/Post Closure Care trust and pursue a surety bond to ensure financial resources for the future.

Both actions require sign off by the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP). Approval of the surety bond could occur by year’s end with approval of the termination of the trust by or before June 2027, said Skip Garner, GLRA executive director.

As part of its permitting process, DEP requires that landfills have sufficient funds on hand for the care and monitoring of a landfill for 30 years after its closure. GLRA established a closure/post-closure trust for the 52-acre Schilling landfill when it opened in the 1990s. The trust has about $26 million, Garner has said.

“By voiding the trust, we can avoid having to borrow money which will save us several million dollars,” Garner told the board at its meeting Wednesday. “These actions will put us in solid financial shape for the next five to six years.”

GLRA is facing two significant capital projects — the capping of the Schilling landfill, which is nearing capacity, and the building of Heilmandale cell 9.

Design of cell 9 is underway with completion expected in October and construction beginning in March 2027, GLRA engineering manager James Zendek said in an email Thursday. Cost of that construction is estimated at $5 million.

Capping of the Schilling landfill has a total price tag across three phases of about $21 million, GLRA has estimated. GLRA also must figure in costs to monitor and maintain gas wells, conduct water testing, and ensure slopes do not erode for 30 years.

The amount of the surety bond has yet to be determined. GLRA has proposed a closure amount of $35.1 million and is waiting for DEP’s approval, Garner said.

In other business, the board approved hiring Colleen Gallo to serve as co-counsel with GLRA attorney Sam Weiss. Gallo is a partner at Barley Snyder with experience in real estate, trust and estates and municipal matters. In June, Weiss told the authority board that he is planning to reduce his workload in 2027.

Garner noted in his report to the board that revenue from tipping fees was almost 11% over budget. This was driven by increases in residential and construction demolition wastes.

GLRA received 12,683 tons of waste in July, less than that received in July 2025 but still more than what was budgeted for July 2026, Garner said. Year-to-date, GLRA’s expenditures are about 8% below budget.

No violations were noted during a routine site inspection by DEP on July 17.

Zendek noted in his report that Heilmandale cell 8 should be about at capacity in August 2027. Cell 8, the first of six cells at the Heilmandale landfill, opened in August 2023.

“We are looking at physical ways to extend the life of cell 8 — maybe shred the waste so it will have better compaction,” Zendek told the board.

At capacity, cell 8 will contain 685,346 cubic yards (CY) of waste. Zendek estimated space for about 200,000 CY remains. By comparison, cell 9 has a projected capacity of 860,206 CY, said Zendek in an email.

The board of the Greater Lebanon Refuse Authority meets at 1800 Russell Road. The next meeting will be 7 p.m., Wednesday, Sept. 9. These meetings are open to the public and do not require registration.