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GULLIVER -- With the nearest landfill at least 45 miles away in Newberry, Schoolcraft County residents used to struggle taking their trash out.  But not anymore, thanks to the folks at Hiawatha Shores Landfill in Gulliver.

"It's close enough that we can utilize the facility, and their hours of operation are more accommodating to small business people," said customer Zeak Dewyse.

The fill has been 15 years in the making; it took owner Stan Zellar that long to obtain the proper permits.  Now that it's finally here, it receives about 50 tons of garbage a day, and they expect to get much more as business picks up.

The 40-acre fill accepts residential, commercial, and industrial waste at four cents per pound.

The new landfill isn't only convenient, it's also very forward thinking--it uses geophysics technology to monitor groundwater.

"We feel that using geophysics technology to monitor our groundwater is a more effective means due to the fact that it measures the entire perimeter of the landfill instead of having a monitoring well every 300 feet," said Manager Rob Lee.

A good deal for the environment, managers also say the fill is a good deal for the community.

"Solid waste is a commodity like anything else," Lee said.  "I think the more we can keep within the city confines, the better it would be for the local economy."

An affordable, accessible, environmentally cautious way to dispose of waste--now that doesn't stink!