FOSTORIA, Ohio — A controversial landfill expansion in Seneca County will be allowed to move forward after the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency approved permits Thursday.
According to a social media post from the city of Fostoria, WIN Waste Innovations of Seneca County will be allowed to expand its Fostoria landfill, formerly known as Sunny Farms - a 218-acre expansion in total, 94 of which are now approved for construction.
"This construction project will last over 10 years altogether, but the first phase, again, represents $19 million in investment from the company," Ben Nutter, community engagement manager of WIN Waste Innovations said.
The city of Fostoria said the approval of the permits came after the Ohio EPA completed more than 150 inspections between December 2023 and August 2024. The agency said they observed sampling of the landfill's water, explosive gas monitoring plans and inspected operations of rail waste offloading, stormwater controls, gas treatment and more.
"We were notified last night that the Ohio EPA has issued all three permits for the landfill," Fostoria Mayor Don Mennel said. "There's a 30-day appeals process that now goes into effect so we have to wait and see if anybody appeals that permitting process."
READ MORE: As Ohio EPA considers Sunny Farms landfill expansion, Fostoria community expresses mass disapproval
In the city's post, it was also noted the Ohio EPA had been notified of a damaged waste railcar at the facility. The Ohio EPA has addressed this, the city said, resulting in WIN Waste updating its procedures regarding railcar repairs and waste. Additionally, stormwater runoff from railcar areas must be routed to ditches and flow into sedimentation ponds at the site, the agency said.
The city said the Ohio EPA conducted these "heightened number of inspections" in an effort to provide residents and the community with more confidence in the landfill's operation, a subject of some major controversy in recent years.
WIN Waste's statement
WIN Waste Innovations provided WTOL 11 with the following statement Thursday regarding the approved expansion:
“WIN Waste Innovations is proud that the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency (OEPA) has granted the approval for the expansion of our Seneca County landfill. This approval marks an important step forward in our continued commitment to responsible waste management, operational excellence, and commitment to the local community. We are grateful for the OEPA’s thorough review process, including over 150 inspections in 2024 alone, which underscores our dedication to maintaining the highest standards in environmental safety and compliance.
With this expansion, we can increase our capacity to meet growing demand while continuing to serve as one of the most well-run and technologically advanced landfills in the country. This expansion will also bring additional economic benefits to Seneca County and its residents through 15 new jobs and $2M in additional goods and services expenditures. Additionally, the $19M investment for the first phase of construction will primarily benefit Ohio businesses, further strengthening local partnerships and supporting the state’s economy.”
A controversial expansion
The landfill has been operating just south of Fostoria since 1970 and has been the subject of scrutiny over the years. In 2019, a judicial order ruled the landfill must install air pollution control equipment. In 2022, when WIN Waste applied for expansion permits, it was opposed by many community members, Seneca County commissioners and other lawmakers.
Community members attended public EPA hearings, with some residents who live near the landfill claiming it has affected their health.
The Ohio EPA, however, claim the landfill has passed all inspections and tests, and said there were no outstanding violations at the facility. The city of Fostoria linked in their social media post to records and data of inspections, which can be found here.
In May 2023, WIN Waste filed a lawsuit against the Seneca County Board of Health, alleging they were preventing the expansion from going forward by "unlawfully" failing to deliberate on the proposal in public hearings. In February 2024, a judge dismissed the lawsuit.
WATCH MORE FROM WTOL 11