A long-abandoned landfill in Franklin County, reported by neighbors to be leaking orange-tinged liquid into a tributary of the Meramec River, is under renewed scrutiny by state officials. The property, widely known in the area as the Generally Hauling landfill, is listed in state records as inactive. On the ground, residents and environmental specialists say it tells a different story, with visible leachate seeps, exposed trash and a cap they argue is not doing its job. Lawmakers, county officials and nearby landowners are now wrestling with the same uncomfortable question: who is going to pay to fix it, and when.
On-Site Visit Puts Old Dump Back In The Spotlight
The renewed attention started with local television coverage that brought cameras, a former DNR inspector and a neighboring landowner onto the site. As reported by KSDK, the former inspector said the combination of visible leachate, exposed waste and an inadequate cap made this dump stand out as unusually severe compared with other inactive landfills he has seen.
On Paper: Inactive, Not Fully Closed
State files list the "Generally Hauling Sanitary Landfill" in Franklin County on Missouri DNR's inventory of inactive and closed landfills. That status means the site is not allowed to accept new waste, yet it still needs formal closure and post-closure care under state requirements.
DNR guidance explains that proper final caps and controls are supposed to cut down on leachate and gas generation and shield nearby waters and groundwater. On the department's public list, the Franklin County landfill appears among dozens of sites across Missouri that continue to need oversight or corrective work.
Orange Stains, Lab Tests And A Troubled History
Independent reporting and document reviews have highlighted photos of orange staining on landfill slopes and descriptions of leachate seeps running off the mounds. Local coverage also cites lab results that showed exceedances for metals including iron, copper and arsenic in runoff near the site.
Investigative work has traced the landfill's problems back decades, chronicling repeated stumbles in the closure process and multiple changes in ownership that ultimately left the property functionally orphaned, according to The Brockovich Report.
Jefferson City Looks For A Fix, And A Checkbook
State and local politicians are now treating the Franklin County dump as part of a broader Missouri headache: orphaned landfills that still leak but no longer have a clear owner on the hook.
Lawmakers, including those representing Franklin County, are considering legislation and budget changes aimed at shoring up cleanup options for these sites and steering some user-fee revenue toward that work, according to reporting by St. Louis Public Radio. Sen. Ben Brown, whose district covers Franklin County, has convened local meetings focused on landfill concerns and is listed on the Missouri Senate website as the district's elected senator.
Limited Powers, Big Price Tag
State officials have told local reporters that abandoned landfills are a priority, but they also point to limits on both their authority and their budget when it comes to fully cleaning up Subtitle D sites. That often leaves counties and individual property owners to chase grants or technical help instead of a turnkey state rescue.
Franklin County leaders have brought in regional planning partners to help piece together applications for federal brownfields and other grant programs. Environmental specialists quoted in local coverage say those tools could unlock assessment and cleanup funding if the site qualifies. For neighbors relying on private wells and living along contaminated creeks, the immediate strategy is more basic: avoid contact and wait while agencies sort out who is responsible for what.
Neighbors Keep The Heat On
People living near the landfill, including the landowner who first raised alarms and organized a grassroots group, say they are betting that fresh media coverage and visible involvement from lawmakers will speed up official action.
Reporting indicates Franklin County has opened lines of communication with regional partners and is actively pursuing outside money. Advocates caution that the eventual cleanup bill could be substantial and that, without a clearly identified responsible party, the process may drag. Residents say they plan to keep pressing local and state officials until a concrete, funded cleanup plan is on the table.
