For the landfill owners, the project resulted in a complete restoration of a more than one half century old ash landfill. By completely removing all of the ash and restoring the natural vegetation, PBCo and MERG significantly reduced the potential ground water contamination and associated monitoring, as well as eliminating any storm water runoff into the Potomac River. Furthermore, the restoration of the site reversed what was a significant real estate liability into a real estate asset, on which other power producing renewable structures, such as solar farms, can be built. With all the ash removed and the site certified clean, the owner will likely request a release of its WV landfill permit.

To the nearby portland cement producers the beneficial reuse project offered a long term, uninterrupted and less expensive supply of feedstock. A truly sustainable alternative to mining shale or importing bauxite. All of the 3.2 million tons of ash were used to make cement, nothing R. Paul Smith landfill and ponds circa 2009 An early morning line up of trucks loading ash other than a handful of 50-year-old truck tires found buried in the 150 ft. high ash piles had to be sent for disposal. Replacing shale with fly ash in the manufacture of portland cement reduces the heat and fuel required, saving production costs as well as significantly reducing CO2 emissions from the plant and eliminating emissions from the alternative mining operations.

The neighboring communities have realized benefits too. Reclaiming the enormous mountains of ash completely removed a potential contamination of the Potomac River, local water supplies and air quality. Restoring the land to a green field status positively impacted residential real estate, local contractors and business as well many trucking companies.

During the twelve year project, from ground breaking to certified clean, the PBCo-MERG team did not receive a single complaint from neighbors about the truck traffic, fugitive dust or noise.