Ensuring long-term service continuity for the region, the Chester County, PA Solid Waste Authority is dedicated to innovation, community service, and environmental stewardship, while maintaining public trust, environmental safety and fiscal responsibility. This comprehensive approach has become a defining strength of the organization.
The Chester County Solid Waste Authority (CCSWA) was incorporated in Pennsylvania in 1984, though the site of the Lanchester Landfill and Reclamation Center (LLARC)鈥攐perated by the authority鈥攈as a much longer history. Originally a quarry, the property became an unofficial dumping site for local municipalities before transitioning into a state-regulated landfill. Chester County purchased the landfill in 1984 in response to a regional shortage of landfill capacity, forming CCSWA as an independent body to manage the facility. Today, CCSWA employs 30 full-time staff members, with salaries and wages accounting for approximately 16 percent of the Authority鈥檚 annual budget.
CCSWA serves 49 municipalities in the northern half of Chester County, providing essential solid waste management services to approximately 450,000 residents and hundreds of businesses. The other 24 municipalities in the county are served by a second regional landfill operated by the Southeastern Chester County Refuse Authority. The geographic location of the two facilities allow for reasonable transportation distances and costs for the 550,000 residents of Chester County.
LLARC is a 600-acre property located in Caernarvon, Honey Brook, and Salisbury townships, with approximately 160 acres designated for landfill operations. Lanchester accepts an average of 800 tons per day of non-hazardous municipal refuse, with roughly 90 percent of the waste originating in Chester County.
LLARC also provides a convenient location for residents to dispose of bulky or additional waste responsibly, along with extensive free drop-off recycling services, including:
鈥� Newsprint, mixed paper, aluminum and steel cans, and glass
鈥� #1, #2, and #5 plastic food containers
鈥� Yard waste (leaves, wood waste)
鈥� Used oil and oil filters
鈥� 4-foot fluorescent bulbs
鈥� Rechargeable household batteries, including lithium batteries
鈥� Plastic bags, aluminum foil, pie tins, and bubble wrap
鈥� Corrugated cardboard and Styrofoam鈩�
鈥� Antifreeze, cooking oil, mixed metals, and eyeglasses
Additionally, appliances containing refrigerant are accepted for a nominal fee.
Photos by Christopher Toevs.
Managing Flow Control
In recent years, CCSWA has observed a year-over-year decrease in municipal waste generation, which may reflect improved recycling habits throughout Chester County. The county currently diverts about 50 percent of its total waste stream, a figure that far exceeds the national average. Every municipality has residential recycling participation and independent haulers who offer recycling services, even if they are not mandated. There is robust communication between CCSWA and the full-time county recycling office, which provides recycling education, waste reduction opportunities, and technical and grant assistance for governments across the county. CCSWA鈥檚 Trash Smart campaign continually reinforces waste reduction as learned behavior. CCSWA also offers Zero Waste mini grants that help local groups develop programs for plastic bag bans, reusable containers and food waste composting.
As inflation continues to drive up operational costs, CCSWA has taken strategic steps to maintain efficiency and ensure financial sustainability. One such measure is the enforcement of waste flow control within its service area. 鈥淎t times, local collection services mistakenly haul waste outside the county that is contractually obligated to be disposed of at Lanchester. Flow control enforcement helps us recover tonnage that might otherwise be lost, preserving our revenue and improving our long-term planning efforts,鈥� says Executive Director Robert Watts, BCEEM.
processes their residents鈥� single stream recyclables.
Under Pennsylvania鈥檚 Act 97, counties are required to develop solid waste management plans; in Chester County鈥檚 plan, municipal solid waste (MSW) must be delivered to either SECCRA or CCSWA, depending on the municipality. CCSWA enforces flow control by taking an active role in monitoring waste movement throughout its service area. Authority agents are periodically sent into the field to observe and follow collection vehicles, identifying where the waste is ultimately disposed. In other cases, the Authority is alerted to potential violations through community tips or partner agencies, prompting targeted investigations. These efforts require consistent vigilance.
At the scalehouse, staff are trained to verify the origin of incoming loads, ensuring only permitted municipalities deliver to the site. Due to the landfill鈥檚 location along the Chester/Lancaster county border, CCSWA occasionally encounters residents from neighboring jurisdictions attempting to dispose of waste at the facility. These customers are respectfully turned away in these situations and redirected to the appropriate facility in Lancaster County. While this may result in lost revenue, it ensures the integrity of CCSWA鈥檚 commitment to flow control in a fair, consistent, and legally responsible manner.
CCSWA鈥檚 operational efficiency efforts also ensure it provides competitive rates for disposal, encouraging waste generators to select LLARC over other options. In addition, concrete from construction and demolition debris is crushed and reused as onsite road material, an initiative that reduces both material costs and supports sustainable reuse practices. 鈥淲e take pride in all of our efforts to stay at the forefront of industry technology,鈥� says Christopher Toevs, PE, Facility Engineer at CCSWA. 鈥淭hrough the integration of drone surveying and internal CAD modeling software, we have achieved a 20 percent increase in average waste compaction over the past five years. This is a great accomplishment that directly contributes to extending the life of the facility.鈥�
Among the evolving challenges CCSWA has faced, one of the most pressing is the evolving federal and state regulatory requirements for PFAS compounds. 鈥淥ur facility recently received its updated NPDES permit, which now includes monitoring and reporting requirements for several PFAS constituents. Fortunately, CCSWA has proactively addressed this issue by investing in a state-of-the-art, three-stage reverse osmosis (RO) water treatment system鈥攁 technology widely recognized for its effectiveness in removing PFAS from landfill leachate,鈥� explains Gary Laird, Licensed Treatment Plant Operator and Water Operations Manager at CCSWA.
