The rules and regulations under which the Tontitown Landfill is permitted and operated are some of the strictest in the nation. The active portions of the Tontitown Landfill are scientifically engineered to minimize environmental impacts through use of sound planning, design and operations, which provide safe disposal of waste within its facility.

The Tontitown Landfill is the only Class 1 landfill in the state of Arkansas that is constructed with a double composite liner system: a primary composite liner and a secondary composite liner on the bottom, both designed to ensure the protection of groundwater. The Tontitown Landfill liner system exceeds U.S. Environmental Protection Agency landfill design requirements.

The ADEQ inspects the Tontitown Landfill on a regular basis. These unannounced inspections include a thorough review of facility operations and records. The Tontitown Landfill consistently meets or exceeds state and federal environmental standards.

Groundwater protection is an integral part of construction and operations. Groundwater monitoring wells around the site are sampled and analyzed on a scheduled basis by trained monitoring technicians. The water quality data is evaluated by independent professionals and submitted directly to ADEQ.

A leachate collection and extraction system is placed over each liner system. (Leachate is liquid generated from rainfall and the natural decomposition of waste.) Leachate is collected in lined sumps and pumped to double-walled tanks, located above ground. The liquids are transported to a permitted wastewater treatment plant for disposal.

For more information on the environmental controls and montoring systems at the Tontitown Landfill, see the Controls and Monitoring section of this site.