Alliance Landfill

Taylor, PA - CLL certified since 2004

The Alliance Landfill, located in northeast Pennsylvania, actively manages 450 of its 810 acres as part of the Wildlife at Work program. These projects include a community landscape project, development of the Duryea Wetlands property, a bird nest box program on the landfill site and Camp Kestrel habitat workshops.

One of the most innovative projects within the Alliance Wildlife at Work program is the community landscape project. Launched in 2004, WM employees and a committee of 15 community volunteers designed a project to test whether native trees and shrubs can be grown atop the landfill’s cap without compromising the cap’s integrity and function. Working with the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, the site created a series of test plots to determine the effectiveness of several types of vegetative cover and continues to monitor them for soil stabilization and root growth. Native grasses, native and naturalized meadow, tree or forest cover and natural succession are creating a new habitat resulting in increased biodiversity.

One of the more recent projects within the Wildlife at Work program is the Duryea Wetlands property located near the confluence of the Lackawanna and Susquehanna rivers. This area includes a variety of habitats such as upland forests, scrub/shrub habitat and emergent wetlands.
The WM wildlife team is working to transfer ownership of wetlands to a local land conservancy to transform it into a resource for recreation and conservation education.

Lastly, the WM wildlife team’s Camp Kestrel habitat workshops have provided hundreds of local learners with more than 5,700 hours of conservation education. Workshop presentations include teaching children how to build nest boxes, involving campers in a “low-litter lunch” designed to minimize waste, composting demonstrations, wildlife lectures and live-animal presentations, landfill site tours and hikes, and creation of vegetable and butterfly gardens both on and off-site.

Alliance Landfills Camp Kestrel

Taylor, PA - certified since 2006

Alliance Landfills Camp Kestrel, a classroom in the community, is the cornerstone of the facilities Corporate Lands for Learning (CLL) program. Camp Kestrel habitat workshops conducted between 2004 and 2006 attracted more than 500 participants. Participants build and monitor nest boxes, tour the facility to see the programs first hand, participate in low-litter lunches and learn about raptors and native species that inhabit the site. These large-scale events serve both adults and children and make available the service of both committed Waste Management volunteers and eager community partners including the Lackawanna County Extension Service, the Pennsylvania Game Commission, Abington Heights School teachers and students, Keystone College and the Pennsylvania Raptor and Wildlife Association.

In addition to the on-site educational offerings for adults and children, the Alliance Landfill engages local Girl Scouts in planting projects, including sponsoring a 1,600-foot vegetable and herb garden with Girl Scout Troop #202 of Old Forge. Camp Kestrels outreach program extends into local schools with programs linked to the Pennsylvania State Standards. These programs combine facts about recycling and technologies used at the landfill with information about the wildlife that thrive there due to active conservation efforts.

Altamont Landfill and Resource Recovery Facility

Livermore, CA - Certified since 2003

Waste Management of Alameda County's Altamont Landfill and Resource Recovery Facility's (ALRRF) property encompasses approximately 2,100 acres in Livermore, California. Of these 2,100 acres, 1,300 are actively managed for wildlife habitat opportunities. The ALRRF is regularly used by a number of special-status species that are protected under the federal Endangered Species Act, California Endangered Species Act and other federal and state regulations. These species include the federally endangered San Joaquin kit fox, federally threatened California red-legged frog, state proposed western burrowing owl and federally proposed California tiger salamander. ALRRF has implemented plans to protect habitat for these species, and has instituted protection plans for these species during project development activities.

One aspect of site management includes a controlled grazing plan for cattle. Of the total site acreage, about 1,200 acres are currently leased to a local rancher to graze cattle. Livestock grazing is compatible with, and often a necessary action to support sensitive species. Appropriate levels of grazing maintain annual grassland at low heights, which is required for the California ground squirrel, which is the prey base for the San Joaquin kit fox in the northern range. It is also the principal species responsible for initial burrow construction that are used by San Joaquin kit foxes and western burrowing owls.

Proper grazing also keeps vegetation low, which is required by the San Joaquin kit fox and western burrowing owl for unobstructed views of approaching predators. Limited livestock grazing around ponds enhances habitat suitability for California red-legged frogs and California tiger salamanders by controlling cattails and other plants that can overtake a pond, reducing the area of standing water. Through this successful grassland management program, employees at the ALRRF are protecting and enhancing habitat for a number of critically imperiled wildlife species.

American Landfill

Waynesburg, Ohio - Certified since 2004

American Landfill consists of approximately 1,072 acres of land, of which 676 acres are managed as part of the Wildlife at Work program. A conservation easement signed with the Guernsey County Community Development Corporation permanently protects 145 acres of wetlands on site.

Since 2003, the WM wildlife team, along with elementary students, has planted native trees throughout the site with a goal of planting 1,000 native trees. To date, they have planted approximately 825 trees. The WM wildlife team also routinely tests the soil pH to make sure appropriate tree species are selected and consults with a landscaper who is well versed on native trees prior to planting additional trees.

This year, the WM wildlife team began a new wildflower meadow project by meeting with a native landscaper and plans to plant native wildflowers adjacent to the newly planted trees. This new area also includes a ¾ mile walking trail that is open to the public to enjoy.

Austin Community Landfill

Austin, TX - Certified since 2006

The Austin Community Landfill resides principally on abandoned agricultural property on 360 acres outside of Austin, Texas. Acquired by Waste Management, Inc. in the 1980s, the site serves as a private landfill for the disposal of municipal waste for the communities of Travis County, Texas. Recent suburban expansion in the area has intensified the need for wildlife habitat protection.

The landfill site is working to develop a positive community relationship with the suburban neighborhoods and to operate the landfill in an environmentally conscious manner. The wildlife team carefully developed a management plan to work towards an increase in biodiversity, which includes one, three and five year goals. The team focused on restoration of the property from post agriculture to prairie ecosystems and the restoration of existing cattle tank ponds and a tributary of the Little Walnut River. In 2005, the program was initiated with the formation of a site species inventory. Since then, many of the proposed wildlife projects to improve this biodiversity have taken flight.

During the summer of 2005, YMCA Environmental Campers planted a butterfly garden to increase the biodiversity of insect populations. The campers also helped clear the brush for local Cub Scouts and the wildlife team to construct a 2.1-mile nature trail through the site. The trail passes through the Texas wildflower meadow and prairie habitat. This 10-acre area was cleared of trash and reseeded with native grasses and wildflowers including big bluestem, Texas cupgrass and purple prairie clover. The trail will soon be extended to provide access to the second pond.

The wildlife team also works to increase avian biodiversity by providing artificial nesting habitat. Nest boxes were constructed and installed to house purple martins, eastern bluebirds and wood ducks. YMCA campers constructed ten nest boxes and local Boy Scouts built three wood duck boxes which were placed at the cattle tanks. Future plans include the installation of screech owl and chickadee boxes, the installation of bat houses, wetland and riparian restoration, the building of research horse stables and the development of an environmental education program.

Barre-Martone Landfill and Solid Waste Convenience

Barre, MA - Certified since 2008

The Barre Landfill & Recycling Convenience Center is comprised of 100 acres located in Worcester County. The company has partnered with the town of Barre's health eepartment in its efforts to conduct species monitoring on about 60 acres actively managed for wildlife. Although elements of the Barre Landfill wildlife habitat management program have been in place for a number of years, the implementation of a formal, planned program began in 2006. The main element of the site's plan is an avian and bat habitat program as well as community outreach programs.

The avian and bat habitat program includes the installation, maintenance and a year-round, weekly monitoring program of bluebird nest boxes and bat houses. Monitoring has been in place for two consecutive years. The bird houses have been successfully used by tree swallows; however, also to attract bluebirds to the bird houses the site is planning to pair nest boxes within a few feet of one another to allow the eastern bluebird to share habitat with tree swallows. Due to the extensive amount of monitoring conducted at the facility the wildlife team, records are showing that the bat boxes may need to be relocated to determine the best habitat area that would be used by local bats. These initiatives to test and monitor success of bird boxes and houses demonstrates the commitment of the wildlife team to increase nesting habitat for area birds and bats.

Additional initiatives ongoing at the Barre Landfill include community environmental stewardship programs. The site has integrated environmental education into community projects and partnerships. During facility tours and open houses, the site has incorporated an educational component about the importance of wildlife habitat to the surrounding community and school groups ranging in age from kindergarten to college. Additional community involvement by the site includes sponsorship of an impressive program initiated by the local high school where students produce compost from cafeteria waste for use in an organic garden, where the students grow food and donate it to the local food pantry.

Blackwell Landfill

Sarnia, Ontario - Certified since 2004

The Blackwell Landfill is located on 111 acres outside the city of Sarnia in southern Ontario.  Logan Pond borders the site to the north and former sediment ponds that have naturalized into a wetland community form the southern border. In addition to the 10 acres of wetlands, the closed landfill contains uncut grasslands and 15 acres of tree and shrub area.

After purchasing the landfill in 1996, Waste Management of Canada Corporation worked closely with the Landfill Advisory Committee, Lambton Wildlife Incorporated, and the St. Clair Region Conservation Authority to develop an environmentally sound closure plan for the site. The WM wildlife team at Blackwell determined three main goals to focus its efforts: returning the property to a naturalized setting, creating a seasonal habitat for migratory wildlife, and establishing an environment for community members to enjoy nature viewing.

Since closure in 2001, grasslands were re-established and native tree and shrub plantations were developed on site. The growing plant communities will continue to be maintained by site employees and the St. Clair Region Conservation Authority. Additional trees are planted annually.

In 2005, the site was officially re-dedicated as Blackwell Trails Park, providing the community with an excellent opportunity to experience a natural setting in their own back yards. A pathway winds through the property and connects with the Howard Watson trail at the site’s northern border. The trail is complemented with seating areas and interpretive signage. The invertebrates, fish, amphibians and mammals of the wetland and ponds are monitored, and numerous species of turtles and dragonflies have been noted. In 2009, an aeration system was added to the south pond to keep the ecosystem healthy. The WM wildlife team will soon write and implement a management plan for control of invasive aquatic and upland plants.

Blenheim Landfill

Chatham-Kent, Ontario - Certified since 2009

The Blenheim Landfill site encompasses 96.4 acres, in the municipality of Chatham-Kent in southwestern Ontario, with approximately 73 acres dedicated to the Wildlife at Work program. Along with active operations, the site includes forest, closed landfill, stormwater ponds, and a poplar plantation.

As part of the program, the WM wildlife team worked closely with the community-led Blenheim Landfill Liaison Committee and the St. Clair Region Conservation Authority to develop an environmentally sound leachate management system. The system uses native poplar trees to naturally treat leachate from the landfill. An additional benefit of this method of treatment is the opportunity to enhance wildlife habitat and naturalize areas of the Blenheim site that are no longer used in landfill activities. The poplar plantation created a new ecosystem for insects, birds and mammals, which also acts as a wildlife corridor between two existing woodlots on the property.

While maintaining and documenting the leachate system, the WM wildlife team also plans to expand their wildlife inventory by collecting data on fish and nesting bird species. They also plan structural enhancements such as basking logs, brush piles, and/or rock piles for the stormwater ponds.

Bluff City Transfer Station

Elgin, IL - Certified since 2009

The Bluff City Transfer Station includes six acres managed by an eight-person WM team as part of the Wildlife at Work program. Located on a reclaimed gravel pit, the transfer station is gold LEED certified and is the first WM transfer station to receive WHC certification. The facility showcases many innovative features, including on-site capture and treatment of storm water runoff from the tipping floor and parking lot, and landscaping using all-native plants. The site is also home to a three-acre retention pond that draws waterfowl, frogs, insects and other wildlife. The WM wildlife team also completed initial native landscaping in 2006 and maintains the habitat throughout the year.

In the summer of 2009, the WM wildlife team began an invasive management program, targeting purple loosestrife, Canada thistle and crown vetch and looks forward to establishing bluebird and purple martin habitats in the future.

Bucks County Landfills

The Waste Management (WM) GROWS/Tullytown complex is a 6,000-acre site with a long history of human use for a variety of commercial, industrial and agricultural purposes. It is located in an industrial area, partially in Falls Township and partially in the Tullytown Borough. Since WM acquired the site in 1984, wildlife habitat enhancement and protection has been a primary focus. The Wildlife at Work program involves more than 100 employees managing more than 4,000 acres for wildlife including wetland, freshwater lakes, woodland and grassland habitats.

The GROWS/Tullytown landfill continues to expand its habitat program and community partnerships. Through the Wildlife at Work program, projects are developed to cover a wide range of habitat needs for wildlife at the site. For example, the WM wildlife teams worked with two Eagle Scouts to design, construct, launch and monitor six basking platforms for the red-bellied turtle, which is a threatened species in the State Pennsylvania.

