Waste Management Commits to Expanded Litter Patrols Around Landfill

Will County Landfill Committee Meeting | Jan. 13, 2026

Article Summary: Following complaints from county officials, Waste Management has agreed to significantly expand its litter collection efforts along roadways surrounding the Prairie View Landfill. The new plan covers an additional 10 miles of road and includes bi-weekly cleanups.

Litter Control Key Points:

• Expanded Coverage: Waste Management will now clean litter along Route 53, North River Road, and South Arsenal Road, in addition to previously covered areas.

• Frequency: The company committed to inspecting the areas weekly and performing litter removal every two weeks.

• County Oversight: Land Use Department staff will monitor the cleanup efforts weekly to ensure compliance.

In response to persistent litter complaints, Waste Management has agreed to ramp up its cleanup operations around the Prairie View Landfill.

Dave Hartke, Director of the Resource Recovery & Energy Division, reported to the Landfill Committee on Tuesday, January 13, 2026, that the landfill operator was “very receptive and responsive” to the county’s concerns.

The new agreement expands litter removal to include roughly 10 additional miles of roadway. Key corridors now covered include Route 53 from the Midewin Welcome Center to New River Road, North River Road to the I-55 exit, and South Arsenal Road.

“That’s a significant addition to what they had been removing litter from before,” Hartke said.

Chuck Helston, special assistant to the State’s Attorney, noted the ambitious nature of the plan. “They started on Friday… I told them when you pick up waste to let the Land Use Department know so that they can go out there immediately and see how good of a job that their contractor has done,” Helston said.