Montana’s Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) is reviewing a proposal from the Flathead County Solid Waste District to expand its landfill in Kalispell into a neighboring 121-acre property. The expansion aims to ensure long-term waste management capacity in the fast-growing region of northwest Montana.

The landfill, located about 35 miles from Glacier National Park, has served Flathead County since 1971 and currently handles an average of 460 tons of waste per day. According to the DEQ, the planned expansion would allow the site to continue accepting multiple waste types, including municipal solid waste (Group III), certain construction and demolition debris (Group IV), and select mining byproducts (Group II).

In a draft environmental assessment (EA) released on the DEQ website, officials said the proposed permit would support the continued disposal of roughly 33.7 million tons of material. “The proposed action would meet the minimum requirements of the [Montana] Solid Waste Management Act and associated administrative rules regulating solid waste disposal,” the DEQ concluded. The agency added that the draft EA “represented the appropriate level of environmental review, and preparation of an environmental impact statement is not required.”

The Flathead County Solid Waste District plans to utilize up to 74 acres of the new parcel for active waste disposal operations. The remaining area may be used for support infrastructure or future expansion needs. Officials say the additional space would relieve pressure on existing landfill cells and reduce the likelihood of having to export waste to other counties or states.

By expanding the landfill footprint, Flathead County aims to avoid a scenario in which local waste must be hauled elsewhere—an increasingly costly and logistically complex option. The DEQ echoed this concern, stating the project would help “alleviate the need for this waste to be transported to outside of the county for final disposal.”

In addition to managing solid waste, the Kalispell landfill site also provides recycling services, including collection of cardboard, aluminum cans, and newspapers, further supporting local sustainability efforts.

A final decision on the permit will follow the DEQ’s review of public comments and any additional studies that may be needed. The department is accepting feedback as part of its public process.

As the Flathead Valley continues to grow, county leaders say infrastructure projects like this expansion are critical to ensuring the area can manage its environmental impact responsibly over the long term.

Originally reported by Brian Taylor in CD Recycler.