The WM wildlife team also partners with the Bucks County Audubon Society to manage habitat for grassland birds. In the summer of 2008, a pair of Pennsylvania state threatened dickcissel was observed on the landfill cap. The cap was seeded with native grasses and is typically mowed on a regular basis to prevent tap roots from damaging the landfill cover. The WM wildlife team decided to delay mowing on a portion of the landfill cap to ensure that dickcissels and other grassland birds would have adequate nesting habitat. The Bucks County Audubon Society has identified 250 species of birds on the GROWS/Tullytown landfill site.

Invasive species control is also a priority of the WM wildlife team. Partnering with the U.S. Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service and the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, the wildlife team released purple loosestrife beetles as an alternative to using herbicides. This biocontrol method has been a success thus far with the beetles predating a significant density of purple loosestrife plants within the 4.8 acre wetland.

GROWS/Tullytown also serves as a partner in education with schools in the Pennsbury School District. The philosophy behind their Corporate Lands for Learning (CLL) program is that “environmental awareness extends beyond the walls of the classroom.” The facility has offered Pennsbury students a “classroom in the community” to study the basics of ecology, land use, air and water quality for well over a decade.

WM employees worked with the Village Park Elementary School and community members, including the Audubon Society, to develop an outdoor classroom at Village Park. The Pennsbury Center for Student Learning and the North Penn Alternative School use the wildlife habitat to provide environmental education for students in a non-traditional learning environment. The Oxford Elementary School studied a program titled, “Habitats and Environments” concerning native species of plants and animals

Campground Natural Area

As part of the Wildlife at Work program, native prairie test plots covering 6.9 acres were planted by the team prior to the restoration of native prairie on approximately 55 acres to take place over the next two years. The restoration of the prairie habitat will increase the diversity of wildlife food and cover for bird, insect and small mammal species that cannot be sufficiently supported within a non-native open field habitat.

The WM wildlife team also established 2.5 acres of native forest in scattered stands across the site to significantly enhance the wildlife habitat benefits provided by the surrounding native prairie restoration. As it matures, the forest stands will increase the diversity of wildlife food and cover for bird, amphibian, reptile, insect and mammal species that may be limited within the prairie habitat alone. Future projects for the team include establishment of a wildflower component in the western/entrance portion of the site, removal of invasive species and wetland restoration within the existing storm water detention system.

Central Disposal System

Lake Mills, IA - Certified since 2008

The Central Disposal Systems site is located about 2.5 miles southwest of Lake Mills, Iowa, and encompasses 621 acres. Eighty five acres of this property are devoted to site operations for excavation and land filling, and landfill gas-to-energy production while 168 acres are either currently enhanced for wildlife habitat or are in the planning stages for future wildlife habitat enhancement.

The wildlife team at Central Disposal Systems is working to restore 140 acres of prairie on an area of the site that came out of operation in 2003. Initially, several trees were removed from five acres of woodland that was situated in the center of the area. The wildlife team conducted a prescribed burn and follow-up herbicide application in spring 2008 to control invasive species. A member from Iowa Department of Natural Resources and two wildlife team members planted native warm season grasses in late June and early July 2008. The newly established prairie will be monitored for colonization of invasive species and will be mowed on a rotational basis to maintain the habitat.

In 2005, an eight-acre alternative final cap was constructed over a landfill and was seeded with native prairie grasses and wildflowers. Rotational mowing has been employed here to maintain the prairie and to meet regulatory requirements. The cap is also regularly monitored for the emergence of Canada thistle, and invasive species. Eradication measures are taken when Canada thistle is found.

A landfill gas-to-energy plant was established in 2006 and an area behind this facility was excavated to create a three-acre pond. Native waterfowl and other bird species have been observed using this pond.

Future projects for the wildlife team include establishing a walking path and a viewing platform inside the native prairie for public use. The wildlife team hopes to increase the use of the property for community and educational groups.

Central Weld Landfill

Greeley, CO - Certified since 2009

Central Weld Landfill is a 310 acre facility located in Weld County, Colorado. The site is a closed municipal solid waste landfill, of which 165 acres are actively managed as part of the Wildlife at Work program.

Since the landfill’s closure in 1995, various wildlife projects have been successful at the site. The landfill cap was restored to a native short-grass prairie with an all native seed mix developed by the National Resource Conservation Service. As weeds have since encroached upon the landfill cap, the WM wildlife team controls invasive species on the cap and elsewhere throughout the site. The wildlife team will also begin working with the Weld County Weed Board to aggressively eradicate the weeds on the landfill cap before re-seeding areas with short-grass prairie.

Working alongside the Colorado Division of Wildlife, WM employees planted several thickets of native trees and shrubs. Local Eagle Scouts also assisted with these planting projects. Eagle Scout projects also added wood duck boxes, goose nesting platforms and bat boxes.

Chaffee Landfill

Chaffee, NY - Certified since 2007

Chaffee Landfill is located on 498 acres in Chaffee, New York. The site’s Wildlife at Work program includes 309 wildlife acres of wetlands, forests and fields. Four threatened plants, Sartwell’s sedge, Schweinitz’ sedge, blunt spikerush and woodland bluegrass are preserved and protected at the site.

The capped landfill is annually mowed in late August or early September to protect ground-nesting birds. Other grassland areas are maintained by rotational mowing. The WM wildlife team and local community groups erected nest boxes on-site for bluebirds, wood ducks and bats. The WM wildlife team established a weekly monitoring program to document wildlife use of these structures. Two local environmental organizations, Earth Spirit and Owl Facts, conduct regular species inventories. The team hopes to install a pollinator garden as a future habitat enhancement project.

The team also partners with Earth Spirit and the University of Buffalo to provide summer ecology camps for middle school students. Working with Owl Facts and other local wildlife rehabilitators and environmental organizations, the WM wildlife team provides environmental education to the public. Chaffee staff conducts 150 educational tours annually with up to 600 participants. In addition, Chaffee provides an annual scholarship for local students majoring in environmental science. Future plans include developing a nature trail and expanding educational programs with the aid of Earth Spirit.

Corporate Lands for Learning (CLL) activities at the Chaffee Landfill include tours of the landfill, waste-to-energy plant, recycling center and the habitat areas, GPS exercises on the landfill and wetland delineation activities. These programs, which meet the New York State Education Standards, reach hundreds of learners, including schools, scouts and 4-H Clubs.
The WM wildlife team at the Chaffee Landfill partners with Earth Spirit Inc. and the University of Buffalo to provide summer ecology camps for middle school students. This year, a new outdoor education center housed in an on-site cabin was arranged for Earth Spirit.

Future plans for the site’s CLL program include hosting a Project Wet, Wild or Learning Tree workshop. The team is conducting research to better tailor their program to community needs. Finally, the creation of a native pollinator garden and accompanying educational program is being added to the site’s wildlife and education efforts.

Chastang Landfill

Mt. Vernon, AL - Certified since 2008

Chastang Landfill is about 467 acres in size with six acres currently managed for wildlife habitat and wildlife such as deer and turkey use much of the site. The wildlife team currently consists of four of the 13 on-site employees. The site is located north of Mobile and is largely open grassy areas and disturbed construction areas. The borders of the site are generally secondary forest. Four sedimentation ponds are located on the site, and one pond created specifically for the benefit of wildlife.

The wildlife team has put considerable effort into creating artificial habitat to supplement the natural habitat on the site. The wildlife team has installed five blue bird nest boxes, four purple martin gourd condos, one purple martin nest house and two wood duck boxes. These boxes are mainly near the front or entrance of the property and around the pond. The boxes are currently maintained but a monitoring program has not been established. 

The wildlife team understands the importance of aquatic habitats and wants to protect and enhance these areas on the site. They had the natural wetlands on the site delineated by the Army Corp. of Engineers and then had signs installed around the wetland highlighting the area to employees and visitors. In September 2007 the wildlife team removed invasive species from the wetland perimeter area. Also, the wildlife team designed and constructed a pond on the site using a natural spring for the water source.  The pond was created with an uneven bottom to enhance the underwater habitat. Also, two wood duck boxes were established on the edges of the pond. In July, the pond was stocked with 250 brim and 250 catfish. The wildlife team plans to continue to enhance the pond habitat in the future.

The wildlife team plans to plant at least one wildflower meadow instead of a wild turkey plot this fall and will plant a pollinator garden near the entrance. The pollinator garden will provide visitors and community members a highly visible example of Chastang Landfill's habitat projects.

Chemical Waste Management

Valley Center, KS - Certified since 2008

The Valley Center site is located in Sedgwick County near Valley Center, Kansas, about 15 miles north of Wichita. The site consists of 1,040 acres -- 650 are used for pasture and hayfields, 230 for row crops and 80 form a forested buffer area around Prairie Creek, which flows through the center of the property. Located on the final 80 is a facility that consists of several closed and vegetated land disposal units managed in accordance with the Kansas Department of Health and Environment permit.

In the early 1990s, native warm season grasses were planted on 525 acres. The grasses, which included big and little bluestem (Andropogon gerardii and Schizachyrium scoparium), sideoats grama (Bouteloua curtipendula), switchgrass (panicum virgatum), and buffalo grass (Bouteloua dactyloides), were recommended by the Kansas Department of Parks and Wildlife. A few large brush piles were left in the hayfields to provide shelter for small mammals and reptiles, thereby helping area raptors.

WHC biologists visited the site in February 2008. The site's tenant farmer agreed to delay cutting hay until July 15, which gave grassland birds sufficient time to finish nesting. The farmer also agreed to leave a 30-100 foot buffer along the forested edge, which provided additional wildlife habitat. The Segdwick County Noxious Weed Department was contacted and noticed three invasive plants on the site (Johnson grass, sericea lespedeza, and bindweed) and agreed to implement a control regime. The site also planted a five-acre food plot for wildlife.

City Disposal Landfill

The City Disposal Landfill is located in Dade County, Wisconsin, approximately 15 miles southeast of Madison. Including both the capped landfill and buffer areas, City Disposal occupies 280 acres. Much of the property is leased to local growers for row-crop production, but there are also substantial wooded areas and wetlands. There is a 15-acre borrow pond where land was excavated to create the landfill cap. The landfill was capped with cool season grasses and is mowed annually. Adjacent to the cap is a promising area for oak savanna restoration. This area is currently a grassy area with white and bur oaks.

The site is a closed landfill, so no employees are permanently stationed at the site. The wildlife team is composed of one Waste Management employee and one contractor. Brush piles were created to add cover habitat to the site. Additionally, wood duck boxes have been at the site since 2001 but were refurbished and additional wood duck, songbird and purple martin houses were installed. Some of these boxes are occupied by nesting tree swallows and house wrens. The site delayed mowing of the landfill cap until the end of summer to allow any grassland birds that may be present at the cap to finish nesting.

In the future, the wildlife team plans to control invasive species, explore the potential for oak savanna restoration and manage the deer herd at the site.

Coal Township

Coal Township, PA - Certified since 2009

WM of Coal Township leases and operates a transfer station and recycling facility on approximately ten acres in central Pennsylvania. WM’s operation uses roughly eight acres of land, with the remaining perimeter comprised of woodlands to the south and west, an open field to the northwest, a stormwater basin in the northwestern corner and a fire pond located west of the transfer station. WM of Coal Township focused its habitat enhancement projects on preserving and protecting the pockets of wildlife areas located within the leased area.

The WM wildlife team consists of five core members who have been nurturing the site and cultivating new visitors. As part of the Wildlife at Work program, the WM wildlife team initiated a bird box monitoring program to provide nesting habitats for eastern bluebirds and tree swallows and encouraged employees to help with the observation duties on the property. With the help of a local scout troop, employees built and erected seven bluebird boxes in open areas to allow freedom of movement and access to insects for the birds. Since then, site employees monitor the boxes weekly, and in 2009, two of the seven boxes housed nests and fledged young bluebirds and tree swallows.

Crossroads Landfill

Norridgewock, ME - Certified since 2007

The Crossroads Landfill is an 817-acre site located in rural Maine. The 500 acres of land managed for wildlife habitat include wetland, mixed forest and grassland habitats. Adjacent properties are comprised primarily of agricultural and forested land.

The WM wildlife team divided the property into habitat groups for targeted management of invasive species, wetland habitat and black spruce and orchard areas. 16.5 acres of constructed wetlands are enhanced on site. Native vegetation was planted in the area and basking logs were added for reptiles and amphibians. The planted vegetation is monitored regularly for percent cover and survival of various species such as red maple, white pine, bulrush, sedge and alder. Amphibian populations at the wetland are monitored by a biology professor from Colby College.

