Setting The Record Straight: WIN Waste Is Safe, Compliant, and Vital to Seneca County

In the years since taking over ownership of the Sunny Farms landfill, we understood the work needed to regain trust in the community and exemplify the values of a strong corporate citizen. We welcomed additional scrutiny from agency experts to ensure transparency and give more insight into how seriously we take our commitment to safety and environmental compliance. The WIN Waste Innovations landfill in Fostoria underwent 300 inspections in 2024, including 53 by the Seneca County General Health District (SCGHD). These inspections have consistently found us in compliance with all regulatory requirements. As recently as this week, an inspection confirmed no adjustments to our operations were needed. This strong record, with no enforcement actions, reflects our team's diligence and unwavering commitment to excellence. We are proud of this record and will continue to open our doors to inspectors from all the regulatory agencies to which we are accountable, as well as government officials, the media and members of the community. But we must ask: Isn't it time for a new collaborative relationship within the County? Between January and March, the SCGHD inspected our facility nearly every other working day. The standard minimum landfill inspection rate for a landfill in Ohio is about once every five years for surface water, once every two years for air quality, two times per year for waste and once per month by the local health department. In comparison, WIN Waste was inspected more than 25 times in one year for surface water, over 50 times for air quality, 150 times for waste and over 50 times by the local health department. The passing grades from all these inspections demonstrate that the landfill is well-operated and meets the regulatory standards. We unequivocally stand by our commitment to the community that the WIN Waste Seneca County landfill is safe. Not only are we meticulous about our environmental compliance, we are also a vital economic partner to the community. With our proven track record and the county budget getting tighter in 2025, we hope for a better working relationship and a better use of the health board's time, efforts, and money to improve the county where we live and work. The SCGHD has a budget of $5.5 million, with 40% coming from the material acceptance fees WIN Waste pays to the department. Is inspecting WIN Waste more than 50 times a year (on top of the Ohio EPA inspections) while finding no enforcement actions a good use of county funds? Or can we venture on a path to use the funding paid to work on the county's well-being together? We urge you, the residents of Seneca County, to review the county's inspection records and ensure your tax money is being allocated appropriately. For the benefit of all of us who live and work here, Seneca County must make the most of its resources. Unwarranted watchdogging of a fully compliant, taxpaying business that contributes greatly to the regional economy is nothing more than regulatory theater, at the expense of all of us. WIN Waste jobs provide nearly $12 million in annual wages in Seneca County and more than $15 million in annual purchases from local and regional vendors. And our commitment to Seneca County extends well beyond our operations. Over the past year, we have partnered with Habitat for Humanity, Patchworks House and the Franciscan Earth Literacy Center to promote environmental education and invest in the well-being of community members. This is part of being a responsible, sustainable company, which is at the heart of our mission. We are making Seneca County better and we hope that taxpayers will hold the SCGHD accountable for doing the same.