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County Plans Shoosmith Landfill Closure, Seeks Resident Input

TL;DR: Chesterfield County is working with state and federal officials on closure and remediation plans for the bankrupt Shoosmith Landfill and has launched a web portal for resident questions ahead of a July 22 Board of Supervisors update.

The story

Chesterfield County is moving forward with plans to close and remediate the Shoosmith Landfill, one of the state's most pressing environmental challenges. The bankrupt facility, located off Ironbridge Road, generates approximately 65,000 gallons of contaminated leachate daily that must be collected and hauled to treatment facilities to prevent it from flowing into nearby creeks and eventually the James River and Chesapeake Bay.

County leaders have been meeting with state and federal officials to develop the closure and remediation strategy. To gather community concerns and questions before the next phase, Chesterfield has launched a web portal at chesterfield.gov where residents can submit input about the project. The Board of Supervisors is scheduled to receive a full update on the landfill closure plan during its July 22, 2026 meeting.

The scale of the challenge is significant. Engineering estimates put total closure, corrective actions, and post-closure care costs at more than $172 million over 30 years. Available bond funds total just over $19 million. The Virginia General Assembly allocated $10.6 million in state funds in the 2026-2027 budget specifically to help contain the toxic leachate, with plans to construct an onsite wastewater pre-treatment facility.

The landfill itself ceased accepting new waste in 2024 after losing its permit. The operating company subsequently filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. An investigation by the state Attorney General's office into the actions of the landfill's owners is currently underway.

Key players

• Chesterfield County Board of Supervisors: County leadership overseeing closure plan update
• Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ): State regulator with exclusive enforcement authority over landfill
• Shoosmith Landfill trustee: Court-appointed overseer managing facility during bankruptcy
• U.S. Environmental Protection Agency: Federal environmental oversight

Key dates

• 2024: Shoosmith ceases accepting new waste; company files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy
• June 2026: Virginia General Assembly allocates $10.6 million for landfill containment in state budget
• July 22, 2026: Board of Supervisors receives landfill closure and remediation plan update

Why it matters: The Shoosmith Landfill's continued operation threatens local waterways and the Chesapeake Bay while imposing significant costs on taxpayers. The closure plan will determine how residents are protected from ongoing contamination and what role the county, state, and federal government will play in cleanup efforts.

Places

• Shoosmith Landfill
• Ironbridge Road
• James River
• Chesapeake Bay
• Chesterfield County

Related links

• Chesterfield County Privately-Operated Landfills Page
• Board of Supervisors Meeting Schedule
• Chesterfield County Main Website

Read the original at Chesterfield County (YouTube) →

Sources

• Bankrupt Virginia landfill poses potential environmental catastrophe
• Accountability questions remain over former Shoosmith Landfill
• Cabinet official calls meeting over Virginia landfill
• Chesterfield's Shoosmith landfill is closed and bankrupt, cleanup bill could top $170 million
• Va. legislature grants emergency funds to help close leaking, bankrupt landfill in Chesterfield
• Denied Enforcement Authority Over Landfills, Chesterfield Still Uncovered Shoosmith Failures
• DEQ: AG's office investigating actions of Shoosmith Landfill owners
• Chesterfield County Privately-Operated Landfills