Invasive species are routinely controlled in the wetlands and other areas of the site. The wildlife team targeted purple loosestrife as a species that should be eradicated from the wetland. Purple loosestrife beetles have been used as a method of biocontrol since 2002. Predation of the purple loosestrife by the beetles is monitored annually.

The WM wildlife team works with local boy scouts to install and monitor wood duck boxes and eastern bluebird nest boxes. The boy scouts also recently constructed and installed several upland sandpiper perching platforms. The upland sandpiper is a threatened species in Maine.

The WM wildlife team also monitors and maintains 5,500 black spruce trees, along with a pre-existing orchard area. In conjunction with a variety of partners, including the University of Maine, Farmington, Colby College, and state and local wildlife and forestry agencies, the wildlife team is developing a forest management plan.

The Crossroads Landfill partners with several groups to bring conservation education to the community. Younger students, enrolled in Boy Scout and Girl Scout programs gain knowledge of the flora and fauna on site as they explore the wetland and grassland habitats around the landfill.  

Girl Scouts make equal use of the habitat area to study and explore wetlands, on the way to meeting requirements of the U.S. EPA Water Drop Patch. The girls are also treated to a tour and lecture on the various workings of a landfill to explore the impacts of humans on the environment.

Students from the local higher learning institutions are also encouraged to investigate issues regarding habitat at the site. Colby College students, accompanied by Professor Cathy Bevier, study the mink frog and population movement in fragmented habitats. Geosciences students study landfill operations, hydrology and environmental protection. At the University of Maine, students from the Science and Science Education classes are given tours of the landfill to study their operations and wetlands.

Dafter Sanitary Landfill

Dafter, MI - Certified since 2009

The Dafter Sanitary Landfill is located on 165 acres surrounded by farmland and rural residential areas. A number of different habitats are found on the site, including grasslands, uplands, wetlands and forested wetlands. All seven employees at the site are involved in wildlife habitat enhancement projects.

A large number of native plant species were planted throughout the wetland and upland areas on the site. The wildlife team plans to continue to enhance the wetland habitat for wildlife by developing a plan to control reed canary grass, an invasive species which is becoming established in the wetlands. A rotational mowing plan was implemented for the upland areas to ensure that a diverse habitat of different heights is present every year. An observation deck and nature trail was constructed on the site, enabling students and other community members to observe the diversity of plants and animals in the wetland area.

Nest boxes located on the site further enhance the existing habitat for a number of native birds. Four wood duck nest boxes were installed and songbird nest boxes were added in with the help of local Boy Scouts. The wildlife team plans to monitor all of the site’s nest boxes to determine how local populations are benefitting from these enhancements.

The wildlife team created additional habitat for the wide variety of species which use dead trees, or snags, for nesting and feeding purposes. The wildlife team plans to monitor the property to ensure that an adequate amount of snags remain to provide this important wildlife resource.

Dickinson Landfill

Spirit Lake, Iowa - Certified since 2008

The Dickinson Landfill site was acquired by Waste Management in 1998. Totaling 463 acres, about 177 acres are available to wildlife, the rest is devoted to landfill operations and agricultural leasing. Historically, a portion of the property had been farmed. Another portion, about six acres, contains remnant prairie which has remained undisturbed through time.

Dickinson Landfill is committed to restoring a portion of the property to native prairie grasses and plants. In 2007 the site conducted a controlled burn to remove invasive plant species and promote the growth of a healthy prairie ecosystem. The site is also committed to improving bird nest habitat and has placed 20 bluebird nest boxes throughout the site and plans to place wood duck nest boxes near wetlands. In addition to these projects, the site has also established and maintains four acres of pollinator gardens. Future plans for the site include maintaining and enhancing current projects, as well as establishing a 20- 30-acre wetland on site.

Eco-Vista Landfill

The Eco-Vista Landfill (formerly Tonitown Landfill) is located south of Tontitown, Arkansas, and southwest of the City of Springdale, Arkansas. Habitat enhancement efforts began in 2007, with the re-seeding of borrow areas to provide resources for wildlife. Additional projects include a fish pond that was stocked with six species of fish and a windmill-powered aeration system. A pollinator garden, established in 2008, features native, ornamental and non-native species that provide habitat for butterflies and other insects. A bluebird trail with 19 nest boxes was also installed at the site.

The WM wildlife team works diligently to cultivate partnerships with local conservation organizations, including Ducks Unlimited, Inc., Quail Forever, and Ozark Ecological Restoration Inc. The site also hosts local schools, the University of Arkansas and the general public. Eco-Vista also hosts an Annual Earth Day Educational Expo that is open to the public.

El Sobrante Landfill

Corona, CA - Certified since 2003

The El Sobrante Landfill is a municipal solid waste facility that is owned and operated by Waste Management, Inc. A Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP) approved by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service and California Department of Fish and Game covers the active landfill, future expansion phases and undisturbed open space on the property (Plan area). The Plan area is comprised of approximately 1,333 acres. The landfill area constitutes approximately 645 acres of the total property, while undisturbed open spaces account for approximately 688 acres and is located south of Lake Matthews in western Riverside County, California.

The Plan area is located within a regionally significant area for both the Stephens' kangaroo rat and the coastal California gnatcatcher. The HCP provides connectivity between the habitat on-site and sections of the Lake Matthews-Estelle Mountain Reserve, which is in turn linked to another parcel of preserved land. El Sobrante Landfill's long-term Stephens' kangaroo rat HCP combines the addition of occupied habitat and adaptive management measures when necessary, and is designed to ensure the continued existence of Stephens' kangaroo rat in its natural ecological region. The coastal California gnatcatchers in the Plan area are part of a high-density gnatcatcher population in northwestern Riverside County. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service estimates that there are 300 pairs of the highly sensitive species present in the region.

A Habitat Management Committee (HMC) oversees management measures covered by the HCP. Employees are engaged in resource management and education opportunities, but all changes or recommendations are approved first by the HMC. Habitat enhancements undertaken on-site include access control, invasive species control, fire management, litter and refuse removal, species and habitat monitoring and project progression review and wildlife control. Restoration and revegetation projects include activities such as salvaging topsoil, harvesting cactus and many-stemmed dudleya, maintaining salvaged plants in nurseries, collecting native shrub and annual wildflower seed and revegetating and monitoring Riversidian sage scrub habitat.

Geneva Landfill

Geneva, OH - Certified since 2007

The Geneva Landfill is a 436-acre facility located in northeast Ohio. Six of the site’s nine employees manage wetland and upland habitat. Many acres of open grassland and forest are available to wildlife, although not actively managed.

Several years ago the Geneva Landfill’s wildlife team went above and beyond wetland mitigation regulations and constructed over six acres of wetlands, maximized shorelines to create diverse microhabitats, placed tree stumps in the water to create cover and basking areas for wildlife, and planted exclusively native plants.

Annual native tree planting events have occurred annually on site since 2006. The WM wildlife team planted red maples, silky dogwoods, pin oaks and arrowwood viburnums. In 2009, the team and two groups of children planted approximately 250 native trees, including silver maple, silky dogwood, arrowwood viburnum, black willows and button bush. The team also taught a third grade class from Geneva Elementary School how to cut and root black willows, a species of high wildlife value.

The WM wildlife team started a songbird nest box monitoring project in December 2008, when they asked a local sawmill employee to cut timber for the boxes. In January 2009, the team met with a local Boy Scout troop and discussed the importance of wetlands. The Scouts built boxes and brought them to the site in May 2009 for installation. The troop installed approximately 40 songbird nest boxes in May 2009, in conjunction with the annual tree-planting event, and earned their World Conservation Badge.

The conservation education program directly correlates with the songbird boxes and tree planting events. The WM wildlife team partners with a local Boy Scout troop and the Geneva School District for programs that include wetlands education and tree plantings.

Grand Central Sanitary Landfill

Pen Argyl, PA - Certified since 2007

The Grand Central Sanitary Landfill (GCSL) occupies 537.5 acres in Northampton County, Pennsylvania. The site contains three main habitat types: forests, grasslands and wetlands. Over 200 acres of the site are available as wildlife habitat.

The GCSL WM wildlife team maintains numerous habitat enhancement programs on the site. A nest box program was initiated in 2005 to augment existing habitat for native birds. This program has expanded over the years, with the help of Boy Scout Troop 33, and now consists of 67 nest boxes. Numerous bird species have benefited from these nesting structures, including Eastern bluebirds, tree swallows, American kestrels, house wrens and wood ducks. Girl Scouts further expanded the program by building a barred owl nest box in 2009. The team also has plans to further enhance the site for native birds by creating an osprey nesting platform as well as a barn owl nest box.

The WM wildlife team has also enhanced the site for numerous species of wildlife through their grasslands habitat project. The project began with the removal of an existing structure on the site, and native warm season grasses were planted. The grassland habitat includes 24 acres of warm season grasses and 17 acres of cool season grasses. To enhance environmental education opportunities, the Grand Central Environmental Education Center was completed in 2008. A total of 41 acres are currently managed as a Wildlife Sanctuary and Education Center. The grasslands provide valuable habitat to a diversity of species, including six species that have been documented on site and listed on the Audubon Society’s Top 20 Common Birds in Decline. These species include the Eastern meadowlark, horned lark, field sparrow, snow bunting, common grackle and grasshopper sparrow. The WM wildlife team hopes the grasslands will also attract the long-eared owl to the site. Walking trails are planned to facilitate educational and wildlife viewing opportunities in the grasslands.

The site also enhanced habitat for pollinators through the creation of two pollinator gardens. In 2008, Boy Scouts created a 20-foot by 20-foot pollinator garden, and in 2009, Girl Scouts created an additional 5-foot by 6-foot pollinator garden. The Girl Scouts also built a butterfly hibernation box to further enhance the area for pollinators.

Guadalupe Rubbish Disposal Company (GRDC)

San Jose, CA - Certified since 2009

The Guadalupe Rubbish Disposal Company (GRDC) is located on the west side of San Jose, California, in the foothills of the Santa Cruz Mountains. About half of the 411-acre site remains in natural habitat, including oak woodland, grassland, chaparral and riparian areas along Guadalupe Creek.

The current focus of the GRDC’s wildlife enhancement activities is the Guadalupe Creek corridor. This corridor is the site of the U-frame channel fish passage which is being modified to enhance habitat for steelhead trout and Chinook salmon migration. The steelhead trout in the area is listed as federally threatened and the particular population of Chinook is listed as a Species of Special Concern by the state of California and the federal government. GRDC worked with the Santa Clara Valley Water District to design, install and monitor the revised U-frame channel. The site also worked in conjunction with NOAA’s National Marine Fisheries Service, the Army Corps of Engineers, the California Department of Fish and Game, and the state Regional Water Quality Control Board on the project. In addition, GRDC plans to stabilize and restore the creek banks with native riparian vegetation and create an interpretive trail along the length of the creek.

The GRDC wildlife team has a broad range of future projects planned. These include restoring oak woodlands on-site, enhancing storm water basins to enhance habitat for the California red-legged frog and the Foothill yellow-legged frog, identify and manage invasive species, and install a native pollinator garden that will provide both habitat value and educational opportunities for the community.

Hickory Hill Landfill and Recycling Center

Ridgeland, SC - Certified since 2008

The Corporate Lands for Learning (CLL) program at the Hickory Hill Landfill is strongly tied to on-site habitat, with activities developed and correlated to state education standards.

Tours of the site use a well defined trail area with signage that allows the audience to self-pace themselves while learning about the local flora and fauna. The South Carolina “low-country” habitat that the site is comprised of is home to grasslands and wetlands. These areas attract a great number of migratory birds and wood ducks which the WM wildlife team specifically manages with artificial nesting habitat. Tours and activities on “the hill” provide area audiences opportunities to see uncommon birds for the geographical area, as well as learn about migration and bird ecology.

Because of the wetland area specific to the low-country, audiences are provided with the chance to learn about freshwater wetlands, the intricacies of the water cycle and the creatures that depend on this type of habitat.

Live animal presentations highlight the native animals of the area. In conjunction with this lesson, students try out identification and monitoring techniques, and data collection tips. The wood duck habitat on site is also highlighted this way. The audience learns about the species, how to monitor and how to manage for it.

The site is very successful in integrating the workings of the landfill into audience presentations. In addition to the extensive habitat areas, the landfill is also a working facility, and this important and interesting fact is demonstrated to audiences during several activities. A tour focusing on the landfill is augmented by tours of the habitat that mention the operations, as well as activities and lessons that illustrate the need to recycle  and the workings of waste management facilities.

