Apex landfill focused on sustainable energy

By Rebecca Bratten Weiss Harrison News-Herald Staff Writer AMSTERDAM—

Apex Sanitary Landfill in Amsterdam has been working toward increasing its capacity to convert methane from the plant into usable natural gas, in tandem with other initiatives to decrease carbon footprint and invest in the community.

David Cieply, executive vice president of Landfill Operations at Interstate Waste Services, spoke with the News-Herald about the sustainable-energy projects that are underway. The landfill, which has been operational since 2005, was purchased in 2020 by Montauk Energy, a company from New Jersey.

Montauk’s purchase of the operation, according to Cieply, enabled them to “internalize everything they do in terms of waste that they collect and dispose of.”

This means that instead of transporting waste on trucks on roads and inter- states, the landfill is able to move over 80 percent of the waste via rail.

“This is a huge positive to all, as it keeps many trucks off the road,” Cieply said. “It safely moves 1.6 to 1.8 million tons annually. This eliminates 275 trucks daily, which equates to an annual reduction of 20 million truck miles, 3.2 billion grams of GHG emissions, and 3.5 million gallons of fuel.”

Engineer Bryan J.

Largent shared with the News-Herald that in significantly reducing truck traffic, the Waste-by-Rail Network means reduced greenhouse gas emissions. Within the landfill itself, the process of organic decomposition produces methane, a carbon-neutral, green, renewable energy source. Methane is generated from landfills 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The Apex plant, Cieply said, already has a

BORROWED FROM THOMPSON RIVER UNIVERSITY system in place for collecting this methane and converting it into natural gas. And capturing methane also reduces greenhouse gas emissions.

This diagram, taken from Thompson Rivers University, shows how a landfill is designed. Beneath the landfill is a layer of gravel, which collects any water (leachate) from the waste above. Beneath that is a layer of plastic (or in some cases clay) that prevents the water from leaking into groundwater. The leachate is removed and sent to a processing plant or sewage treatment plant to be detoxified before releasing into the environment. Groundwater sources are monitored closely for possible contamination.

“In 2022,” Largent explained, “our plant captured 250,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e), which is equivalent to removing 52,000 vehicles from the road.”

Montauk Energy, Cieply said, was responsible for the installation of both horizontal and vertical wells which run through the plant and collect the gas. The natural gas is then sent to Williams Companies, which in turn sends it to the natural-gas market. The plant intends to expand this project so that, by the second quarter of 2024, it will have doubled its capabilities to convert natural gas.

“By making the gas a renewable fuel, we are not just releasing it into the

Tappan Dam Flood Gate: more than a bad dream

When the Muskingum Watershed Conservancy District came in to build the Tappan Dam, 119 properties totaling 7,525 acres were purchased by the MWCD for $700,000.

In the process, 17.2 miles of telephone lines, 2 miles of electric power lines, 77 miles of state highway and 7.5 miles of secondary roads had to be relocated. The work was done under the U.S. Works program, using relief labor supplied by the Cadiz Re-employment Office wherever possible. Come and hear the story of when Tappan Lake was a bad dream and finally a grave reality to the folks in its path.

“Some gave up farms for coal, but I believe that you had a choice, we had no choice, it was either sink or swim.” Hear about the towns of Tappan and Laceyville that are now under the lake.

Award

from Page 1

2. John A. Bingham moved to Harrison County as a young boy and attended law school at Franklin College in New Athens. Known as the statesman who prosecuted Lincoln’s assassins in 1865, he was also a

The program, presented by Susan Adams of the Harrison County Genealogical Society will be at the Bowerston Library, 200 member of Congress, the American Minister to Japan, and headed up the impeachment trial of President Andrew Johnson. He also penned section 1 of the 14th amendment to the constitution.

3. General George A. Custer was born in New Rumley with a big personality few could miss. He was first a school teacher near Cadiz before being appointed to Westpoint by Bingham. After many successful military campaigns, he became widely known for his controversial “last stand” in the Battle of Little Big Horn in 1876.

4. Clark Gable, born here in 1901, was one of the most consistent box-office performers in history and was often referred to as the “King of Hollywood.” His most notable film, of course, was “Gone with

Jewett

from Page 1 coming in,” Mayor George Bailie said. “I like all the ideas. Now if we can all get together and make it happen.” He also shared appreciation to both Prevots for their continued support of the village, “I know council and myself appreciate why you’re here. Everything else you’re doing over at Brightside with donations, helping out families, it doesn’t go unnoticed.”

Brenda Hoobler then spoke to council to ask

Beloved county resident celebrates 100 years

Main St., Bowerston, on Monday, April 3, at 6 p.m. Remember the bridge is closed on state Route 151. Any questions, call the Wind.” His home in Cadiz stands as his museum today.

