27-03-2025
Lackawanna County landfill causing controversy
THROOP, LACKAWANNA COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) — The treated liquid that permeates through garbage piles at a local landfill is causing quite a controversy Wednesday night. The landfill says it's all about coming up with new options, including a new route for the liquid to go.
The Keystone Sanitary Landfill wants to discharge its treated leachate water through Throop's sewer system.
It's not a route of water county residents here are fond of, but one the landfill says there's no problems with.
Keystone Sanitary Landfill consultant Al Magnotta drank a sample of landfill water at a Throop borough meeting Wednesday night.
He was trying to prove his point.
'The RO meets Pennsylvania drinking water standards,' Magnotta stated.
RO stands for Reverse Osmosis, the water purification process that takes place at the landfill, but convincing the people who showed up at the meeting was easier said than done.
'Unless I saw it come out of that system and saw you drink it right there, I would never believe you,' said Throop resident James Baranak.
The Keystone Sanitary Landfill proposed to discharge its treated 'leachate' through Throop's sewer system, which flows into the Lackawanna River Basin Sewer Authority's wastewater treatment plant.
'We deserve better than what they are planning,' said Susan Green.
Home damaged after Madison Township fire
The landfill currently uses Pennsylvania American Water as its discharge system.
Magnotta says this new plan would be better, based on a recent hydraulic analysis.
He says it detected several issues with the current system, including pipe separations and cracking.
'What we have, what you have, resembles a 100-year-old pipe system,' Magnotta explained.
He says the old one has got to go.
The new line would run through several wooded areas surrounded by many streets in Lackawanna County.
The landfill is requesting permission from Throop Borough to flow leachate at their discretion.. Subject to wet weather.
'The foul odor is atrocious,' said Dunmore resident Olivia Jackson.
Jackson is no stranger to the issue. She lives in a neighborhood where the current system runs.
The Lackawanna County landfill recently underwent a large expansion, looking to triple its volume of waste by 94,000,000 tons.
'Leachate management is probably the most essential operation that must be maintained to operate a landfill,' Magnotta added.
Magnotta says the landfill will not discharge treated leachate during a rain event.
A verdict on the new system has yet to be decided at a future meeting.
If the plan gets approval, Magnotta says it will look to restore the Throop sewer system and complete a thorough cleaning check.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