High Acres Landfill and Recycling Center

Fairport, NY - Certified since 2006

The High Acres Landfill and Recycling Center is an 869-acre facility located in Monroe County, New York. In addition to the active and closed landfill areas, the property is composed of a variety of habitat types, including forested wetlands, hardwood forests, fallow farm fields and former pastures, floodplain forests and emergent marsh. Approximately 440 acres of the site are managed for wildlife habitat enhancement projects.

Eighteen wetlands areas are delineated on the site, with many other vernal pools and undocumented wetlands scattered throughout the property, making High Acres an important area for amphibian species. Since 2003, the volunteers at the site have participated in an amphibian monitoring project following a protocol developed for the Marsh Monitoring Program of Bird Studies Canada (BSC). Surveys are conducted three times during the spring and summer months, and the data are submitted to BSC for inclusion in the Great Lakes Marsh Monitoring Program. The program is sponsored by the US Environmental Protection Agency and Environment Canada.

Grassland meadows, including those on the landfill cap, have been placed on a biannual mowing schedule to improve habitat for grassland-nesting birds. Mowing is performed late in the growing season so as to not interfere with the breeding season of grassland birds. Surveys performed in collaboration with the New York Department of Environmental Conservations Atlas 2002 Breeding Bird Survey confirmed breeding of several species of special concern, including vesper sparrow, bobolink and grasshopper sparrow. Nest boxes placed on the landfill also attract breeding pairs of American kestrel. In 2000, 15 nest boxes were placed around the site targeting various bird species. High Acres plans to install additional boxes for wood ducks and bats in the future. The facility is also testing the viability of planting spruce trees and shrubs on the landfill cap to promote greater diversity.

The facility also contains four miles of hiking trails, called the Trails at High Acres, which pass through seven different plant communities. The trails offer the community ample recreational opportunities and include a strong environmental education focus. Plans for expansion and improvement of the trail system are continuously being developed with the help of local partnerships.

Hillsboro Landfill

Hillsboro, OR - Certified since 2003

Waste Management, Inc. (WM) operates Hillsboro Landfill, a construction and demolition waste landfill, on an approximately 420-acre site in rural Washington County, Oregon. The landfill began operation on the site in 1962, and was purchased by WM in 1993. Throughout this period, the facility's staff has established a long history of environmental stewardship while partnering with local environmental organizations and becoming involved in community service and education. Seven of the fifteen permanent staff members actively participate in these ongoing projects.

The centerpiece of the landfill's Wildlife Habitat Program is a large wetland restoration project that was initiated in response to state and federal permitting requirements associated with various landfill expansion projects. This ongoing project will eventually result in the conversion of over 125 acres of farmed Taulatin River floodplain into riparian wetlands. WM began the first phase of its three phase wetland restoration plan in 1989, and is currently moving into the final phase of the restoration, having completed approximately 60 acres as of 2002.

The staff also manages a number of ponds and natural areas adjacent to the landfill that provide valuable habitat just outside the Taulatin River floodplain, including a complex of three large ponds and a mature forest stand supporting a large heron rookery. In addition, several of the existing buffer corridors of vegetation that separate landfill facilities from adjacent properties provide additional habitat for local wildlife, particularly for neo-tropical migratory birds.

Besides conducting five to ten tours on-site annually, the facility and its employees actively support the adjacent Jackson Bottom Wetland Preserve. Members of the Hillsboro Landfill staff have served on the Jackson Bottom steering committee for over four years. Since the 1980's, WM has helped with the Master Planning efforts at the preserve. They lend equipment, provide personnel for project tours or donate funding for the restoration efforts.

Hoot Landfill

Fouke, AR - Certified since 2009

The Hoot Landfill is a 215-acre closed landfill located in southwestern Arkansas near the Texas-Arkansas border. The dedicated eight-member wildlife team consists of both WM employees and volunteers from local community organizations such as the Sulphur River Waterfowl Association, Boy Scout Troop 85, the Fouke Independent School District and Arkansas Fish and Game. The team actively manages all 215 acres of the property for Wildlife at Work program.

The Sulphur River Waterfowl Association manages the site in cooperation with WM with the goals of enhancing habitat for wildlife and developing the property as an outdoor learning center. The team maintains artificial nesting structures for songbirds and waterfowl, including 10 nest boxes for eastern bluebirds, 32 nest boxes for wood ducks and several nesting tubs for Canada geese. Raptor perches provide perching habitat for raptors hunting on the property. The team also conducts rotational mowing on the landfill to enhance cover resources for raptor prey species and other animals.

Upon the capped landfill and around each of the site’s ponds and wetlands, the team maintains food plots for game species such as white-tailed deer, ducks and geese. The food plots, first established in 2005 by Sulphur River Waterfowl Association personnel, were planted to off-set the impact that site operations might have upon the site’s wildlife species.

Kahle Landfill

The Kahle Landfill, near Owensville, Missouri, is a closed municipal waste landfill. The property consists of 166 acres located in Gasconade County about 80 miles west of St. Louis. The site is located in the northern Ozark Highlands, near the junction of two broad ecosystem types, eastern broadleaf forest and savannah. About half of the property is upland oak-hickory forest. The other half of the property includes grasslands, the 12-acre landfill cap, clay mining operations and scattered ponds.

The site partnered with its neighbors, the Lairmores, to implement the projects that make up the site’s Wildlife at Work program. Kyle Lairmore is a district conservationist for the Missouri Department of Conservation, while his father is a member of the local Quail Forever Chapter. The Lairmores helped to implement a plan to cut invasive red cedar trees and pile them to make brush piles, creating habitat for small mammals and other wildlife. Some of the cut cedars were placed in ponds on site to improve habitat for fish and amphibians.

The site also made a push to restore the grassland habitat on the site, which includes some native grasses but is infested with sericea lespedeza. The WM wildlife team sprayed the lespedeza throughout the summer and fall of 2008, and conducted a prescribed burn in January 2009. The wildlife team plans to assess the degree to which native plants benefited from the prescribed burn as they continue their effort to restore the habitats of the site. Future projects may include additional treatments of lespedeza and prescribed burns and native plantings.

King George County Landfill

Fredericksburg, Virginia - Certified since 2009

The 685 acre King George County Landfill is located in a predominantly agricultural and residential area west of Fredericksburg, Virginia. Approximately 200 acres are actively maintained for the Wildlife at Work program, including grasslands, wetlands and ponds. Thirteen employees are involved in habitat enhancement projects on the site.

A wildflower meadow was planted above the capped landfill to create habitat for a diversity of species. The meadow is frequently monitored by employees, and purple martin houses will be installed around the meadow in 2010 to further enhance habitat for these songbirds. The wildlife team also has plans to plant two pollinator gardens on the site, to increase habitat for these valuable creatures.

The wildlife team controls invasive Japanese honeysuckle and creates brush piles throughout the site. Brush piles provide habitat for smaller animals, which in turn are a source of prey for larger animals such as bald eagles, which are frequently observed at the site. The local Audubon Society conducts an annual Christmas Bird Count to monitor the number of bald eagles and other birds found on the site.

Kirby Canyon Recycling & Disposal

The wildlife team at Kirby Canyon Recycling & Disposal is committed to providing solid waste management services while proactively protecting and enhancing the serpentine soil grasslands and populations of endangered and threatened species present on site. The property encompasses approximately 827 acres, with 255 acres devoted solely to habitat enhancement projects and scientific study. The ecosystem is one of the San Francisco Bay area's few remaining serpentine soil grasslands that support the federally listed bay checker-spot butterfly and rare plants such as jewel-flower. The site also supports the threatened California red-legged frog.

The Kirby Canyon Landfill Conservation Trust funds and oversees activities related to conservation of the bay checker-spot butterfly. The wildlife team fenced off 250 acres of prime butterfly habitat and placed grazing restrictions on the area to protect the plant community on which the butterfly depends for food, protection and reproduction. The team also initiated studies and experiments into methods to restore the final landfill slopes to serpentine grassland habitat. Employees began work on a Habitat Conservation Plan for the entire site with assistance from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Completion of the HCP and accompanying Implementation Agreement will further commit employees to protecting the endangered and threatened species on site.

Organizations such as the California Native Plant Society, Santa Clara Valley Audubon Society, Stanford University and Western Washington University collaborate with the wildlife team. Local experts and university students help the team monitor habitats and conduct studies to test whether enhancement programs benefit their targeted species. The wildlife team and its partners annually monitor the bay checker-spot butterfly population, take inventories of plant species in the serpentine grassland, and study the effects of grazing and nutrient-cycling in the grassland. They also monitor the California red-legged frog population, which uses a constructed wetland area on the site. Wetland vegetation introduced to this area provides cover and egg attachment sites for frogs. Future plans include installation of an additional wetland area to provide extra habitat for rare plants and animals, as well as continuation of monitoring activities for the rare species that inhabit the site.

Lake County Recycling and Disposal Facility

Chesterland, OH Certified since 2009

The Lake County RDF was an active landfill used for municipal and commercial waste from 1927 until 1993, when it was closed with a vegetated cap. The site covers 195 acres, all of which are devoted to enhancing wildlife habitat, increasing biodiversity, and providing educational opportunities via partnerships with the Gates Mill Environmental Center and the Geauga Park District. Surrounding land includes forested woodlots, residential lots, riparian areas and wetlands.

In June of 2008, the Lake County wildlife team began managing the site for invasive Phragmites, and constructed brush piles on the site’s forest-meadow edge. They have since observed chipmunks, meadow mice, black snakes and great horned owls using the brush piles for shelter and hunting. In the summer of 2008 the team began a rotational mowing program on the site’s vegetated cap in order to increase vegetative diversity. In May of 2009 the team sent soil samples to Penn State University for analysis before planting 135 native trees and shrubs in the “bowl” area of the site in an effort to create a transitional area that will further enhance biodiversity. In the future, the wildlife team would like to establish a bird habitat and pollinator meadow.

Lake View Landfill

Erie, PA - Certified since 2008

The Lake View Landfill covers 526 acres near the shore of Lake Erie. Gases produced by the landfill are captured and directed to a power plant to produce enough electricity for about 5,000 homes per day. The wildlife team, consultants from Beran Environmental Services Inc. and volunteers from many community organizations, including the Collegiate Academy, Presque Isle Audubon Society and Lake Erie-Allegheny Earth Force, have all participated in creating a Habitat Management Area south of the active landfill.

The HMA consists of 68 acres of created palustrine emergent wetlands, woodlots and grassland with establishing shrub communities. In addition, over a mile of reconstructed stream channel runs through the HMA. Waste Management exceeded mitigation requirements by restoring a greater wetland area and more linear feet of stream than required, and by planting the HMA with 250 species of native upland and wetland plants. The site serves as a model for wetland mitigation, and state agencies conduct mitigation field trainings on site.

The wildlife team installed two wood duck boxes by the wetland in 2005, and one of them was used by wood ducks the following year. In the fall of 2007, student volunteers helped the wildlife team build and install eight bluebird nest boxes; volunteers from another school installed 12 more in the spring of 2008 and marked their locations with a GPS unit.

Invasive purple loosestrife and common reed were identified in the wetlands. The wildlife team chemically treated these plants to stop their further spread and maintain the wetlands' high plant species diversity. These areas will be monitored closely for any re-growth of the invasive species.

One main goal of the program includes educating the community on responsible waste disposal practices through recycling and "green energy" programs. In addition the site looks to educate the community on different habitats on-site and how they allow for a diversity of species. Since 2007, Lake View has engaged more than 1,000 visitors in its programs including students, scouts, universities, resource professionals, and government agencies.

Curricula introduced during Lake View’s  programs use components of the habitat. Participants learn characteristics and the importance of wetlands, wetland design and construction, stream ecology, anthropogenic demands on the environment in relation to resource protection, green initiatives, and sustainable practices. In addition, groups have participated in learning about artificial nest structures- their significance and design. Following the presentation participants assisted in site selection, installation and GPS mapping of these nesting structures.

Several colleges and universities have taken advantage of this outdoor learning laboratory as well. Students from Mercyhurst and Allegheny College, Penn State University, and Edinboro University have come on-site to explore waste disposal, methane collection, wetland ecology and geology.

Liberty Landfill

Monticello, Indiana - Certified since 2008

Liberty Landfill is a solid municipal waste landfill located in northern Indiana. The site spans 480 acres, 138 of which are devoted to wildlife habitat. The area includes ponds, a wetland, a wooded area, and a prairie environment. The site's six-person wildlife team began its habitat enhancement program in 1993 by simply allowing the site's fields to grow instead of keeping them mowed. Since then, the program has expanded to include extensive annual plantings, strong relationships with local conservation organizations, and community outreach efforts.

