WVU Extension Service plants 200 trees and bushes at Meadowfill Landfill wetlands

The program was designed by the Wildlife Habitat Council to provide a structure for cooperative efforts among management, employees and community members to create, conserve and restore wildlife habitats.

“We have 0.32 acres of wetlands here at the Meadowfill Landfill,” said Amanda Marks-Cunningham, public affairs coordinator for Waste Management West Virginia. “The landfill was certified in 2010 as a wildlife habitat by the Wild Life Habitat Council, and we have to reapply for certification every two years.”

The Wildlife Habitat Council certification program recognizes outstanding wildlife habitat management and environmental education efforts at corporate sites.

“Besides the trees and bushes, our wildlife habitat program consists of three wildflower gardens, over 30 bluebird (shelter) boxes, duck (shelter) boxes, pollinator gardens and bee sticks,” Marks-Cunningham said.

The local effort is part of a national Waste Management program that protects animal and plant species on more than 26,000 acres across North America, Marks-Cunningham said.

“We have a five-year monitoring permit by the Army Corps of Engineers that started in 2013,” said Craig Arnold, environmental protection manager for Waste Management West Virginia. “We had an inspection in May and were told we needed more woody species. We had planted seeds that didn’t take, so now we’re using already developed trees and bushes.”

The gardeners planted birch, magnolia, maple, oak, willow, dogwood and hemlock trees Tuesday, Arnold said.

Thomas David Franklin, a WVU Extension Service master gardener and retired farmer, was one of the volunteer planters.

“We’re planting weeping Wisconsin willows because they love water,” Franklin said. “I’ve been volunteering by planting community gardens for four years. I was a Boy Scout as a kid and was taught to love Mother Nature. Take care of her, or she’ll take care of you.”

Franklin said he’s also helped plant trees at the Shinnston Community Garden and the Hospice Garden at Veterans Memorial Park.

“We have more stringent rules for our waste management program,” Arnold said. “We like our landfills to look like golf courses. So they’ll look nicer and be environmentally sound.

“The wetlands here are man-made,” he added. “We had to move them for our new storm-water pond construction.”

Arnold explained that Meadowfill Landfill was the site of an old coal mine that produced acid mine drainage, which ran into Smith Run Creek.

“We built a bigger and better pond to allow the iron in the water to drop out before it discharges into the creek,” Arnold said.

Waste Management engages the community on-site and off-site for other beautification and environmentally focused projects, and is always looking for volunteers, Marks-Cunningham said.