Fenske Landfill Inc. (Tallmadge Township, Ottawa County)

Kent Walters, WaltersK7@Michigan.gov or 616-278-4350.

Please note that this landfill is CLOSED and does not accept waste. 

Fenske Landfills, Inc., located at 2646 Kenowa Avenue, in Ottawa County, has historically been used for municipal, commercial, and industrial waste. According to records, waste oil, paint sludges, solvents, septic tank sludge, and plating wastes were disposed of in lagoons in the areas now occupied by the Phase I and II cells. Phases I and II were both constructed with liners and a landfill leachate collection system. Before the construction of the landfill, the sludges were removed and placed into a diked cell west of Phase II and covered with clay soils. This area is now referred to as the Sludge Cell. In 1984, EGLE sampled groundwater downgradient of the landfill and detected Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) in the groundwater above drinking water standards. In 2001 and 2002, after the liable parties failed to implement appropriate response, EGLE used state funds to cap the Phase II cell and operated a leachate treatment system to prevent leaking of the landfill leachate into the Grand River. Due to the presence of VOC contamination and historical disposal of wastes that likely contained PFAS, EGLE sampled groundwater downgradient of the site for PFAS contamination.

Groundwater at the site flows to the southwest towards the Grand River. A groundwater flow reversal typically occurs in the spring or periods of significant precipitation; however, this effect is short-lasting and is localized near the Grand River. There is also a small unnamed drain that flows along the north and southeast sides of the landfill and the Grand River.

In June 2019, EGLE sampled the Grand River for PFAS analysis as part of a watershed investigation. Samples were collected immediately downgradient of Fenske Landfills, Inc., and had results of 3.3 and 2 ppt for PFOS and PFOA respectively, which are below water quality standards.

Content posted January 2025.

There are no residential wells downgradient of the site.

EGLE will conduct annual groundwater sampling for PFAS at the landfill.