SECCRA COMMUNITY LANDFILL
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What is a dump? What is a sanitary landfill?
Most people confuse today's sanitary landfills with old, unregulated "dumps" that can still be found in some parts of Pennsylvania. Because "dumps" were not regulated, they often caused air and water pollution. SECCRA is a regulated, sanitary landfill where every precaution is taken to ensure that no pollution occurs on or off-site. SECCRA has operated its landfill in London Grove Township since 1986, with no off-site impact to air or water quality.

Why can't my trash be disposed somewhere else?
Your trash can be disposed of anywhere. However, the farther the distance between your waste and a landfill, the higher the cost to you. Our research shows that hauling local waste to existing facilities elsewhere in Pennsylvania would result in a minimum increase of $10 per ton. While this may not seem like a lot of money, this is the equivalent of a $1.2 million increase annually for the residents of SECCRA's service area, to be paid by consumers like you.

Why does SECCRA need to expand its landfill?
As our local community continues to grow, so does the amount of waste being generated. Space in landfills is not unlimited. All waste in southern Chester County comes to the SECCRA Community Landfill. The landfill will be out of disposal space in 2012.

Why did you enter into a Host Municipality Agreement with London Grove Township?
Settling the issues between SECCRA and London Grove creates stability. This allows us to devote our time and attention to improving our operations and our services and to keep building on our track record of innovation (such as our award-winning waste-to-energy project).

Isn't this going to raise the cost for waste disposal?
It may seem like we’re paying a lot, but it is cheaper in the long run to provide higher host payments than it is to incur the cost of hauling the region’s waste elsewhere, pay higher disposal fees, and lose our investment in land, equipment, buildings, and people.  From an economic perspective, it is better for southern Chester County to spend its waste disposal dollars locally.  In a sense we are recycling our dollars here instead of sending them to some distant landfill where that community gets the economic benefit.

Does this mean that SECCRA will be less competitive in the waste disposal market?
Keeping our communities’ local landfill open will keep the cost of disposal below market rates because additional transportation charges will be avoided.  Continued operations will allow extension of the other valuable services we provide to residents (such as the operation of  our many recycling drop-off centers; the recycling of used oil and tires; the recycling of appliances and electronic devices; and yard waste composting).

Doesn't the agreement between London Grove Township and SECCRA disproportionately benefit the Township?
The compromise is good for all of our 24 member municipalities, not just London Grove. It basically assures that we will be able to continue to provide our municipalities with safe, efficient, and economical waste disposal into the foreseeable future (pending approval of the expansion from the state Department of Environmental Protection.)

Has SECCRA been acquiring additional property for its expansion?
SECCRA has been purchasing land adjacent to its existing landfill in order to create buffer zone and area for future landfilling. The proposed expansion WILL NOT create a new landfill outside the current site boundaries formed by Route 926, Mosquito Lane, Route 41 and Hood Road. Any future property acquisitions outside this limits will be for buffer zone only.

What will the SECCRA landfill expansion mean to me?
SECCRA Community Landfill has a long-standing positive relationship with its member municipalities. The services we offer, many of which are free of charge, are unmatched in many communities. For 20+ years, SECCRA and the PADEP have accumulated a vast knowledge of the site's hydrology, hydrogeology, environmental receptors, groundwater quality and soils. Any future activities at the SECCRA Community Landfill will continue our unmatched standard of environmental excellence and community service; services that everyone can benefit from.

Who is SECCRA?
SECCRA is a municipal authority formed in 1968 by the citizens of southern Chester County to solve a problem in southern Chester County: Where will the trash go? SECCRA is governed by a volunteer group of 10 directors, each representing a community in its service area. SECCRA also employs 18 people.

How do you protect the water and air?
A four-foot-thick liner system consisting of multiple layers of clay, stone and synthetic plastic membrane ensures the highest levels of groundwater protection. The trash is covered each day to make sure odors are controlled, and keep birds and rodents away. Additional odor control measures are taken by capturing all methane gas, which is created as a byproduct of waste decomposition. This gas is collected and burned at an on-site flare. Because methane is a fuel, SECCRA plans to build a facility that will convert the landfill gas to electricity. This is an example of green power, which is a renewable energy source.

Does SECCRA accept waste from outside southern Chester county?
NO. ONLY waste generated within SECCRA's 24-member municipalities is accepted for disposal. SECCRA is operated for the exclusive benefit of the citizens of its 24-member municipalities.

Weren't you only supposed to be here for 10 years?
The SECCRA Community Landfill has always strived to be open and honest with all our member communities with regard to our operations. While this statement is not true, one thing is: SECCRA's goal is to provide the best environmental and recycling services possible for our member communities now and into the future.

Will an expansion bring more truck traffic?
Like you, most of the SECCRA family lives in the local community. Transportation safety is very important. The proposed expansion of SECCRA Community Landfill will bring NO increased truck traffic to local roadways. Moreover, a recent traffic study of Route 926, where the entrance of the landfill is located, showed that this road is operating at only 10 percent of capacity. And, only 5 percent of the vehicles on the road between the hours of 6 a.m. and 4 p.m. are trash trucks.

What else does SECCRA do?
SECCRA is a full-service environmental center that provides FREE recycling at area 12 drop-off centers, used oil recycling, composting, large appliance disposal (including those with Freon), and annual contributions of more than $100,000 to the E. Kneale Dockstader Foundation (which funds environmental grants and programs), environmental education programs, and additional charitable contributions to various organizations throughout our service area.