Reevaluating the role of the protective cover layer in landfills

Conference · Sun Dec 31 04:00:00 EST 1995

OSTI ID:161781

Roberts, M; Larky, A ^[1]

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1. Burns & McDonnell Waste Consultants, Inc., Overland Park, KS (United States)

While many of today`s engineering specifications for Subtitle D landfills require the construction of a protective soil cover layer, its role has been reevaluated in terms of the ultimate purpose it serves. The traditional designs for the protective cover layer in today`s landfills are essentially unnecessary in the protection of the landfill liner system after the first lift of waste has been applied. Traditional protective cover is typically soil excavated either on or off the site. This protective cover soil uses valuable landfill air space, depletes oftentimes valuable on-site soils, and commonly retards leachate from reaching the leachate collection system because of its low hydraulic conductivity. Potential alternative protective cover materials have been examined including ground tires, wood chips, sewage sludge, compost material, industrial process residue and other special wastes. Each one of the alternative materials serves to protect the liner system during the application of the first lift of waste but also contributes to the landfill by (a) decreasing in volume after it has served its use and freeing up more potential airspace, (b) is a homogeneous waste product with acceptable engineering properties, or (c) lowers the cost of constructing the protective cover layer. Each of the alternative protective cover materials has technical and economical merits and disincentives which are investigated. A framework has been constructed for the more widespread acceptance of the alternate protective cover materials in the design and regulatory communities.

• OSTI ID: 161781
• Report Number(s): CONF-950978--
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATION
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
COMPARATIVE EVALUATIONS
COMPOST
COVERINGS
DESIGN
HYDRAULIC CONDUCTIVITY
LEACHATES
LINERS
POLLUTION CONTROL
SANITARY LANDFILLS
SEWAGE SLUDGE
SOILS
SPECIFICATIONS