The work of Liberty Landfill's wildlife team benefits a broad range of species. The team works to improve habitat for the local wild turkey population. The turkey habitat includes brush piles, a dusting area, managed snags and food plots. The team also enhanced the site for pollinators by planting wildflowers. The team created a nesting habitat for ducks by installing duck boxes and planting winter wheat, going above and beyond the requirements of their compensatory wetland work.

In addition, the wildlife team recognizes the need to build strong relationships with conservation organizations and local groups. The team has partnered with local Boy Scouts, Ducks Unlimited, Pheasants Forever, among other groups, to create a habitat program whose impact extends beyond the landfill and into the community.  

The Corporate Lands for Learning program at Liberty Landfill uses the fields, forests and wetlands at the site as an outdoor classroom to teach hunter safety courses and hunting as a tool for land management. This unique CLL program articulates that much of the funding for community conservation-enhancement efforts come directly from the licenses fees to huntersand the population of hunters is shrinking, with only 80 percent of hunters who are retiring being replaced by new, young hunters.

The program also stresses that hunting encourages people to spend times outdoors, and has a positive economic impactsand that it is the only acceptable method of population control for a number of species that have become a nuisance in recent years. Partnering with the Nature Conservancy, Sportsmen Acting for the Environment, the Boy Scouts, Pheasants Forever, The National sports Shooting Federation and Pheasants Forever, Liberty Landfill exposes youth and adults to exemplary wildlife habitat management practices as well as hunter safety education.

Magog Landfill

Magog, Quebec - Certified since 2006

The Magog Landfill is located in the Eastern Townships of Quebec, a popular outdoor tourist destination approximately 120 kilometers southeast of Montreal. Forested areas are the major natural component at the Magog Landfill. Part of the property is occupied by balsam fir and red maple stands, while other areas are dominated by early successional species such as red maple, pin cherry and quaking aspen. The northern part of the property is characterized by older stands of yellow and grey birch, beech and eastern hemlock. An intermittent stream is also found on site and leads to the Beaver Pond which covers one acre.

The Magog wildlife team initiated their wildlife habitat enhancement program by starting a beaver habitat restoration project. Considering the unique location of the site, implementing a project that would benefit a wildlife species emblematic of the Canadian environment was seen as a great opportunity. The project benefits the health of the aquatic ecosystem and also benefits other species known to frequent the property. More specifically, the site shows a strong use of the resources on site by white-tailed deer and a moose has been spotted several times by employees. The presence of tracts of forested landscape offer valuable bird habitat on site.

Maplewood Recycling and Waste Disposal Facility

Jetersville, Virginia - Certified since 2008

Maplewood Recycling and Waste Disposal Facility’s Corporate Lands for Learning program provides students and the community opportunities for hands-on learning activities. These programs aim to enhance the public’s knowledge of wildlife, habitat, landfill operations and environmentally responsible management practices.

The site partners with the Virginia Save Our Streams program to provide site students and visitors with the hands on opportunities to learn about the ecology and organisms that use the on-site stream.

In March of 2009, the site wildlife team constructed two honeybee hives that are used as a teaching tool for student visitors and employees. Visiting groups get a first-hand look at how a honeybee hive works and learn about the significance of honeybees as pollinators.

Menominee Landfill

Menominee, MI - Certified since 2009

The Menominee Landfill is a 1,400-acre site containing diverse habitat types including grasslands, forests, wetlands and ponds. As part of the Wildlife at Work program, 1,000 acres are actively managed for wildlife, including 45 acres of freshwater wetlands.

In 1997, freshwater wetlands were created and a vegetative buffer was planted to filter sediments and control erosion. Throughout the years, the area, now known as the Elmwood Wildlife Observation Area, began to take shape. An observation deck was built to provide an area for educational tours to observe the wildlife. A nature trail was also established to further improve wildlife observation opportunities. The WM wildlife team monitors for invasive species in the wetland area, and is working on a plan to control invasive buckthorn.

The Chappee Rapids Audubon Society conducted a survey in 2009 and identified 96 species of birds on the site. The wildlife team installed songbird and wood duck nest boxes in 2009 to enhance existing habitat on the site for cavity nesting bird species. Several snags were also created to provide additional habitat for cavity nesting birds. The WM wildlife team plans to monitor the nest boxes and snags to ensure they will benefit wildlife for years to come.

Milam Landfill

East St. Louis, IL - Certified since 2009

The Fowles Wetland Area is a 98-acre tract preserved and enhanced in an effort to provide mitigation for wetland impacts associated with past landfill activities at the Milam Recycling and Disposal Facility. The Wetland Area is located within Fairmont City, Illinois, approximately two miles east of St. Louis, Missouri.

Additional acreage was preserved within the Wetland Area beyond regulatory requirements to provide a greater amount and higher quality wildlife habitat. A number of different species are observed using the site, including waterfowl, shorebirds, mammals, amphibians and reptiles. Two plantings of the federally threatened decurrent false aster were conducted on the site, which is one of only approximately 30 known populations in the world. Dr. Marian Smith of Southern Illinois University – Edwardsville wrote the management plan for the plant and a group from Lindenwood University uses the area as an outdoor classroom.

WM hopes to pursue future projects at the Fowles Wetland Area including control of invasive cheatgrass and autumn olive by monitoring and controlling observed species on the site, hydrologic enhancements via underwater brush piles, basking logs, creation of snags, upland brush piles, and creation of coarse woody debris for ponds. The site also intends to manage game species such as deer and waterfowl, as well as the sensitive species that occur at the site.

Mill Seat Landfill

Bergen, NY - Certified since 2004

Located in a rural area of Monroe County, New York, Mill Seat Landfill actively manages 225 acres of a variety of habitat types, including upland deciduous forest, succession upland shrub, deciduous swamp and shallow marshes. As part of the Wildlife at Work program, the WM wildlife team focused on bird conservation, animal rehabilitation and invasive species prevention.

Recognizing a need for nesting habitats, the WM wildlife team established a nest box program for a variety of species including bluebirds, tree swallows and wood ducks. The program was expanded in 2008, with the installation of 30 additional bluebird nest boxes, which were constructed by students from the Churchville-Chili High School. WM employees and local volunteers carefully monitor the bluebird nest boxes to ensure their continued success.

The WM wildlife team established a rotational mowing program to ensure that a variety of habitats are available to wildlife at all times. The numerous habitats on the site provide an opportunity for a variety of rehabilitated wildlife to be released on the site. A partnership with the Black Creek Wildlife Station releases rehabilitated animals on the site.

Lastly, the team worked to control the invasive Phragmities found on the site. Controlling this invasive species allowed native plants with greater value to wildlife to become established. To promote native planting, the wildlife team established a community nursery to grow native flowers, trees and shrubs used for community greening programs.

Model City

Model City, NY - Certified since 2007

Model City is a commercial hazardous waste treatment, storage and disposal facility that encompasses 750 acres. Approximately 400 acres of the site are composed of wetlands, forests and grasslands. Wildlife enhancement plans were initially designed around regulatory issues related to the landfill’s contents.

As part of the Wildlife at Work program, the WM wildlife team constructed and placed four bat boxes in the spring of 2008. The team consulted plans from the Organization for Bat Conservation prior to implementing the boxes and have been monitored regularly; currently no bats have occupied the boxes and the team intends to wait another year before relocating the boxes.

In addition to bat conservation efforts, the wildlife team and the Niagara River Anglers rescue trout and salmon stranded in drainage ways on site and return the rescued fish to a tributary of Twelve Mile Creek. The site conducts an annual open house for over 500 participants and provides visitors gifts of birdhouses or tree saplings. This year’s gift was a perennial pollinator plant to promote the theme of pollination throughout the community.

This year, Model City has also been nominated the Pollinator Protection Award from the Wildlife Habitat Council and North American Pollinator Protection Campaign.  The recognition is offered for certified WHC sites that implement specific land management practices to promote pollinator populations. The wildlife team researched appropriate pollinator-attracting species that would tolerate a full-sun placement and planted a pollinator garden in spring of 2009.

Mountain View Reclamation Landfill

Greecastle, PA - Certified since 2007

The Mountain View Reclamation property covers approximately 750 acres in south central Pennsylvania and has historically been used for farming, an apple orchard operation and shale mining. As part of the Wildlife at Work program, WM employees, local scouts and Venture Crew members built and installed over 40 nest boxes for bluebirds, kestrels and wood ducks, as well as four bat roosting boxes. WM employees also placed two barn owl nest boxes to provide shelter for a species of growing concern. Throughout the program, scouts and WM employees maintain the nest boxes and all but one box had a successful hatching.

Mountain View has also been nominated the Pollinator Protection Award from the Wildlife Habitat Council and North American Pollinator Protection Campaign. The recognition is offered for certified WHC sites that implement specific land management practices to promote pollinator populations. In May 2009, the WM wildlife team planted a quarter-acre pollinator garden. The garden included sunflowers which provided seeds for small mammals and birds, in addition to being a large source of nectar and pollen for bees. The garden was further expanded in 2009 and has maintained a thriving bee population.

Northwestern Landfill

Parkersburg, WV - Certified since 2009

Located on 345 acres of former farmland in northern West Virginia, Northwestern Landfill consists of many different habitats including woodland, grassland and natural and manmade wetlands and ponds. The Wildlife at Work program focuses on restoring and maintaining habitats for the native species living on the property.

For example, students from a local vocational-technical school, along with WM employees, built 25 bluebird nest boxes on the landfill property. Once built, local Cub Scouts donated time to clean out the nest boxes and discovered the boxes were serving as homes for southern flying squirrels and Black-capped chickadees.
 
The WM wildlife team also planted a half-acre native grass plot by seeding little bluestem, Canada wild rye, partridge pea, switchgrass and showy tick trefoil. The plot now provides a source of food and cover for grassland birds. It also minimizes soil erosion and improves surface water quality.

Lastly, the WM wildlife team members planted pollinator perennials in an empty planting bed. Plants included black-eyed Susan, phlox, anise hyssop, coreopsis and purple coneflower. Soon after, employees saw butterflies using the garden, which will provide food and cover for pollinator species and seeds for winter forage for mammal and bird species.

Northwestern Landfill is one of 45 WM locations receiving this award bringing the company’s total number of sites with Wildlife at Work certifications to 73.

Oak Ridge RDF

Logansport, IN - Certified since 2009

The Oak Ridge RDF Landfill is located in northwest Indiana just south of the town of Logansport. The surrounding property is very rural and most of the land is in some stage of agricultural development. Of the site's 396 acres approximately 133 are available for wildlife habitat enhancement projects. This area is comprised of a variety of habitats, including grasslands, native tallgrass prairie, upland mixed forest, emergent wetland, riparian habitat and open water.

The Oak Ridge RDF wildlife team dedicated a portion of their land to be used as an outdoor classroom. Within this area the wildlife team planted a mix of switchgrass, sunflowers and native wildflowers such as purple coneflower, blazingstar and butterflyweed. The prairie area is monitored and weeds are controlled as necessary. The team partnered with Pheasants Forever to release pheasants in 2007. Forty-six pheasants were counted occupying the field in 2009.

Supplemental trees were also planted in the outdoor classroom area to provide added habitat and structural diversity. Several wetlands of varying sizes were created within the outdoor classroom area and on other parts of the property.

Conservation education and outreach is an important part of the Oak Ridge RDF wildlife program. Several groups of Boy Scouts were invited to attend presentations given by professional ecologists. Indiana Conservation Officers also hosted hunter education programs at the outdoor classroom area.

Okeechobee Landfill

Okeechobee, FL - Certified since 2003

The Waste Management, Inc. (WM) Okeechobee Landfill is situated within a rural community and has the potential to provide locals and visitors alike with a variety of conservation and recreation related activities. Employees at the site have long valued the presence of threatened Florida sandhill cranes on the property, encouraging nesting through the maintenance of grasslands as well as of several earthen mounds, or islands, within the wetland lakes. Employees regularly monitor these areas for sandhill crane activity, especially as the cranes raise their young.

Prior to starting new projects, an inventory was conducted on the wildlife and vegetation on-site. The wildlife team met to discuss the existing wildlife species on the property, what habitat requirements were already being met and which components were lacking or could be accentuated. The underlying desire of the team was to create habitat on site for other species, based on the positive outcome that employees experienced by providing nesting areas, food, and water for the sandhill cranes.

The site is exceptional, consisting of 4,150 acres, with 1,550 actively undergoing wetland preservation and restoration, as well as the creation of aquatic, marsh and forested wetland habitat. There are a multitude of possibilities for habitat enhancement on-site, and the community has been very receptive in recognizing the value in enhancing and preserving natural areas. For these reasons, employees are enthusiastic at the prospect of continuing to design and implement new projects.

