When it opened in 1963, the Larimer County Landfill had plenty of room to manage the residents’ solid waste for many years. Over the last 20 years, the population has grown more than 50 percent and is now accepting more than 350,000 tons per year. In 2025-when the landfill was expected to close-the region was generating more than 500,000 tons per year. After creating a regional wasteshed report, Larimer County brought in the HDR team to identify a plan for efficiently, handling waste economically and in an environmentally responsible manner. After evaluating dozens of disposal options, the County Board of Commissioners approved five-aimed at diverting 40 percent of trash from the landfill while creating a plan for public education, outreach and solid waste reduction. The five options are a new landfill, central transfer station, construction and demolition processing center, yard composting and food waste composting. The new landfill pairs with a diversion facility and transfer station, a one-stop shop for construction and yard waste, food scraps and recycling. The landfill uses unique designs to overcome site-specific challenges while enhancing operational reliability and long-term performance. The landfill features an innovative composite liner system and a redundant leachate collection system. Meanwhile, the transfer station is located to maximize accessibility; features a high-capacity scale house, a traffic management system, flexible tipping areas, durable floor designs and an integrated push wall system; separates residential and commercial areas; and includes a weather-protected residential unloading canopy. These innovations demonstrate how solid waste infrastructure can be designed to meet current needs while providing long-term value for the profession and the community. The projects promote sustainable waste practices by protecting groundwater and surrounding natural resources, verifying long-term environmental stewardship, and increasing diversion. This encourages material recycling, reuse and recovery and extends the lifespan of the landfill.
