TFEK BRIEFING: The Proposed 1,500‑Acre Private Landfill at the Premier Elkhorn Mine Complex
Prepared by: The Future of Eastern Kentucky (TFEK)
Purpose: Informing Pike County residents, officials, and stakeholders about the corporate actors, risks, and regional impacts of the proposed private landfill project.
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1. Overview
Affiliates of Murphy Road Recycling (MRR)—a Connecticut-based waste conglomerate—have entered into an option agreement to acquire approximately 1,500 acres at the Premier Elkhorn Mine Complex in Pike County, Kentucky. The intent is to convert former coal surface mines into a large-scale, privately operated landfill designed to receive out‑of‑state waste via rail.
This project represents the first major expansion of a New England waste network into Eastern Kentucky.
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2. The Corporate Network Behind the Project
Murphy Road Recycling (MRR)
A rapidly expanding waste company specializing in construction & demolition debris, rail-linked waste transfer, and large-scale disposal operations.
USA Hauling & Recycling / USA Waste & Recycling
These companies share ownership and leadership with MRR. They operate as part of the Antonacci family waste network, which includes:
- Murphy Road Recycling
- USA Hauling & Recycling
- USA Waste & Recycling
- All American Waste
This network is one of the largest private waste systems in the Northeast.
Range Impact Inc.
A Cleveland-based land redevelopment firm that acquired the Premier Elkhorn and Cambrian Coal complexes. Range Impact markets former coal sites as redevelopment opportunities and partners with waste companies to convert “zombie mines” into disposal hubs.
In short:
MRR is the operator.
Range Impact controls the land.
USA Waste/USA Hauling is the affiliated hauling and logistics arm.
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3. What Has Been Filed So Far
MRR CNG, LLC
An MRR affiliate signed an option agreement effective December 31, 2025 to acquire ~1,500 acres of surface land at Premier Elkhorn.
Current Status
- No public landfill permit application has been filed with the Kentucky Division of Waste Management.
- No public notice has been issued.
- No local hearings have been scheduled.
This places the project in the pre‑permitting phase, where land control, political groundwork, and corporate positioning occur quietly.
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4. Why Pike County Was Targeted
Former coal mines offer:
- Large contiguous land parcels
- Existing rail infrastructure
- Minimal zoning barriers
- Economically distressed communities
- Local governments seeking new revenue sources
These conditions make Eastern Kentucky a prime target for waste-by-rail mega‑landfills.
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5. Waste‑by‑Rail: What It Means for Pike County
The proposed landfill is designed to import waste from outside Kentucky, not serve local needs.
Key characteristics of rail‑import landfills:
- Extremely high daily tonnage
- Long-term operational lifespan (50–100 years)
- Out‑of‑state waste dependency
- Heavy industrialization of rural areas
- Significant environmental and groundwater risks
- Minimal local job creation compared to the scale of impact
This model mirrors mega‑landfills in Virginia, Ohio, and Pennsylvania that receive waste from New York, New Jersey, and New England.
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6. What This Means for Pike County
A. Loss of Local Control
Pike County currently manages its own waste system. A private landfill shifts control to an out‑of‑state corporation with no local accountability.
B. Long-Term Environmental Liability
Landfills on former coal mines face:
- Unstable geology
- High water infiltration
- Complex hydrology
- Elevated risk of leachate migration
These risks persist for generations.
C. Economic Extraction, Not Development
Private landfills generate:
- Minimal permanent jobs
- Outsized environmental burdens
- Long-term stigma that deters investment
- No alignment with Pike County’s economic diversification goals
D. No Existing Track Record in Pike County
USA Waste/MRR has no operational history in Pike County or Eastern Kentucky.
This is a new corporate footprint, not a local partner.
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7. TFEK Position
TFEK supports economic development that strengthens communities, not projects that:
- Import out‑of‑state waste
- Exploit abandoned mine lands
- Create long-term environmental liabilities
- Undermine local waste systems
- Offer minimal economic benefit
The proposed landfill is inconsistent with Pike County’s long-term vision for:
- Mixed-use redevelopment
- Rail modernization
- Manufacturing and logistics growth
- Sustainable land use
- Community health and safety
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8. Recommended Questions for Officials
1. Has any company filed a Notice of Intent or permit application for a landfill at Premier Elkhorn?
2. What due diligence has been conducted on MRR, USA Waste, or Range Impact?
3. Has the county evaluated the long-term environmental risks of landfills on former coal mines?
4. What protections will be in place to prevent Pike County from becoming an out‑of‑state waste import hub?
5. How will this project affect property values, tourism, and future development?
6. What is the projected lifespan of the landfill, and who bears liability after closure?
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9. TFEK Recommendations
- Require full public transparency before any permitting steps proceed.
- Demand independent environmental and geotechnical assessments.
- Evaluate alternative economic uses for the Premier Elkhorn site.
- Protect Pike County from becoming a regional waste import destination.
- Prioritize development that aligns with long-term community goals.
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