Tour de trash? Public invited to view Springfield's Noble Hill Sanitary Landfill

For those who have been curious to learn about where Springfield's trash goes and what happens to it, the city is offering an opportunity for the public to tour the Springfield Noble Hill Sanitary Landfill.

Springfield Environmental Services will take 32 pre-registered individuals on a tour of the landfill at 10 a.m. Wednesday, Sept. 18, to learn about the facility's operations and procedures for maximizing valuable landfill space and consider current and future challenges. According to a city news release, the tour will be offered via guided tour bus that will leave from the Busch Municipal Building and return around noon.

Springfield is one of five communities in Missouri that owns and operates its own landfill, and one of 17 total that are currently allowed to accept household trash in Missouri. The Noble Hill Landfill accepts 1,200 to 1,400 tons of trash daily.

Space on the tours is limited so interested individuals must register ahead of time. Citizens are invited to register online at www.springfieldmo.gov/landfilltours . In the event that all spots fill up, registrants will be added to a waitlist for potential additional tour times in the afternoon, according to the release.

More: Talking trash ... again? City Council to revisit options for trash collection changes

This tour is not intended for groups. Groups, classrooms and clubs are encouraged to visit the Environmental Services' Education Division website to learn more about scheduling a tour.

In the next five years, the landfill will be in the process of expanding in order to anticipate the need to accommodate trash for the next 50 to 75 years. But plans are also in progress to capture gases from both the solid waste as well as sewage to use it as renewable energy in the community.

Marta Mieze covers local government at the News-Leader. Have feedback, tips or story ideas? Contact her at mmieze@news-leader.com.

This article originally appeared on Springfield News-Leader: Tour de trash? Public invited to view Springfield's Noble Hill Sanitary Landfill