Enforcement
The Solid Waste Enforcement Program
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Will County entered into a Delegation Agreement with the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency in 1988. This Delegation Agreement was renewed for an additional five years (until June 30, 2015) and provides Will County the authority to enforce the Illinois Environmental Protection Act, Illinois Pollution Control Board regulations and permit conditions of non-hazardous solid waste sites. Non-hazardous solid waste sites include open dumps, open burn piles, landfills, transfer stations, compost facilities and land application sites.
Recently, state law has given Will County the ability to provide inspections of general construction and demolition debris recycling facilities, clean construction and demolition debris facilities, uncontaminated soil sites and food waste composting sites that operate within the County borders. The IEPA has continued a grant agreement with Will County since 1989 to partially fund applicable personnel time and related expenses. The non-grant funded expenses are paid through the Solid Waste Fund, which is comprised of solid waste tipping fees from landfills, Prairie View Landfill contractual fees, and any other related applicable fees established.
In addition to enforcing the applicable state regulations through the Delegation Agreement with the IEPA, Will County also has a section of the Nuisance Ordinance which limits open burning of landscape waste in certain situations. The Nuisance Ordinance is enforced by the Will County Land Use Department and the Will County Sheriff’s Office. Through these two mechanisms, the IEPA Delegation Agreement and the Nuisance Ordinance, Will County is able to provide a local and prompt response to complaints and inspect permitted facilities. This helps limit the number and size of open dumps and open burning sites, and helps provide the County with a presence at its non-hazardous waste IEPA permitted facilities. If you need to file a complaint regarding open dumping or open burning, or have another related waste disposal concern, please click here, and we will respond as soon as possible.