JOLIET – Two disposal facilities operated by Waste Management of Illinois, Inc. generated $4.7 million in revenue for Will County and local taxing bodies in 2011.
The revenue stems from agreements between Will County and Waste Management related to the operation of the County-owned Prairie View Recycling and Disposal Facility near Wilmington and the Company’s Laraway Recycling and Disposal Facility near Joliet.
Prairie View operations generated $2.3 million for the County while the Laraway facility produced $1.36 million. The sites also provided $853,000 in surcharges to support County solid waste programs.
The Laraway location contributed an additional $100,000 to the County to use at its discretion and $50,000 for disbursement to community groups in the County district in which the Laraway facility is located. Local taxing bodies received approximately $395,000.
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The partnership with Waste Management is an example of Will County’s success with public-private partnerships,” said Will County Executive Larry Walsh. “We are pleased to partner with Waste Management on these projects that not only produce a viable revenue stream to help fund county services but are also environmentally responsible to our earth.”
"I am proud of the county's partnership with Waste Management that has addressed Will County’s waste disposal and recycling needs while providing funding for various community organizations over the years,” said Jim Moustis, Will County Board Chairman. “In this day and age, governments must seek ways to raise revenues without burdening residents with additional taxes and fees. This investment has
been good for the environment, and paid dividends for the taxpayers while helping to support numerous county functions along the way.”
"It’s gratifying to know that Waste Management’s disposal operations at Prairie View and Laraway are important environmental and economic assets for Will County. At a time when local government is struggling to find revenue to fund services, these two facilities are demonstrating their value to the community,” said Dale Hoekstra, Waste Management Director of Illinois Landfill Operations. “We are proud of our contribution to the County, the strong partnership we have developed, and the fact that these facilities are an important part of the County’s environmental capability.”
Together, the two facilities have generated more than $24 million for Will County and local governing bodies. Prairie View opened in January 2004 to provide for the waste disposal needs of residents and businesses in communities inside and bordering Will County. The recently expanded Laraway facility accepts construction and demolition debris, contaminated soils and special wastes.
The facilities’ operations generate fees for the County based on the volume of waste accepted. Prairie View accepted approximately 703,000 tons of waste in 2011 and Laraway received 1.2 million tons. The fees are adjusted annually to reflect changes in the Revised Consumer Price Index for All Urban Communities.
Local taxing bodies that receive fees from Prairie View include the Will County Building Commission, Florence Township Town and Road funds, and Florence-Wilton Multi-township assessments. They also include the Wilmington Fire Protection District, Wilmington C.U. School District 209-U, Joliet Community College District 525, and Wilmington Public Library District.
In December, Will County and Waste Management began operation of a landfill gas-to-energy facility at the Prairie View location. The facility uses landfill gas as fuel to drive electricity generating equipment and create 4.8 megawatts of power for local communities. Will County will generate income in the future from the energy plant’s operations.
For more information about Will County’s green initiatives, visit the website:
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ABOUT WASTE MANAGEMENT
Waste Management, Inc., based in Houston, Texas, is the leading provider of comprehensive waste management services in North America. Through its subsidiaries, the company provides collection, transfer, recycling and resource recovery, and disposal services. It is one of the largest residential recyclers and also a leading developer, operator and owner of waste-to-energy and landfill gas-to-energy facilities in the United States.
The company’s customers include residential, commercial, industrial, and municipal customers throughout North America. To learn more information about Waste Management visit
or
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