Shoosmith cleanup funding expires this fall; county seeks solutions
TL;DR: Chesterfield County officials are seeking solutions as state funding for the Shoosmith Landfill cleanup runs out this fall, with the bankrupt landfill generating tens of thousands of gallons of toxic leachate daily.
Quick facts
- Who: Chesterfield County officials, Virginia Department of Environmental Quality, bankruptcy trustee, VWS Holdco and Shoosmith Bros.
- What: State funding for Shoosmith Landfill cleanup project is set to expire in fall 2026, prompting county officials to identify how the project can continue
- When: Fall 2026 (funding expiration); landfill filed for bankruptcy June 2025; landfill stopped accepting waste in 2022
- Where: Shoosmith Landfill, Lewis Road, Chesterfield County, Virginia
The story
The bankrupt Shoosmith Landfill, located on Lewis Road in Chesterfield County, is generating approximately 50,000 to 65,000 gallons of toxic leachate daily, a contaminated liquid that must be constantly collected and hauled to an external treatment facility to prevent it from seeping into nearby creeks that feed the James River and Chesapeake Bay. County officials and Virginia's Department of Environmental Quality are working urgently to find solutions as the available state funding and surety bond money is expected to run out by fall 2026.
The landfill stopped accepting waste in 2022 after losing its permit. Owners VWS Holdco and Shoosmith Bros. filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy on June 1, 2025, which converted to Chapter 7 liquidation within 60 days, leaving a closed, leaking facility with an estimated 183 million dollars in debt, almost no assets, and a court-appointed trustee managing cleanup operations.
The Virginia General Assembly allocated 10.6 million dollars in emergency state funding through the Department of Environmental Quality to help address the leachate crisis. However, this represents a small fraction of the estimated 173 million dollars needed to fully close the landfill and complete post-closure care over the next 30 years. The trustee's available funds from DEQ-approved surety bonds totaling 19 million dollars are expected to be exhausted alongside the state allocation by fall 2026.
DEQ officials, including Director Mike Rolband, have presented plans to Chesterfield County leaders that include constructing an onsite wastewater pre-treatment facility to manage leachate directly at the site rather than continuing the costly daily haul-away operations. Rolband stated that the state must "treat this leachate, manage it, get rid of it, control the gas and complete the closure," and emphasized the need for stricter regulations to prevent similar situations. The state is considering taking over management of the landfill entirely.
On July 22, 2026, the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality provided an update to the Chesterfield County Board of Supervisors on the ongoing situation. Inspectors have identified numerous operational, financial, and environmental compliance issues at the facility, including outdated financial assurance estimates, leachate spills, drain failures, and elevated methane readings.
Additionally, the Virginia Attorney General's office is investigating the actions of the landfill's former owners as part of the bankruptcy proceedings, though specific details about the investigation have not been made public.
Key players
- Virginia Department of Environmental Quality: State agency managing the cleanup response and seeking to construct an onsite leachate treatment facility
- Mike Rolband: Director of DEQ; Acting Secretary of Natural and Historic Resources; overseeing state remediation efforts
- Chesterfield County Board of Supervisors: Local government officials seeking solutions as funding expires
- Bankruptcy trustee: Court-appointed official overseeing cleanup with surety bond funds
Key dates
- 2022: Shoosmith Landfill stopped accepting waste after losing its permit
- June 1, 2025: Owners VWS Holdco and Shoosmith Bros. filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy
- June 2025: Bankruptcy case converted to Chapter 7 liquidation within 60 days
- June 2026: Virginia General Assembly allocated $10.6 million in emergency state funding
- July 22, 2026: Virginia Department of Environmental Quality presented update to Chesterfield County Board of Supervisors
- Fall 2026: State and surety bond funding expected to be exhausted
The case for
The state's $10.6 million emergency allocation and proposed plans to construct an onsite treatment facility represent necessary urgent action to contain an environmental crisis that could affect drinking water and the Chesapeake Bay. Taking state control of the site may be the only way to ensure continuous remediation without gaps in funding or operations.
The case against
The allocated funding falls well short of the estimated $173 million needed for full closure and 30-year post-closure care, leaving taxpayers to absorb costs that should have been covered by the landfill's owners and financial assurances. Virginia's lack of stronger enforcement authority over private landfills allowed this situation to develop, raising questions about whether state takeover addresses the root regulatory failures.
Why it matters: The crisis at Shoosmith could contaminate the James River and Chesapeake Bay if the leachate is not properly managed, threatening water quality for millions of residents. The funding gap and potential cost to Virginia taxpayers highlight broader concerns about financial assurances for waste facilities and the state's regulatory oversight of private landfills.
Places
Development timeline
- 2022Shoosmith Landfill closes to new waste: Landfill stops accepting waste after losing its permit [[source]](https://www.wric.com/news/local-news/chesterfield-county/shoosmith-emergency-funding-approved-state-budget/amp/)
- June 1, 2025Owners file for bankruptcy: VWS Holdco and Shoosmith Bros. file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, later converting to Chapter 7 liquidation [[source]](https://www.wric.com/news/local-news/chesterfield-county/shoosmith-owners-ag-investigation-deq/)
- June 2026Emergency funding allocated: Virginia General Assembly approves $10.6 million in emergency state funding for DEQ to manage leachate crisis [[source]](https://virginiamercury.com/2026/06/25/va-legislature-grants-emergency-funds-to-help-close-leaking-bankrupt-landfill-in-chesterfield/)
- July 9, 2026Investigation announced: Virginia Attorney General's office launches investigation into the actions of Shoosmith Landfill owners [[source]](https://www.12onyourside.com/2026/07/09/deq-ags-office-investigating-actions-shoosmith-landfill-owners)
- July 22, 2026County briefing on solutions: Virginia Department of Environmental Quality presents update to Chesterfield County Board of Supervisors on remediation plans and funding challenges [[source]](https://www.12onyourside.com/2026/07/23/its-under-control-virginia-deq-talks-about-next-steps-shoosmith-landfill/)
- Fall 2026State funding expected to expire: Current state allocation and surety bond money expected to be exhausted, prompting urgent search for continued funding solutions [[source]](https://www.vpm.org/news/2026-07-24/chesterfield-shoosmith-landfill-cleanup-rolband-deq-miller-mcgee-nichols)
Related links
- Virginia Department of Environmental Quality
- Chesterfield County Board of Supervisors
- Virginia Mercury coverage of Shoosmith funding
Read the original at VPM News →
Sources
- Virginia allocates $10.6 million to help clean up toxic leachate at bankrupt Shoosmith Landfill
- Va. legislature grants emergency funds to help close leaking, bankrupt landfill in Chesterfield
- 'It's under control': Virginia DEQ talks about next steps for Shoosmith Landfill
- 'We need more powerful regulations:' Virginia DEQ presents Shoosmith Landfill plan to Chesterfield leaders
- Bankrupt Virginia landfill poses potential environmental catastrophe
- DEQ: AG's office investigating actions of Shoosmith Landfill owners
- Accountability questions remain over former Shoosmith Landfill