One potential problem is the fact that the rail line in Newton County is not in operating condition. Several years ago, some of the steel rails were removed and the county discussed permanently closing the line and selling the land to adjacent landowners. The district is interested in reopening that rail line and building another from the existing line to the landfill, about three miles away. Under the plan, Lake County would ship its waste in rail cars to the landfill if an agreement can be reached. However, it is as yet unknown who would pay for restoring the rail line if Newton and Lake County officials come to an agreement.
Lake County is a single-county waste district.
Each county is required by state law to participate in a district, and each district must write and submit to the Indiana Department of Environmental Management a 20-year plan for disposal and recycling of its waste. The Northwest Indiana Solid Waste Management District includes Newton, Jasper, White, Benton, Carroll, and Pulaski counties. Newton is not the only county that the Lake district is considering, but officials have not gone into specifics. Recently, the district said it did not need the Hickory Hills proposed sanitary landfill or another construction debris, both of which would have been located near Lowell.