Work continues on controlling increased landfill gas

Waste Management Inc. officials said Monday they have an air of optimism over efforts to quell an increased gas odor from Countryside Landfill near Grayslake.

Although many of the complaints about the dump's excessive odor have come from the neighboring Prairie Crossing subdivision in Grayslake since September, the stench has traveled east to Libertyville and south to the Mundelein area.

Countryside operates near routes 83 and 120. Odors in the area were not noticeable Monday.

Waste Management spokesman William Plunkett said crews worked over the weekend to finish installing 10 additional gas collection wells, with an extra four projected to be finished this week. He said the wells have gauges measuring gas collection.

"We are sparing no expense to correct the situation," Plunkett said.

Lake County Health Department officials say they believe above-average precipitation from January through June helped create the dump's foul smell. The atypical stench was produced from excess water becoming trapped in the trash.

Lake County Board member Pat Carey of Grayslake said time will tell if Waste Management's efforts are working. She noted it was believed the odor was contained in September, but it returned last month.

Plunkett said the new gas recovery wells have been connected to a temporary pipe system to stymie the smell as soon as possible. He said work will continue this year to link the new wells to a permanent pipe network designed to minimize Countryside's odor.

Waste Management representatives and some local elected officials are expected to discuss the landfill with Prairie Crossing residents at a private meeting tonight.

Resident complaints about the increased landfill gas, logged with the county health department, include sore throats, nausea, headaches and respiratory problems.