Did You Know?

DID YOU KNOW?

	Winnebago Landfill Company pays host fees to our siting authority, Winnebago County, for each ton of waste deposited in the landfill. The host fee is an agreed-upon amount that we pay to the county, in addition to taxes and other fees. These fees go directly to the county’s general fund and are used at the discretion of the Winnebago County Board. One major use of the host fees is to provide funding for several local non-profit organizations.
	The Winnebago Landfill is home to the Winnebago Energy Center, which produces electrical power from the landfill gas generated in the landfill. This is accomplished by using specialized engines that run off landfill gas. The electricity generated is then distributed to the power grid for public consumption.
	Landfills in general are increasingly becoming regional in nature. Gone are the days when many small communities in the same region each had their own landfills; there are now fewer and larger landfills. This evolution toward regional landfills has been driven by increased environmental regulation standards, cost of construction, operation, and closure of landfill units. The rise of more efficient means of transporting large volumes of waste through greater distances also contributes. At Winnebago Landfill, we receive waste from eight different counties in the Northern Illinois region.