Stark County officials are warning residents to stay off the former Exit Landfill property in Osnaburg Township, citing growing concerns over trespassing and all-terrain vehicle use that could threaten public safety and environmental protections.
The Stark County Sheriff’s Office and Stark County Health Department issued the joint warning Tuesday, saying unauthorized activity at the 122-acre former construction and demolition landfill could damage the site’s protective clay cap, potentially allowing contaminated liquid known as leachate to escape into surrounding soil, groundwater and private wells.
The landfill, located at 7095 Fairhill Street SE and extending to Westfall Street SE near Waynesburg, was ordered closed in 2002 by the Stark County Board of Health because of violations of state operational requirements. Officials said the property is considered an “orphan” landfill, meaning no private owner is responsible for maintaining it. The health department, working with the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency, has overseen the site for more than 20 years, including maintenance of the clay cap installed in 2005 and operation of its leachate collection system.
Health officials said recent ATV tracks and other signs of trespassing have been documented on the property, which includes wooded areas that may appear suitable for recreation. But officials stressed the site remains an active environmental management area, not public land for riding or walking.
“ATV traffic could damage the landfill cap, which is the only barrier preventing rainwater from reaching the waste beneath it,” Paul DePasquale, director of environmental health for the Stark County Health Department, said in a statement. “If the cap is compromised, it could lead to costly repairs and increase the risk of leachate escaping the site. This could become a public health issue.”
Leachate forms when water passes through waste material. Officials said the liquid is collected at the site and pumped back into the landfill to keep it contained. Damage to the cap, monitoring equipment or pumping system could interrupt that process.
The sheriff’s office said patrols in the area will increase and warned that trespassers could face arrest.
“We want to be very clear: trespassing on this property could be dangerous and is prohibited,” Stark County Sheriff Eric Weisburn said in a statement. “The terrain is unpredictable, the leachate system is active, and unauthorized access and ATV use puts walkers, riders, and the environment at risk.”
Officials are asking residents to report trespassing or ATV activity at the site by calling the Stark County Sheriff’s Office non-emergency line at 330-430-3800.