Another emerging concern is the increased occurrence of battery fires at landfills, often caused by lithium-ion and other improperly discarded batteries. In response, CCSWA is launching educational campaigns in partnership with private organizations to raise awareness about the dangers of placing batteries in the regular waste stream. 鈥淲e are also investing in the construction of a permanent Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) drop-off facility to provide residents with a convenient, year-round solution for safely disposing of batteries and other hazardous materials,鈥� points out Patti Lynn, CRP, CCSWA鈥檚 Recycling Resources Manager. Construction of the HHW facility is scheduled to begin this summer, with doors expected to open to the public by winter.
In the meantime, CCSWA hosts four offsite events each year in partnership with local municipalities to safely manage HHW, allowing residents to drop off HHW free of charge. In 2024 alone, CCSWA collected and disposed of 97.36 tons鈥攏early 195,000 pounds鈥攐f HHW. Residents can schedule appointments in advance and, during their time slot, drive through a well-organized queue where trained vendors identify, categorize, and package items for proper disposal. Commonly accepted materials include pool cleaning chemicals, batteries, and all types of accelerants and oil-based products. For most participants, the process takes just 15 minutes, offering a quick and efficient way to dispose of potentially dangerous materials.
Long-Standing Partnerships
Along with environmental protection, safety is CCSWA鈥檚 top priority. The Authority conducts monthly company-wide safety meetings covering essential topics such as spill response, proper personal protective equipment (PPE) and internal waste handling protocols. Employees are also encouraged to participate in a cross-training program to learn how to operate multiple pieces of equipment, fostering both skill development and operational awareness across departments.
Community engagement is also a core part of the authority鈥檚 mission. CCSWA is an active member of the Honey Brook Community Partnership (HBCP), a coalition of local businesses. HBCP and CCSWA are hosting a 5K event this fall that invites runners and walkers to traverse the Lanchester Nature Trail, culminating at the landfill鈥檚 scenic Eastern Overlook. Proceeds from the event will benefit local scholarships for aspiring high school seniors. CCSWA also maintains a long-standing partnership with a local historical society, providing groundskeeping support at the historic Iron Forge estate located nearby. Each spring, CCSWA furnishes and installs mulch throughout the mansion鈥檚 grounds as part of their ongoing commitment to community service.
One of CCSWA鈥檚 most popular outreach events is its annual Open House, which draws more than 500 residents to the Lanchester facility. The event features guided tours and educational exhibits highlighting CCSWA鈥檚 operations, sustainability practices and environmental stewardship. It is a unique opportunity to connect with the community and demonstrate a commitment to transparency and trust with the public.
鈥淥ne of CCSWA鈥檚 most outstanding achievements is our ability to strike a meaningful balance between fiscal responsibility and operational excellence,鈥� says Kelly Weaver, CPA, Chief Financial Officer at CCSWA. 鈥淎s responsible environmental stewards, we recognize the importance of preparing for the unexpected鈥攚hether it be regulatory changes, economic shifts, or emerging environmental challenges. By managing our financial resources wisely, we have positioned ourselves to adapt more effectively than many comparable facilities.鈥�
Strategic Plans
Looking ahead, CCSWA has several exciting projects and strategic goals on the horizon. 鈥淣ot only are we in the process of bidding and constructing a permanent HHW facility, but as part of our ongoing effort to promote environmental education and recreation, we are also developing a nine-hole disc golf course that will expand the existing Lanchester Nature Trail, creating new opportunities for public engagement with the site,鈥� said Toevs.
Later this year, CCSWA plans to submit a permit application for a horizontal expansion that would provide an additional 12 years of disposal capacity at the Lanchester Landfill, ensuring long-term service continuity for the region. In addition, they have partnered with WAGA Energy to upgrade their landfill biogas from a medium-BTU product into high-quality renewable natural gas (RNG) by 2026鈥攁 significant step forward in their commitment to sustainability and resource recovery.
鈥淭hese initiatives reflect our continued dedication to innovation, community service, and environmental stewardship,鈥� says Watts. 鈥淲e believe the industry鈥檚 number one challenge is managing emerging contaminants鈥攆rom both a regulatory and technological standpoint鈥攚hile maintaining public trust, environmental safety and fiscal responsibility.鈥� Beyond technical and financial success, Watts emphasized that CCSWA takes pride in being a well-rounded organization鈥攐ne that consistently balances community engagement, operational efficiency and fiscal discipline. 鈥淭his comprehensive approach has become a defining strength of our organization.鈥� | WA
For more information, contact Robert Watts at [email protected].