City of New Rockford Inert Landfill Disposal Guide

City of New Rockford Public Works Superintendent Bruce Hirchert and the New Rockford City Commission present this guide to help direct residents on proper waste disposal procedures at the city’s inert landfill.

The City of New Rockford has received two deficiency letters from the North Dakota Department of Environmental Quality in the past six months. Recent deficiencies noted by the DEQ primarily include disposal of other things beside wood and trees into the burn pile, and dumping household garbage at the landfill.

Communities with more than 1,000 people, such as New Rockford, are required to obtain an inert waste landfill permit. The landfill is reserved for use only by residents and businesses in New Rockford city limits.

Guideline 16 - Operation of Inert Waste Landfills, which is found online at https://deq.nd.gov/wm, directs city staff on proper procedures for operating an inert landfill. Cities with active permits must comply with all directives contained within the guidelines.

The city could face substantial fines from the state if these deficiencies are not cleared up, and proper procedures are not maintained at the landfill. If fines are assessed to the city, the costs would be ultimately paid by taxpayers.

In order to ensure that the city can continue to provide a place for residents to dispose of inert waste, it is important for users to follow the stated rules.

Residents should take note of the following:

• Inert wastes are those types of bulky wastes that normally do not pose significant hazards of environmental degradation. Inert waste will not generally contaminate water or form a contaminated liquid, and does not serve as food for disease-transmitting organisms such as insects and rodents. Items that are accepted at the landfill are listed at top right.

• Metal wastes such as washers, dryers, and other scrap metal may be stockpiled at an inert waste landfill for recycling. The same is true for reusable wood pallets.

• On page 4, item F, Guideline 16 clearly states that the inert landfills shall not be used for the disposal of household garbage or waste that can become rotten or decompose, as well as a range of other hazardous substances, as indicated from the list of NOT acceptable items at bottom right.

• Small electrical appliances, such as roaster ovens, toasters, crock pots and vacuums should be disposed of in a resident’s household garbage tote. Such items cannot be accepted at the landfill unless the electrical cords have been removed. Any resident presenting such small electrical appliances for disposal at the inert landfill will need to have the cord removed.

• Leaves and grass clippings should be taken to the city compost pile south of the Eagles Club.

Effective immediately, city public works staff will meet residents and contractors at city hall for disposal appointments before going out to the landfill. The purpose of this is to identify items in the load that cannot be disposed of at the landfill and advise the resident on proper procedures.

Extra staff will be at the landfill on free dumping days to ensure that residents sort their loads and comply with disposal procedures.

Per city ordinance, city residents can be assessed a $50 fine if they fail to properly sort their load or improperly dispose of waste at the landfill.

Please follow all posted notices at the landfill and dispose of items in their proper place. There are signs throughout to direct you.

To schedule an appointment to dispose of waste at the landfill, call city auditor Becki Schumacher at (701) 947-2461.

The next free landfill day is set for Wednesday, Sept. 1 from 4:30-7:30 p.m. The final free landfill day of the season is on Saturday, October 16 from 9 a.m. - 2 p.m.

Acceptable

On appropriate pile

(as per signage)

Tires

Appliances

Metal

Trees

Stumps- separate from trees

Clean wood- burn pile

Concrete

Bricks, blocks and rocks

Asphalt

Reusable wood pallets - recycled

Dirt and gravel - hill

In the hole

Sheetrock

Siding, masonite and vinyl

Shingles

Furniture

(chairs, couches, etc.)

Cardboard

Mattresses

Toilets and sinks

Plastic

Doors

Glass and Windows

Not acceptable

Clothing

Household garbage

Electronics (no chargers)

Asbestos

Batteries

Waste grain and screenings

Chemical containers

Used oil and filters

Paint, stain and varnish

Caulking tubes

Sheetrock mud pails

Industrial waste

Propane bottles

Animal carcasses

Treated grain

Hazardous waste

Fluorescent lighting and ballasts

Solvents

Mercury devices

Phones

Manure