Employees recount numerous sightings of wild turkey, deer, wood ducks, gopher tortoise and a variety of birds on the property, and use their base wildlife inventory to identify enhancement goals. One identified priority is to provide additional nesting opportunities for wood ducks in the Southwest Swamp. While this forested wetland has a lot of hardwood nesting trees in a contiguous area, many of the planted cypress and other trees in the area are still young. It was determined that nesting boxes specifically designed for wood ducks would be ideal. In addition, the value of nut and berry producing trees in the Southwest Swamp was emphasized, and new goals for planting, protecting and preserving these trees were established. The team also set another goal to provide educational opportunities for employees in order to promote the understanding of continued and future projects. Management provided field guides and other materials, hosted separate courses on wildlife and education for hunters and is very supportive of employee efforts to enhance habitat and increase education opportunities on-site.

Ottawa Waste Management Facility

Carp, Ontario - Certified since 2008

In operation since 1971, the Ottawa Waste Facility is situated in the mixedwood plains of Ontario and consists of 142 hectares of land. The landscape of the landfill features a surface water pond, two sediment ponds, wooded areas, a grassy berm and a sand pit.

The Ottawa Landfill wildlife team aims to implement a wildlife management program that can concurrently protect habitat, involve other WM employees, improve company morale and develop stronger community relations. During the first year, the team will control the existing algae growth in the South and Southeast ponds, prepare the berm for landscaping and implement a gull management program. The team will consult with neighboring farmers and consultants regarding the use of Barley Straw in the ponds, native vegetation for the berm and gull removal devices. Longer term goals include habitat enhancement for grey horned owls, mallard ducks, purple martins and bats.

The Ottawa Landfill habitat program is still in early developmental stages. The site has been observed, the habitat has been assessed and the wildlife team is now beginning work on projects. Barley straw has been applied to pond areas to remove algae and poplar trees have been planted on site. In addition, owl nesting platforms and nesting tubes for mallard ducks were installed. The team is excited for future plans and will continue to promote habitat protection.

Patterson Avenue Landfill

Hamilton Township, NJ - Certified since 2008

The Patterson Avenue Landfill consists of approximately 18 acres in the Township of Hamilton, New Jersey. The inactive landfill with a soil cap is located in a residential and light industrial portion of Trenton, Mercer County, New Jersey. The property consists of grassland habitat, deciduous woodlands and wooded and emergent freshwater wetlands.

The goal of the Wildlife at Work program at the Patterson Avenue Landfill is to enhance onsite habitats via the removal of non-native invasive plant species, planting native grassland species including butterfly host and nectar plant species, installation of nest boxes, raptor perches, bat houses, and brush piles. The site first initiated the removal of non-native invasive species in November of 2006 and has continued to inventory and remove them ever since. In an effort to increase and enhance habitat for grassland bird species, the site has designated two grassland management areas. The remainder of the grassland areas have been placed on an annual mowing schedule where mowing will not interrupt bird species nesting in the grasslands. Working in conjunction with the New Jersey Audubon Society's Citizen Science Program, there have been Grassland bird surveys in June of 2007 and 2008 in an effort to determine grassland species utilizing the property.

Petrolia Landfill

Petrolia, Ontario - Certified since 2004

Petrolia Landfill is located on 100-acre site in a mixed land use area near the Town of Petrolia, Ontario. Nearby land includes forests, agricultural lands and oil fields. The site itself consists of native grasslands, shrub communities, wetlands and riparian habitats. Little Bear Creek and Bear Creek surround the south and east perimeters of the site, providing additional aquatic habitat. The Petrolia Wildlife at Work program actively manages 45 acres for wildlife and habitat enhancement. 

Working with the University of Waterloo, the WM wildlife team is conducting a lagoon pilot project on the site. The lagoon project involves the creation of a wetland known as a “swamp in a box.” By traveling through a series of these wetland cells, leachate will be broken down and treated. This technique has been tested in warmer climates, and the project on site will determine the feasibility of this technique in areas which have seasonally cold climates. The Petrolia Landfill is also creating a gas-to-energy plant, which will convert methane gas from the landfill into electricity. The plant is scheduled to open in 2010.

Pine Bluff Landfill

Ballground, GA - Certified since 2009

The Pine Bluff Landfill is located in northwestern Georgia, in Cherokee County. The property now encompasses over 1,100 acres and provides the perfect setting for game species management and the preservation of natural wildlife habitats.

Since 1996, the site has hosted a game species management program for eastern wild turkey and white-tailed deer on portions of the site not being used for waste disposal. The Wildlife at Work program is managed by ten WM wildlife team members, under the direction of retired Game Warden and former Georgia Department of Natural Resources Conservation Corporal, David Phillips.

The Wildlife at Work program also aims to educate employees on game management practices and safety procedures necessary for a successful program. Tours and educational sessions are offered for members of the surrounding community. The ultimate program goal is to couple the current game management program with habitat enhancements to ensure that all habitat components are met in a sustainable manner.

Pine Grove Landfill

Pine Grove, PA - Certified since 2006

The Pine Grove Landfill, located in Pine Grove, Penn., was acquired by Waste Management in 1998. In addition to the landfill, Waste Management also purchased an adjacent property called Longenecker Farm, bringing the total acreage to 360, of which 350 are managed for wildlife. The property is comprised of a mix of deciduous and coniferous woodlands, grasslands and fallow farm fields, along with active landfill areas. Lone Valley Creek, a small tributary of Swatara Creek, bisects the site from the northern property boundary to the southeastern corner of the site. Laurel Creek, another small tributary of Swatara Creek, flows from Longenecker farm pond south along Laurel Drive.

After initiating a wildlife habitat program in early 2005, the Pine Grove Landfill quickly established several projects around the site. Based on observations of American kestrels at the property, the wildlife team constructed three nest boxes and placed them in appropriate locations around the site. The boxes have proved very successful, attracting kestrels in each of the first two breeding seasons. The team will continue to monitor and maintain the boxes in future years. Additional nest boxes were also placed around the property for eastern bluebirds and tree swallows. A pollinator garden was created in 2005, at the entrance to the site and planted with native wildflower species. In addition, food plots were planted for deer and turkey. The team also implements an invasive species control program at the site in an attempt to remove non-native autumn olive (Elaeagnus angustifolia) and multiflora rose (Rosa multiflora), which if left uncontrolled, can crowd out native plants and reduce biodiversity.

The facility laid the groundwork for development of an environmental education center at the site that will include a nature center, trails, wildlife observation blinds and pavilions. The wildlife team collaborated with various organizations, including the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Pennsylvania Game Commission, Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission, Trout Unlimited, Pheasants Forever, Pine Grove Township, Red Creek Wildlife Center and the Schuylkill County Conservation District, in developing a plan of action for this project.

Prairie Hill Recycling and Disposal Facility

Morrison, IL - Certified since 2008

The Prairie Hill RDF occupies 423 acres and is located in Whiteside County in northwest Illinois. The site was purchased by Waste Management in 1992. As part of the initial licensing process, site manager Mike Wiersema and the site development team developed a closure plan. The closure plan envisioned the site as a community resource with publically accessible bike trails, a nature trail with interpretative signage and learning stations and perhaps a full-blown nature center. In the interim, whenever possible, the site is managed in accordance with this vision.

In 1995, the company decided to convert some unused land around the site's entranceway into a restored natural prairie. Working with the Whiteside County Soil Conservation and Natural Area Guardians, a prairie was established with native grasses and locally-collected native prairie wildflower seed. The seed was collected by the WCSC, NAGs, at the Sauk Valley Community College prairie. A management plan was developed and after three growing years of mowing, general maintenance -- and patience -- the prairie finally was established, not only to the site's enjoyment, but also that of drivers-by and the local pheasant and northern bobwhite quail populations. The prairie is maintained through scheduled burns in cooperation with the soil conservation office and control of invasive species by occasional mowing and targeted applications of herbicide.

In accordance with the vision for the site, educational opportunities are being pursued. For example, every year from August through October the soil conservation office in conjunction with NAGs arrive to harvest seeds which are sold as a fundraising event for their group. Future plans include enlisting local school children in creating a demonstration garden with ID tags to help site employees and visitors become familiar with prairie plants.

Richmond Landfill

Napanee, Ontario - Certified since 2006

The Richmond Landfill is set in a predominantly rural area of Ontario with several nearby ecologically significant areas including the Hemplfly Swamp, Beechwood Swamp, and the Salmon River Area of Natural and Scientific Interest. A myriad of ecosystems exist within the 558-acre property, including deciduous forest woodlots, ponds, marshes, cultural savannah and cultural meadow.

Between 1997 and 2001, a series of field investigations were carried out, creating species inventory lists. These prepared lists were used as a reference for the development of a wildlife habitat management plan. Avian conservation is a high priority at the Richmond Landfill. In 2006, nest boxes were placed in the North Swamp area for wood ducks. These boxes will be monitored for use and cleaned out each winter. Eight houses were also constructed for bluebirds and placed near suitable food and water sources.

The wildlife team also promotes healthy forests through pit and mound forest restoration on-site. Chosen areas were excavated to create the pits and mounds and native trees were planted to attract wildlife. The team also maintains and enhances snags throughout the site. In the coming years, the team will continue to develop a successful Learning Centre. A building has already been acquired and trails are being constructed. Plans are being made to incorporate recycled materials into the building of boardwalks and benches.

Riverbend Landfill

McMinnville, OR - Certified since 2005

The Riverbend Landfill encompasses 620 acres, with about 500 acres set aside for wildlife habitat. The site is primarily surrounded by agricultural land, including pastures, row crops, orchards and some associated rural residences. The South Yamhill River flows through the southern half of the site, and its highly meandering channel leads to the creation of floodplain forests along the southern riverbank. Oregon ash, black cottonwood and willows dominate the floodplain areas.

Poplar trees are used treat leachate generated by the landfill. The leachate is stored in a 20-million gallon pond and then applied as irrigation to a 45-acre poplar plantation. The poplars absorb the water and the contaminants contained within it, and then the trees are harvested. This method safely treats the leachate while at the same time generating high-quality clear dimensional lumber and pulp for the paper industry.

Employees maintain a nest box program to provide habitat for cavity-nesting birds. The site features nesting structures for bluebirds and wood ducks, as well as an osprey nesting platform. Future plans include installation of nest boxes for American kestrels.

To promote the growth of native vegetation, employees implemented projects to control invasive plant species. Employees cleared dense patches of Himalayan blackberries, performed mowing to clear a variety of weeds in grassland areas, and continue to monitor the site for infestations. In addition, a team of eight employees cleared patches in a dense orchard to allow sunlight to penetrate the forest floor and encourage growth of understory species. The clearings are meant to promote vegetative diversity, and employees monitor the areas to ensure that invasive species do not colonize them.

The Riverbend Landfill program features community education and outreach. Primary school students and members of the McMinnville Area Chamber of Commerce recently toured the facility. Employees also give off-site presentations to governing bodies of nearby cities and other organizations.

Saint-Nicéphore Landfill

Saint-Nicéphore, Quebec - Certified since 2006

The Saint-Nicéphore Landfill is located in the southeastern portion of Quebec, approximately 100 km southeast of Montreal. The 773-acre property is bordered on the east by the St. Francois River consists mainly of second-growth forest. Wildlife habitat enhancement, employee participation, and public outreach are the primary objectives of the sites Wildlife at WorkSM program.

The St-Nicéphore landfill is located in the sugar maple-bitternut hickory domain which shelters more than half of the flora and nearly seventy percent of the fauna of Quebec, in addition to about half of the threatened or vulnerable species of the province. Since the region is under development, the wildlife team chose to initiate a habitat enhancement program by replanting bare areas on site to provide additional habitat and increase biodiversity. Close to ten thousand trees were planted on site covering an area of 3.75 hectares. Exclusively native species including white spruce, jack pine and sugar maple were chosen for the planting as they all offer benefits for wildlife.

The health of the St. Francois River is one of the main environmental concerns in the region and forms the basis for the sites wildlife habitat management plan. The Paul-Boisvert Creek, which runs through the site, was thoroughly inventoried in 2004 and the results showed the potential for enhancement for wildlife. The creek is to be part of a voluntary restoration effort in partnership with the local high school science group starting in 2006.

