Huffman oversees landfill

SENECA COUNTY—Harold Huffman was hired in December 2024 by the Seneca County General Health District and Board of Health to oversee the county landfill. As Erika Handru, health communications specialist for the health district, says, Huffman's job is "to ensure regulatory compliance at WIN Waste Innovations (of Seneca Count) … we strive to reduce potential risks to public health and to the environment." Handru later said the position was created in late 2023 to provide oversight of WIN Waste and its operation in the county as a "boots-on-the-ground approach… WIN Waste is on the way to become the largest landfill in Ohio and SCGHD is taking a proactive stance to protect the health of residents and the environment of Seneca County." Huffman said his main job is to minimize the probability of harmful substances leaching into nearby water sources and soil. But day to day, his job varies. "My duties vary and include responding to complaints and concerns by citizens, routine inspections at the landfill, responding to issues of general concern at the landfill, attending meetings with stakeholders and reviewing… regulatory codes," he said. Huffman later told the Advertiser-Tribune in an email that he took the position to be "actively involved in the community, to ensure the safety and security of residents and protect the environment." He also said his goals for the position closely align with those of the general health district. The board voted unanimously to hire Huffman because of his "extensive background in hazardous materials response and management and emergency response." Huffman said his qualifications and certifications include manager of landfill operations, sanitarian in training, Ohio EPA landfill operational rules and U.S EPA landfill methane program. He also said his background is in environmental studies and he is an active member of the Solid Waste Association of North America. At the January board of health meeting, the board voted to buy a vehicle for Huffman costing $5,000 or less to better carry out his duties in and around the landfill. "It is ultimately the goal of this position to utilize a variety of technical sampling equipment," Handru said. Keeping such equipment safe and transportable is also important. According to Handru, the equipment also must be deployable at any given time, including around the clock. "This is a newly created division and (Huffman) has been named the director," Handru said. "This is a unique position to SCGHD, as it has the obligation of possibly responding to incidents around the clock." Despite ongoing litigation between SCGHD and WIN Waste, Huffman said he has already been to the landfill several times in the last month and has begun establishing a needed working relationship with WIN Waste. According to Handru, Huffman is paid $57.69 an hour, or almost $120,000 a year from money received by SCGHD from the landfill. "Legally, these funds can only be used for landfill-related purposes."