Evolution of a progressive Municipal Waste Management System and Managing the Legacy of Landfill Contaminants. Includes tours of a Waste-to-Energy Facility and an Ash Processing Facility
Presenter
Richard Hazenstab, PG
Coordinator of Operations and Environmental Programs
York County Solid Waste Authority
2700 Blackbridge Road
York, PA
2:00-2:30: Arrivals/Sign-in
2:30-5:00: Presentation + Tours
5:00: Sign-out/evaluation/departures
5:30-7:00: Continental Drifters - Location TBA
Closed toe shoes are required, and PPE can be provided (hardhat, safety glasses, hearing protection).
Within 10 business days and after auditing participation, PCPG will circulate a PDH certificate documenting registrant’s participation time, not to exceed 150 minutes.
Level: Basic/Intermediate
Who should attend: Environmental project managers, geologists, hydrogeologists, regulators, and waste management professionals.
Overview: This presentation is a case study on managing legacy groundwater contaminants, the evolution of landfill technology and the movement toward advanced municipal waste management systems. Like many areas, York County, PA, has a history of unregulated dumps. To address this, in 1971 the York County Solid Waste Authority (YCSWA) was created to ensure the adequate and proper disposal of all municipal solid waste (MSW) generated in the county. The initial landfill approach utilized shallow trench and fill methods. After groundwater contamination was discovered, the York County Landfill became one of several landfills in the county that was listed asa CERCLA site (Superfund). More modern landfill technologies were then incorporated for several years while the YCSWA researched and developed the future direction of MSW management in York County.
The presentation will examine the challenges of groundwater containment in a setting with fractured geology, and the challenges of managing a groundwater treatment system located at the headwaters of two receiving streams. At the 2025 PCPG annual meeting, Mr. Hazenstab gave a presentation on research for a novel mercury treatment system being developed as an enhancement to an existing groundwater treatment system. An update on those efforts will be provided.
The current approach to managing MSW in York County includes a waste-to-energy facility, and an advanced ash processing facility. Tours and operational details of these facilities will be part of the presentation.
About our presenter: Mr. Hazenstab is a Professional Geologist with the York County Solid Waste Authority. He has 40 years of experience in the environmental field including studies on impacts from surface mining and municipal waste. He is a graduate from the Pennsylvania State University with a Geoscience Degree in a Geophysics Option. He is a past PCPG board member from 2000 through 2009.
