Resource Center
Republic Services: Champions of Contaminated Soil Remediation in the Kalamazoo River Superfund Site
Republic Services’ secure disposal services have made a huge dent in the Kalamazoo at the River Superfund Site.Byline: BTB Editor
September 16, 2019 / Time to read: 5 minAs of September 7, 2023, the EPA lists a total of
Republic Services’ secure disposal services have made a huge dent in the project and will continue to do so until the job is done.
What is secure disposal?
Secure disposal is disposing of hazardous waste so that it doesn’t contaminate the environment. Without secure disposal, leachate can carry hazardous chemicals into waterways and groundwater, which means these chemicals could end up contaminating our food or drinking water.
Secure disposal hasn’t always been a priority. Before the Toxic Substances Control Acts (TSCA) was passed in 1976, companies weren’t required to use secure disposal. As a result, some areas, like the Kalamazoo River watershed in Michigan, have large amounts of PCB contamination.
The Kalamazoo River's Contaminated Past
After the Industrial Revolution, the Kalamazoo River was home to a concentration of paper mills. Some of the products created at these mills, such as blue carbon copy paper, contained hazardous chemicals called polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). PCBs are harmful chemicals that can make it into our bodies through ingesting contaminated animals, inhaling airborne particles or through contact with our skin.
Between 1929 and 1979, it was common practice for the mills to dump waste along the banks of the Kalamazoo River. Because the waste wasn’t disposed of securely, the soil — and eventually the river itself — became contaminated with PCBs.
Innovative Solutions for a Cleaner Kalamazoo
Efforts to clean up the Kalamazoo watershed began in 1990, overseen by the EPA and the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy. The watershed was broken into multiple areas of cleanup, including the Allied landfill, Portage Creek, Plainwell Mill and areas between the Ostego Township Dam and Trowbridge Dam.
US Ecology, a recent Republic Services acquisition, has been providing secure disposal services for this ongoing cleanup of PCB contamination. We’ve transported and disposed of 6,000 tons of PCB-contaminated soil to our Subtitle C landfill in Belleville, Michigan. By the end of 2023, we’ll have removed 12,000 more tons of TSCA-classified PCB waste.
Additionally, we safely and compliantly managed 4,000 tons of soil with PFAS contamination for disposal at the Bellville landfill, when this additional hazardous waste was discovered in the Trowbridge Dam area. And we’re providing customized services, including daily weight tickets and reports that track how much contaminated material we ship offsite.
Future Challenges and Republic Services’ Readiness
As the Kalamazoo River watershed cleanup project continues through 2026, we’ll be there to handle 10,000 more tons of PCB waste and any additional PFAS-contaminated soil discovered.
We’re also here to help other large-scale hazardous material remediation projects. As significant government funding becomes available, Republic Services will continue to partner with environmental engineering and consulting firms to provide secure disposal, compliant remediation services and peace of mind.
