Published in the Las Cruces Bulletin 12.16.22
By Cassie McClure
After two years and two phases, Las Cruces Utilities (LCU) has completed the cleanup of the pre-1965 landfill project off Lohman Avenue, on the land between Paseo de Oñate and Sonoma Ranch Boulevard. Originally a site for an old landfill, the City of Las Cruces (City) asked LCU to assist in removing the trash, ensuring the safety of residents, and increasing the future usability of the land. However, the area of waste that LCU needed to sort nearly doubled in the first year.
“A 2016 site investigation estimated nearly 27 thousand cubic yards to clean in two main waste areas for Phase I, however upon actual field efforts and potholing, the total jumped up to 43 thousand cubic yards,” said LCU Environmental & Technical Support project manager Fred Bourger, who led the project. Phase I of the project began in March 2020 and was completed in February 2021. But that amount was not ultimately what went to the landfill due to the use of new machines – called flip screens – which screened waste material from clean soil.
“We were able to reduce waste hauled to the Corralitos Regional Landfill by 40 percent,” said Bourger. The types of waste that LCU found were glass, plastic, tires, washer and dryers, and bricks. The final amount sent to the Corralitos Landfill was 29,281 tons.
Phase II of the project began in April 2022 and was completed in November 2022. The phase sorted 53 thousand cubic yards and sent 14,780 tons to Corralitos. The use of two flip screens on this phase reduced waste by 80 percent and reduced the time by three months.
“In the next several weeks, we will be reseeding the recently excavated area that had been and are currently in the process of writing a completion report for the New Mexico Environment Department Solid Waste Bureau,” Bourger said.
Currently, the area is still off-limits to the public. He continued, “The site will go under the management of public works, which will be responsible for continuing the management of the Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plan and continuing with the master planning process which the City of Las Cruces will develop for future use.”
Bourger is appreciative of those involved in the project. “I'd like to send a shoutout of thanks to the neighborhood for being patient through the project and the support provided by the New Mexico Environment Department Solid Waste, City Utility staff, and subcontractors who helped support the completion of the project.”
LCU – Your Utility Connection. Customer Central can be reached at 575-541-2111 from 8 a.m. - 6 p.m. Monday through Friday. LCU provides clean, safe, and reliable services to Las Cruces residents and businesses. Learn more at: las-cruces.org/180/Utilities
For emergencies, call Dispatch at 526-0500.
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PHOTO 1: Top: The land after; Below: The trash before.