June 8, 2023 |
Photo – Rawlins Landfill – Courtesy City of Rawlins
The Rawlins landfill received a perfect score recently during a surprise state inspection.
Twice each year, inspectors from the Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality pay an unannounced visit to landfills around the state. Rawlins Public Information Officer Mira Miller said the city’s landfill earned a 100% score from the DEQ after recent surprise inspection. Landfill Recycling Superintendent Patrick Martinez said the DEQ inspection process is very thorough.
Martinez said the DEQ performs two inspections a year, one in the spring and the other in the fall. The landfill superintendent said he doesn’t know exactly what day the DEQ inspectors will show up.
Martinez said he has worked for the city for 16 years, advancing from an entry level employee to the superintendent of the Rawlins Landfill.
During the three years he has overseen the landfill, Martinez said he hasn’t received anything less than a perfect score from the DEQ. Before his time as superintendent, Martinez said the city dump hadn’t always received flawless reports from the state. He said in the past, clerical problems and other issues cost the landfill points.
The successful DEQ inspection means the city landfill retains its state issued license.