Sainte-Sophie Landfill

Sainte-Sophie, Quebec - Certified since 2006

The Sainte-Sophie Landfill consists of 736 acres approximately 50 kilometers north of Montreal, Quebec. The property is set within a region characterized by agricultural activities. The immediate surroundings of the Sainte-Sophie Landfill have remained mainly as forested land, making the site a good location for wildlife habitat enhancement potential. The Sainte-Sophie wildlife team investigated forested areas, wetlands and open lands in regeneration as well as the main stream “Ruisseau aux Castors” for potential habitat enhancement projects.

The wildlife team initiated a wildlife habitat enhancement program that would help the same perform in a better, Greener Way. The projects include increasing habitat diversity by first conducting thorough inventories followed by planting native evergreens to enhance the habitat for noted species. Two hundred spruces were planted to create valuable nesting and cover habitat for a number of species of birds. Small mammals also eat the seeds of the tree that fall to the ground. The Sainte-Sophie Landfill has collaborated for a decade with the community to maintain horse trails and stables on site for use by the local horseback riding club.

S.C. Holdings, Inc.
SCA Independent Landfill

Muskegon Heights, MI - Certified since 2008

Waste Management's SCA Independent Landfill and adjacent wetlands complex located in Sullivan Township, east of Muskegon, show that it is possible to restore an area to a high quality after use by industry. The 40 acre SCA Independent Landfill operated from 1968 to 1986. An adjacent 30 acre sand borrow area was operated from 1997 until 2004. After the closure of the landfill, a mining permit was acquired to develop the adjacent sand borrow area into a wetland/upland complex for habitat restoration. Including undisturbed buffer areas, the total site area is 202 acres of wetland/upland complex that is a haven for wildlife, including the state of Michigan special concern species sand grass (Triplasis purpurea).

The created wetland shows a natural groundwater-fed hydrology that has lead to a vegetative community characteristic of Coastal Plain Marsh, a rare natural community in Michigan. Because of the care the project partners took in designing the wetland, few species needed to be planted - a diverse mix of mainly native species colonized the area directly from the existing seed bank. Additionally, Waste Management planted about 6 acres of disturbed upland with a prairie mix that should both stabilize the exposed area as well as outcompete with the invasive species that occur in the upland areas. Waste Management also planted a variety of shrubs and native trees to diversify the available vegetative communities and provide additional habitat.

The main goal of the site with regard to habitat is to preserve the high quality habitat that has been created through the wetland restoration project. The primary threat to this vegetative community is an array of invasive species that are present in adjacent areas. Biological, mechanical, and chemical controls will be used to control invasives and preserve the high habitat values of this successful wetland restoration project. Prescribed fire will also be used both to control invasives as well as manage the upland areas planted with native prairie species.

Sullivan Township has expressed interest in using the area for education programs in the future, which would be a wonderful way to use this property for the benefit of the entire community. Already, there has been a community planting day, organized by Pheasants Forever of Muskegon County where 700 bare-root seedlings were planted by the local Ravena High School and Future Farmers of America members

Simi Valley Landfill

Simi Valley, CA - Certified since 2007

The Simi Valley Landfill and Recycling Center is located on 297 acres in Ventura County, California. Habitat on site consists of varied grasslands, venturian coastal sage scrub, chamise chaparral, oak woodlands and riparian areas.

The wildlife team established a two-acre pollinator garden and hiking trail that will serve as habitat for native pollinators. In addition, the garden provides the local community an outdoor educational experience while learning about native ecosystems, the importance of pollination, and protecting the environment. Cub Scout Pack 3663 earned their Conservation Award by planting historical trees in the new pollinator garden in celebration of Earth Day and Arbor Day 2009.

Simi Valley’s wildlife team continues to maintain nest boxes and perches for barn owls and other raptors at the site. The wildlife team wants to encourage raptor visitation as a natural and environmentally friendly way to control the rodent population on site.

Skyline Landfill

Ferris, TX - - Certified since 2009

The 667-acre Skyline Landfill is located in a mixed use area surrounded by residential and agricultural lands and a golf course. The site contains diverse habitat types including uplands, wetlands and riparian areas. Through the Wildlife at Work program, approximately 100 acres are actively managed for wildlife, including 21 acres of wetlands.

As part of the certification program, the WM wildlife team created several pollinator areas to support native pollinator species. The first area was planted in 2007, with additional habitat created the following year. Students from Ferris High School helped to plant a third pollinator area in 2009.

With the help of local Boy Scouts, the WM wildlife team installed eight wood duck nest boxes at the site. These nest boxes further enhance wildlife habitat on site by providing shelter. The wildlife team monitors the shelters to ensure their success. A rotational mowing program has been implemented on approximately four acres of land surrounding the wetlands. By mowing the area in strips, the wildlife team provides a diversity of habitat types to wildlife at all times.

Springhill Regional Landfill

Campbellton, FL - Certified since 2006

The Corporate Lands for Learning program at the Springhill Regional Landfill allows learners to experience the site’s wildlife habitat value first-hand. A tour for local school children is the focal point of the program and highlights closed and active portions of the landfill, methane storage and landfill gas-to-energy processing areas. In addition to the landfill, students are treated to recycling activities and a video of “Mr. Cool Can,” showing kids how to reduce, reuse and recycle for the benefit of the planet.

The wildlife habitat is showcased in three focus areas; ponds, where students spy alligators and numerous fish; forests, where deer tracks, bird nest boxes and other animal signs can be observed; and the forested wetland, where learners walk on a recycled plastic boardwalk. Highlights of the boardwalk tour include plants and trees identified by the site staff, interesting spiders with webs weaved on the railings of the walkway, and a quick lesson on how to identify the endemic poisonous and venomous wetland dwellers.

In the future, the Springhill staff would like to arrange teacher training events to build local educators’ knowledge in the methods of environmental education, and work with Boy Scouts to increase artificial nesting habitat for birds.

Spruce Ridge Landfill

Glencoe, MN - Certified since 2002

The 543-acre Spruce Ridge Landfill is located in a rural agricultural area, west of Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota. The site contains a diversity of habitats, including prairies, wetlands and ponds. The Wildlife at Work program actively manages approximately 95 acres for wildlife.

The WM wildlife team maintains prairie habitat for a number of wildlife species by using controlled burns to simulate the natural fire disturbances that historically maintained prairies. The WM wildlife team also manages for invasive Canada thistle, to ensure that this species does not out-compete native prairie species, which are beneficial to wildlife. Along with the help of the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, the WM wildlife team also conducts bird counts to determine how habitats on site are affecting game bird populations.

Other enhancements have also been made by planting native plants. Native plants were planted in the wetland area in 2008, and will benefit aquatic species such as fish and waterfowl. An additional 2.5 acres were planted with native grasses and wildflowers to benefit pollinator species. Tours of the site’s habitat enhancement projects provide schools and other groups with opportunities to learn about wildlife and wildlife habitat.

Syracuse Hauling

North Liverpool, NY - Certified since 2009

The Syracuse Hauling facility, located in Liverpool, New York, consists of 21 acres, three of which are actively managed for wildlife habitat. As part of the Wildlife at Work program, the WM wildlife team kicked off their program by planting a native pollinator garden and continues to add to the program by establishing a large native grass and wildflower meadow in an area that was previously mowed fescue. In addition to the pollinator garden and meadow, the WM wildlife team has begun working to enhance their storm water management pond.

In an effort to educate the WM wildlife team and other employees working at the facility, Syracuse Hauling started a library to aid in identification, management and enhancement of the facility. The site also coordinates with a local organization to educate children on native habitats and the importance of recycling.

Turnkey Recycling and Environmental Enterprises - TREE

Gonic, NH - Certified since 2007

The TREE facility is an environmental park encompassing approximately 1,245 acres, of which 150 are actively managed for wildlife. The main vegetative communities on site include mesic transitional hardwood conifer forest, red maple stream bottom floodplain forest/swamp complex, and shallow emergent graminoid marsh. Old field/agricultural land and clear cut old forested areas are also located on the property, which is bordered by both the Isinglass and Cocheco rivers.

As part of the Wildlife at Work program, the WM wildlife team provides habitat for a variety of bird species through its avian management project. Bluebird nest boxes were erected on the site in 1996, and these structures continue to provide cover for nesting birds. Management of grassland habitat and snags provides additional habitat for nesting.

A well developed Forest Management Plan helps to maintain healthy forests on the site. TREE’s sustainable forest management includes ongoing monitoring of species, including quality and quantity of trees, as well as the fauna that use the forest habitat. Interpretive trails through the forest and riparian habitats on site provide an opportunity for visitors to learn about wildlife and their habitats. The Gonic Trails were improved by an Eagle Scout, who repaired and added several erosion control bars, raised the level of a bridge, and installed a bat house.

The TREE site is part of the Isinglass River watershed, which drains approximately 75 square miles. Waste Management of New Hampshire (WMNH) participated in successful efforts to incorporate both the Isinglass River and the Cocheco River into the New Hampshire Rivers Management and Protection Program. WMNH also contributed to the health of the watershed by donating water quality monitoring supplies to conservation organizations. In 2008, TREE hosted a Get Wild about Water and Wildlife Day, during which visitors gained a better understanding of and appreciation for the importance of aquatic ecosystems.

Twin Bridges RDF

Danville, IN - Certified since 2007

The Twin Bridges Facility spans 975 acres west of Indianapolis and includes about 240 acres permitted for solid waste disposal, including both active and closed landfill sections. Currently, Twin Bridges is creating about 250 acres of recreational amenities, including a golf course, soccer fields, a police shooting range, a skeet shooting area and softball fields for the community to utilize. Twin Bridges also maintains three miles of trails through the site for hiking and horseback riding. The remainder of the site, including some of the closed sections of the landfill, is operated as a nature sanctuary.

As part of the Wildlife at Work program, the WM wildlife team’s efforts focus on increasing the diversity and areas devoted to native plants at the site. The team has forged an innovative plan to adjust the seed mix used on the “final cap” to include native warm-season grasses. The new seed mix was planted on approximately five acres of the landfill in 2006 and is regularly evaluated for its benefit to wildlife as well as its ability to prevent erosion. In 2009, the WM wildlife team received approval and planted several plots of trees on the landfill. These trees should provide additional cover and travel lanes for small mammals and birds.

Twin Bridges has also been nominated the Pollinator Protection Award from the Wildlife Habitat Council and North American Pollinator Protection Campaign.  The recognition is offered for certified WHC sites that implement specific land management practices to promote pollinator populations. The WM wildlife team created four pollinator gardens that feature native plants. The first garden is a half-acre and has attracted butterflies and provided habitat for birds. In 2008, the team planted a second pollinator garden south of the landfill and in 2009, two additional pollinator gardens were planted.

Twin Creeks Landfill

Watford, Ontario - Certified since 2004

The Twin Creeks Landfill is located on approximately 750 acres in Lambton County, Ontario, east of the city of Sarnia. The site consists of native grasslands, a poplar plantation that links existing forested areas and the King property. The King property is an adjoining site purchased by Waste Management consisting of a mix of upland tree species and diverse understory plants, including the regionally significant species St. John’s wort and false mermaid weed. 

Working closely with a community committee and the St. Clair Region Conservation Authority, the WM wildlife team developed an environmentally sound leachate management program. The program consists of a ten-acre poplar tree plantation where the landfill leachate is applied by drip irrigation. This on-site phytoremediation program prevents the need to truck the leachate off site for treatment. The team hopes to expand the phytoremediation project to cover an additional 50 acres.

Also part of the Wildlife at Work program, a variety of deciduous trees were planted along the north perimeter of the site and closed landfill cells were seeded with native grasses to re-vegetate unused areas with a diverse array of species.

The WM wildlife team plans to continue re-vegetation efforts to create buffers to provide shelter for birds and small animals and to establish windbreaks for prevention of soil erosion. In the next few years, the team will also work toward the construction of four new storm water control facilities with wetland enhancement.

Valley Landfill

Irwin, PA - Certified since 2009

The Valley Landfill is a 482-acre site located in western Pennsylvania. The property includes woodland, grassland, farmland and a 60-acre wetland. As part of the Wildlife at Work program, WM actively manages 325 acres of the property for wildlife.

In June 2009, 15 WM employees created the Chuck Law Memorial Pollinator Garden in memory of Chuck Law, a 20-year site employee who passed away the previous year. Partnering with the Westmoreland County Master Gardener program and the Botanical Club of Westmoreland County, employees planted native species such as black-eyed Susan, coreopsis, anise hyssop and eastern purple coneflower. 

The WM wildlife team also partnered with Boy Scout Troop 239 to clean up and restore the Civil War-era Beulah Cemetery on site. The scouts, troop leaders, and more than a dozen WM employees righted headstones, planted grass, and removed excessive brush that included invasive Japanese knotweed. The team plans to continue this partnership and expand the cemetery renovation through an Eagle Scout project that involves planting native shrubs, building a walking path and creating a meditation area with a bench and native plantings.

