CHICAGO (WBBM) – Chicago just got a little smaller, now that a Cook County judge ruled in favor of a waste disposal company that’s taking 86 acres on the Southeast side to expand its landfill operation.

Lands and Lakes Waste Disposal, which owns Cook County’s only operating landfill in adjoining Dolton, will now work with with that suburb to expand the landfill by 86 acres.

Environmentalist are unhappy. They say the company is getting around Chicago’s long-standing moratorium on new or expanded landfills, and the ruling undermines the efforts of the residents to get rid of garbage dumps in their community.

Cook County Associate Judge Susan Fox Gillis granted the company’s request to disconnect the 86 acres from Chicago. She said Chicago would not be harmed by the loss of property tax revenue, and Chicago didn’t have any formal plans for the redevelopment.

The company is keeping a close eye on Springfield. A bill pending in the House would ban new and expanded landfills.