Belvidere Municipal Landfill

Overview

The Belvidere Municipal Landfill sits in Boone County, Illinois and operated from 1939 to 1973. It accepted both municipal and industrial wastes, which contaminated groundwater and left behind a drum disposal area. The landfill cover was inadequate in some areas, threatening nearby surface water and the Kishwaukee River. EPA added the site to the National Priorities List (NPL) in September 1983 and removed it in February 2015 after confirming that cleanup protected human health and the environment.

More than 50 contaminants have been identified across soil, groundwater, sediment, and surface water at the site. Heavy metals include cadmium, chromium, lead, manganese, and silver. Organic chemicals include benzene, chloroform, vinyl chloride, and xylene. The site also contained polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in several forms, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), and phthalates. Soils beneath the remedial cap still contain low levels of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), PAHs, nitrates, and heavy metals, though benzene, ethylbenzene, toluene, and xylenes have not been detected in over ten years.

Cleanup work was completed in June 1992. It included removing drums that held PCBs and industrial sludges, excavating and consolidating contaminated soils under a new engineered cap, installing a groundwater pump-and-treat system, and setting up a monitoring well network. Potentially responsible parties (PRPs) have continued operation and maintenance activities, including mowing and gas vent monitoring, since May 1992. Deed restrictions and zoning requirements prevent residential development and other uses that would be inconsistent with the cleanup level.

Human exposure is under control, with no unacceptable exposure pathways identified. Groundwater migration is also under control, contamination is stable or declining, and there is no unacceptable discharge to surface water. The site achieved sitewide ready for anticipated use status in April 2008. EPA has conducted regular five-year reviews through 2025 to confirm the remedy continues to work as intended. A dog park has been proposed for the site as part of redevelopment efforts under the Superfund Redevelopment Program.

Community members with questions can contact the EPA's Community Involvement Coordinator, or the Remedial Project Manager for technical questions.