5. Percy Hammond of Cadiz began his journalistic career in the Cadiz Republican office in 1886 at age 13 and caught his first taste of theater at the county fair. He would go on to become a leading national critic of theater on the editorial teams of the Chicago Evening Post, Chicago Herald, and New York Herald-Tribune.

6. W.H. Holmes, archaeologist, was raised on a farm on the outskirts of Cadiz and graduated from the McNeely Normal School in Hopedale. He was the Anthropology Curator of the Smithsonian American Art Museum in 1897 and held many other titles. He wrote prolifically and received an honorary Doctorate of Science from George about donations for the April 1 Easter Egg Hunt put on by area churches and the Jewett Food Pantry.

“We can still use eggs, candy, anything,” Hoobler said. A couple of council members said they probably had a few things they could donate. The village has typically donated to the hunt in the past. Finance officer Linda Ager explained that the village can’t write a check to the churches but can reimburse receipts up to an

740-269-8531. Picture and information are from the files of Harrison County Historical Society.

Washington University for his work and achievements. There are two mountain summits named in his honor—one in Yellowstone and one in Utah.

7. Lynn Harold Hough, a renowned theologian, was born in Cadiz and obtained his bachelor’s from Scio College in 1898. He went on to pastor a church, obtain his doctorate degree, and assume the presidency of Northwestern University. His theology books were nationally-read, making Lynn Harold Hough a household name.

8. Bishop Matthew Simpson, a Cadiz native, was one of the best-known orators and clergymen of his day and a personal friend to President Lincoln. He was converted to Christ in 1829 in the Dickerson Church outside of Cadiz; he also obtained his medical license and agreed upon amount.

The final visitor to council was Andy Anderson, who spoke about flooding issues and lamented that Jewett seems to be forgotten by both county and state entities.

“Last year, I had four vehicles damaged,” Anderson said. “It’s been a year… There’s always some priority thing that’s taking money. Our rainy season is coming up and it’s flooding this way down and the other way down to the bank. … was appointed pastor in the Methodist denomination. He is most famous for giving the speech at Lincoln’s funeral.

Virginia Patton has lived in Harrison County for her entire life. As of March 25, that’s 100 years! “I was raised in Jewett,” Patton said. “It was just a small town. Service station, a bank, a restaurant, and a grocery store. Right now it’s smaller! When I was growing up, the school and the church were the main thing. All the activities we did had to be at one or the other.” Her advice to younger generations is to be involved with your kids. “No matter what they’re doing,” she said. “School, church, sports, anything. Parents should be more involved with their family. I don’t think we’d have as many problems.” Living in the county home, she says she enjoys her time walking and interacting with residents and staff. She notes, “Everyone is so nice and they take care of all of us!” She looks forward to seeing the finished addition to the home, which is slated to be finished around the end of the year.

9. Edwin M. Stanton, Lincoln’s War Secretary, was born in Steubenville in 1814, opened his first law practice in Cadiz, and was elected county prosecutor. He went on to play an active role in strategizing the Union efforts during the Civil War and the reconstruction efforts after the war ended. He and Benjamin Franklin were the only two Americans to appear on a postage stamp prior to 1847.

10. General Thomas M. Vincent, born in Cadiz, a pupil of Frankin College in New Athens and Westpoint, served as the chief recruiting officer in Washington during the Civil War. He worked closely with Edwin M. Stanton, who approved

We still get flooded, you watch the creek come up and you’re just holding your breath it doesn’t get into the house.”

Some flood damage is still leftover from the February 2022 flood, but a good portion of Jewett is built on a floodplain which makes water an ongoing problem. One council member mentioned that a spillway needs to be cleaned out again. While this may not fix the whole problem, it could lessen the flooding in some parts of town.

Addressing flood issues can be costly and Anderson felt that Jewett is largely ignored for state funding. He encouraged council to continue up the chain of command to find the help.

“[Bailie] has definitely been on it, looking for grants and stuff,” Council member Joshua Walters said.

Vincent’s organizational plan to disband the Union Army at the close of the war. He died in 1909 and was buried in Section 1 of Arlington National Cemetery beside his wife, Laura.

Here at the News-Herald, we see that Harrison County is still producing notable people to the present day—local entrepreneurs, politicians, teachers, and many others of all ages—diverse talent in the community across every generation. The population of Harrison County is just under 15,000, and we are proud to be of that number and report the local times and faces of our day. Our commitment to producing Harrison County news is as solid now as it was back then (as is the courthouse). We hope you enjoy the pages to follow.

Bailie shared he’d previously tried working with several entities, “We’ve been in touch constantly with our congressmen, senator, even tried going through Musingham Watershed because they had some grant money for flood issues. But it didn’t work out for us.”

He said the money was more for clean up of debris after floods, rather than prevention. “We’re listening to you and we’re gonna keep on working on it,” Bailie assured Anderson. “It’s a nice thing for people to come to council meetings and address things like this. We appreciate it.”