Vickery Environmental

Vickery, OH - Certified since 2009

The 500-acre Vickery Environmental site is located in the rural, unincorporated community of Vickery, Ohio. Habitats occurring on site include a 40-acre pond, mixed deciduous woodlots, open grasslands and several small wetlands. As part of the Wildlife at Work program, the WM wildlife team manages 250 acres of the property for wildlife.

One of the team’s priorities is the creation and use of a comprehensive database to track wildlife sightings on the property. The database tracks information such as species, location of the sighting, date, time, name of observer and number of the species observed. The second priority for the team is to enhance the habitats for native species. Working with Pheasants Forever, the WM wildlife team planted filter strips composed of warm-season grasses and forbs to reduce sediment loading in the nearby stream, improving water quality for wildlife. The team also placed five nest boxes around the property providing valuable nesting habitats for eastern bluebirds.

In addition to its partnerships with Pheasants Forever and Ducks Unlimited, the site maintains relationships with local colleges that occasionally tour the site, and has an open-door policy for members of the community wishing to schedule a visit to learn more about the site’s Wildlife at Work program. The team’s future plans include creation of a pollinator garden with bee blocks, and the construction and placement of raptor perches and wood duck nest boxes.

Waterford Recreation Association Sports Complex

Morrisville, PA - Certified since 2003

The Oliver Landfill Site is a 52-acre former municipal solid waste/industrial landfill site located near Waterford Township, Erie County, Pennsylvania. Closure of the site under the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection's (PADEP) Site Remediation Program involved the design of an alternative remedy that integrated ecological enhancement with beneficial reuse of the site as a baseball field recreational facility for the local community. The area is now named the Waterford Recreation Association Sports Complex.

Due to the community's interest in reviving the natural setting of the site, the beneficial reuse approach included phytoremediation and ecological enhancement techniques. Some of the methods include planting trees that readily adsorb water, installing a dense tree cap (EcapTM) on the waste cells and a living fence surrounding the waste cells and constructing a down-gradient wetland basin. The tree cap consists of dense stands of hybrid poplar trees, which were planted over the waste cells to promote stormwater uptake and reduce the ability of stormwater to permeate the ground under the cells. The initial plantings will be augmented by indigenous species of trees and shrubs, and species diversity will increase on the cap over a long-term period. In addition, an innovative approach in the form of a living fence, consisting of native trees and shrubs, provides wildlife habitat while being aesthetically pleasing.

The constructed wetland was designed as a wet meadow basin to collect stormwater runoff from the up-gradient area of the site. The mix of wetland vegetation types planted in this area has further diversified the habitat opportunities available to wildlife. Using the phytoremediation approach on-site helped to meet PADEP requirements, and it also simultaneously resulted in the creation of improved habitat and increased use of the area by a more diversified wildlife community.

Watertown Hauling Co.

Felts Mills, NY - Certified since 2008

Waste Managements Watertown Hauling facility is located in Black River, N.Y. The facility is used as waste management equipment maintenance and repair building as well as an office building. Waste Management's trucks are stored and repaired at the property. Historically farmland, the 30-acre hauling facility is buffered by a wooded tree line and is divided almost in half by a county road. A stormwater management pond is located along the entrance to the property with a tall grassland area along the eastern boundary of the property. Twenty-five employees are present on the site daily, five of whom have joined the facilities wildlife team.

Waste Management is a leader in environmental restoration and preservation efforts and encourages all of its facilities to exceed regulatory requirements for habitat enhancement. By implementing a Wildlife at Work program, the employees at the Watertown site will carry out that mission every day, making possible the company's long-term vision of preserving biodiversity.

The habitat enhancement program at the Waste Management of New York's Watertown facility is a dynamic project. Along with employees present on site, partnerships with numerous community groups make a Wildlife at Work program possible. By enhancing the stormwater management pond, installing and monitoring wood duck nest boxes, managing grassland areas, using native plants in landscaping, and planning pollinator gardens, the wildlife team members have exceeded what is required of them, and have made a notable contribution to increasing biodiversity at the facility.

Westside Closed Landfill & Active Transfer Station

Fort Worth, TX - Certified since 2008

The Westside Facility is located 13 miles west of downtown Fort Worth, Texas, just north of Interstate 30. The facility comprises 325 acres with property that includes a closed landfill and adjacent buffer areas, as well as a former soil borrow area used while the landfill was active. Operations in this area were ceased in 2007, at which point the Westside wildlife team and outside consultants began to make plans for restoration and enhancement of the site into a wetland habitat.

The area is now the site of a 47-acre lake which has been constructed to mimic lake conditions found in nature, including shorelines which contain a variety of slopes, benches and shelves, a lake bottom of varying depths, and native vegetation around the periphery. In 2008, the lake was stocked with five species of fish including red ear sunfish, copper nose bluegill, fathead minnow, large mouth bass and black crappie. Local Boy Scout troops were also recruited to construct and erect bird boxes along the edges of the lake.

In addition to the large lake, several small wetlands were created on the south and north sides of the entry pond. These areas had wetland plants and willow "waddles" installed. The "waddles" are made from the branches of nearby willow trees and provide a natural barrier which traps sediment and helps enhance the development of wetland areas. The wildlife team noted that the wetland plantings were slow to become established, and supplemental plantings took place in 2008.

Employees at the Westside Facility developed three food plots to supplement wildlife sustenance during site disturbance. In recent years, these areas have been expanded and additional perennial seed mixes have been planted. The food plots have also been supplemented with feeders containing feed material for deer.

In 2004, the Westside Facility was required to re-vegetate areas adjacent to the soil borrow area (now the lake) with a combination of Indian grass, big bluestem, sideoats grama, and Illinois bundleflower. The wildlife team has gone above and beyond these restoration requirements by including switchgrass plantings which act as a transition zone between the newly created lake and the native prairie. Since 2007, native grasses have been planted throughout the site, including on the final landfill cap and on an old stockpile area of 13 acres.

An area that was once part of the landfill operations will be reclaimed as a two-acre pollinator garden. The area was filled with soil and graded to drain, and was seeded with vegetation to stabilize the soil in the spring of 2007. As of 2008, the formal delineation of the pollination area was determined and "no-mow" signs were installed.

Future goals for this site include continued enhancement and management of on-going projects, the creation of an environmental learning center for the utilization of community groups and schools, and the establishment of a wild turkey management program.

Wheelabrator Gloucester

Wheelabrator Gloucester is located on 153 acres on the shores of the Delaware River in west-central New Jersey. The property includes three primary habitat types: grasslands, upland forests and wetlands. As part of the Wildlife at Work program, the WM wildlife team actively manages 30 acres of the site for wildlife habitat enhancement and restoration.

The WM wildlife team consists of six core members whose primary goal is to minimize and potentially reverse the impacts of invasive plants to restore native grassland and wetland habitat. Working with partner organizations including the New Jersey Quail Project, Gloucester County Nature Club and South Jersey Quail Unlimited, the WM wildlife team is taking a long-term approach to managing invasive plants on the property. In June 2008, the team initiated a plan to curb the most problematic invasive plant, Phragmites. The team cut down the Phragmites covering most of the site’s upland areas, then sprayed the re-growth later in the year; the process was repeated again in 2009. Other invasive plants managed by the team include mile-a-minute vine and princess tree. A partnership with the New Jersey Department of Agriculture released weevils to control the mile-a-minute vine, and periodic assessments show this method is proving successful.

In addition to controlling invasive species, the WM wildlife team created a nature trail through the site’s natural areas in the late 1990s. The trail is open to the public and includes observation stands for wildlife watching. The team recently partnered with an Eagle Scout to conduct improvements to the trail and repair a pavilion. The site also participates in the annual Environmental Symposium event for 200 middle school students and 30 teachers from eight states. The Environmental Symposium is designed to increase environmental and social awareness.

Wheelabrator Saugus, Inc.

Saugus, MA - Certified since 2008

The Wheelabrator Saugus site is comprised of 300 acres located in Essex County, Massachusetts. Initially established as a mitigation measure in the 1990s, the site has continued to maintain and enhance about 200 acres of the property for wildlife.  Wheelabrator has developed the project into the Bear Creek Wildlife Sanctuary, complete with an on-site meeting and teaching center. Through partnerships with local educational institutes, the site is actively used as a classroom and field laboratory for a variety of environmental studies.

The Bear Creek Wildlife Sanctuary is situated in the Rumney Marshes Area of Critical Environmental Concern as designated by the Massachusetts Executive Office of Environmental Affairs. The site developed and maintains numerous specific native habitats including coastal shrubland, early successional forest, native grasslands and wet meadows in order to attract targeted wildlife species.

The site's location along the North Atlantic Flyway was the basis for the habitat and wildlife goals for the site due to the high percentage of birds that migrate northward through Massachusetts. To increase diversity on the site to provide quality food sources, cover and space for migratory birds, the site has been controlling the non-native invasive species phragmites australis. The primary invasive control plan for the site is an adaptive management program designed to enhance natural selection to favor the long-term establishment of native species.

To accomplish this, the site implemented a number of programs based on soil and growing condition enhancements that favor indigenous plant communities. To track the health of the habitat for avian species the site has established partnerships with members of the Massachusetts Audubon Society who conduct annual Christmas bird counts as well as grassland bird counts.

The Corporate Lands for Learning program at Saugus takes advantage of the many learning opportunities provided by the surrounding Rumney Marshes. This site's CLL program is firmly based in the partnerships made in the area.

Many of the lessons in the pollinator gardens, biological field study station and nature trails are coordinated through the partnership with North Shore Community College. NSCC conducts annual arboriculture classes at the site, and hosts annual Christmas Bird Counts and Grassland Bird Surveys. They also use the site extensively in a dendrology (study of trees) course.

Other community partners include Project YES (Youth Empowerment and Success), who uses the site regularly, Waybright Elementary School, who tours the Sanctuary as part of their Ecology Club, and Essex Agricultural & Technical High School, which conducts an on-going transect study.

Wilsonville Landfill

Saint Louis, MO - Certified since 2009

The Wilsonville facility is a 564-acre closed landfill located approximately 50 miles northeast of St. Louis, Missouri. The property consists of cropland, grassland, forest and two ponds. The West Fork of the Cahokia Creek runs through the western portion of the site.

The Wildlife at Work program consists of habitat enhancement efforts which began in May 2008 with the placement of underwater brush piles and basking logs in the site’s ponds. Since then, the site has controlled invasive Phragmites and rotationally mowed the site’s grasslands. The WM wildlife team and a group of dedicated volunteers conduct extensive bird surveys on a weekly basis to document avian diversity on the property. Future activities will include planting native vegetation around the ponds and restoring an area of oak savanna.

The Valley Landfill is a 482-acre site located in western Pennsylvania. The property includes woodland, grassland, farmland and a 60-acre wetland. As part of the Wildlife at Work program, WM actively manages 325 acres of the property for wildlife.

In June 2009, 15 WM employees created the Chuck Law Memorial Pollinator Garden in memory of Chuck Law, a 20-year site employee who passed away the previous year. Partnering with the Westmoreland County Master Gardener program and the Botanical Club of Westmoreland County, employees planted native species such as black-eyed Susan, coreopsis, anise hyssop and eastern purple coneflower. 

The WM wildlife team also partnered with Boy Scout Troop 239 to clean up and restore the Civil War-era Beulah Cemetery on site. The scouts, troop leaders, and more than a dozen WM employees righted headstones, planted grass, and removed excessive brush that included invasive Japanese knotweed. The team plans to continue this partnership and expand the cemetery renovation through an Eagle Scout project that involves planting native shrubs, building a walking path and creating a meditation area with a bench and native plantings.

Woodland Recycling and Disposal Facility

South Elgin, IL - Certified since 1991

Waste Management's 213-acre Woodland Recycling and Disposal Facility is located in South Elgin, Illinois. Landfill areas occupy about 121 acres of the site. Other areas include a substantial wetland, grasslands and patches of wooded buffer. The site accepted waste from the early 1970s until its closing in 2002. The site now captures methane released from decomposing organic material and burns it to produce electricity.

The site's wildlife habitat initiatives began in 1989 when the site enhanced a wetland mitigation project to expand the amount of required wetland by 20 acres and planted a buffer area with prairie species. In 1993, the site installed four wood duck boxes in the wetland area and monitored them. More recently, the site has created brush piles to provide habitat for small mammals and reptiles and amphibians.

The site's future plans include installing additional wood duck boxes, controlling invasive species such as Phragmites and seeding additional areas with a native seed mix.