today reported that the total amount of waste disposed of in
Pennsylvania landfills dropped for the third consecutive year,
decreasing from 25.39 million tons in 2003 to 25.18 million tons last
year.
Out-of-state waste also declined for the third consecutive year,
decreasing by 446,465 tons to 10.1 million tons. Imports represent
40.2 percent of the waste stream to Pennsylvania landfills, down from
41.6 percent last year and 47.1 percent at its peak in 2001. The state
received waste from 20 states, the District of Columbia, Canada and
Puerto Rico last year.
Reasons for the dropoff include fuel prices and logistics. Diesel
prices have hit historical highs, up more than 35 percent from a year
ago, making rail transportation for New York and New Jersey --- two of
Pennsylvania's largest waste importers --- more attractive. Gasoline
prices also are up more than 20 percent from a year ago, affecting
haulers.
The Commonwealth does not have any facilities with direct rail access,
so everything must go by truck. Virginia, on the other hand, has at
least two large landfills with direct rail access. Virginia continues
to post increases in imported waste.
While out-of-state waste dropped, in-state waste climbed for the
second year in a row.
The amount of waste that originated in Pennsylvania totaled 15
million tons last year, an increase of 236,308 tons from the 14.8
million tons landfilled in 2003. A significant portion of the increase
is the result of a spike in the amount of municipal waste because of
several natural disasters that hit the Commonwealth.
In September, the department authorized landfills and waste facilities
to operate beyond their permitted hours and suspend normal volume
limits to hasten cleanup efforts after flooding caused by the remnants
of Hurricane Ivan. The waiver applied to any landfill that received
flood debris, regardless of whether or not the site was located in a
declared disaster county.
DEP also granted emergency approvals in December to increase daily
waste limits and expand operating hours at area landfills to accept
materials from the cleanup of crude oil that spilled Nov. 26 as the
Greek tanker Athos I approached the Citgo facility in Paulsboro, N.J.
Pennsylvania has 49 landfills and five waste recovery facilities that
accept municipal waste from residences and commercial facilities and
residual waste from factories, manufacturers, farms and mining
operations.
The state remains the nation's largest waste importer. Pennsylvania's
largest sources of out-of-state trash (in tons) in 2004 are as
follows: New Jersey, 5.3 million; New York, 3.9 million; Connecticut,
392,956; West Virginia, 137,636; and Maryland, 134,438.
For more information, visit DEP's Web site at www.dep.state.pa.us,
Keyword: "Municipal Waste," and click on the link for "Municipal Waste
Reporting Results."
{From PA DEP WEBSITE}
