I.

Landfill Operations

A. Landfill Equipment

The most common types of heavy landfill equipment and primary tasks

associated with each are waste pushing and placement, waste compaction and

trimming, and waste covering.

1. Waste Pushing and Placement

Waste pushing and placement are the initial steps associated with

construction of any landfill cell and require that the piece of equipment have

a blade or broad bucket, and that it maintain a high level of traction under a

variety of working and weather conditions. The most common types of

landfill equipment used for waste pushing and placement are dozers, track

loaders, and compactors. Dozers and compactors are typically preferable to

other pieces of equipment for this task because they also work well for waste

compaction and trimming.

2. Waste Compaction and Trimming

Waste compaction and trimming is the middle step associated with

construction of a waste cell. A landfill compaction vehicle has two main

functions: to spread the waste evenly in layers over the landfill, and to

compact waste to reduce its volume and help stabilize the landfill. Proper

waste compacting includes the process of using a steel wheeled/drum

landfill compactor to shred, tear and press together various items in the

waste stream so they consume a minimal volume of landfill airspace. The

higher the compaction rate, the more trash the landfill can receive and

store. This will also reduce landslides, cave-ins and minimize the risk of

explosions of landfill gas. This task also involves the use of a blade to trim

off high areas and fill low areas at the surface of the compacted waste.
 Specially equipped dozers and compactors are best suited to this task

because they can achieve relatively high levels of compaction compared to

other pieces of equipment. The waste handling capacities and relative

compacted densities that can be achieved with certain types of landfill

equipment are listed in Tables 2.1 and 2.2, respectively.

Table 2.1. Waste Handling Capacities for Different Sizes and Types of
Landfill Equipment
MACHINE WEIGHT Practical Capacity*
MACHINE TYPE
(lbs) (tons/day)
Track Loader <20,000 Up to 20
Track Loader 25,000 Up to 50
Track Loader 33,000 Up to 130
Track Loader 45,000 Up to 175
Dozer 30,000 Up to 100
Dozer 40,000 Up to 125
Dozer 50,000 Up to 175
Dozer 80,000 Up to 250
Dozer 110,000 Up to 400
Compactor 32,000 Up to 100
Compactor 45,000 Up to 250
Compactor 70,000 Up to 400
Compactor 90,000 Up to 600
*Note that waste handling capacity will vary depending on waste type(s), speed of the machine,
push distance, wheel and track design, machine weight, lift thickness, operator skill and
numerous other factors.

Table 2.2. Relative Waste Compaction for Different Sizes/Types of

Equipment
MACHINE WEIGHT Practical Capacity*
MACHINE TYPE
(lbs) (tons/day)
Compactor 32,000 1,000 to 1,250
Compactor 245,000 1,000 to 1,250
Compactor 70,000 1,000 to 1,250
Compactor 90,000 1,000 to 1,400
Tracked Dozer/Loader 30,000 1,000 to 1,120
Tracked Dozer/Loader 40,000 1,000 to 1,150
Tracked Dozer/Loader 50,000 1,000 to 1,180
Tracked Dozer/Loader 80,000 1,000 to 1,220
Tracked Dozer/Loader 110,000 1,000 to 1,250
*Note that density will vary depending on slope, waste type(s), speed of the machine, number
of passes, wheel and track design, machine weight, lift thickness, operator skill and numerous
other factors.

3. Waste Covering

Waste covering is the final step of cell construction and can involve a

number of different equipment tasks including excavation, hauling, placement,

and compaction. For many landfills, the process of excavating and hauling

cover material to a stockpile near the active fill area or trench is performed on

a batch basis and only as demand dictates. The pieces of equipment

commonly used for excavating and hauling cover material include dozers,

hoes, loaders, scrapers and trucks. Once the cover material has been

stockpiled near the active area, it can typically be transported, placed and

compacted by the same equipment used for the two earlier steps of cell

construction. The daily cover stockpile should be located as close as practical

to the active disposal area to save time and reduce operating costs.

B. Filling Sequences

Landfills are used routinely for disposal of solid wastes on a patch of

identified land. Landfill land needs to be secured and engineered in such way so as

to minimize hazardous environmental impact. Few general types of landfilling

methods practiced for the disposal of solid wastes are shown. (Lokesh, M., 2013)

1. Excavated Cell or Trench Method (Below Ground Landfill)

 Trench method of landfilling involves excavation of a waste trench.

Collected waste is disposed inside excavated trench and is covered up with a

layer of soil as shown in Figure 1. This method is suitable only for small

quantity because larger trench needs to be excavated with proportionate

increase in the cost of disposable. (Lokesh, M., 2013)

Figure 2.1. Excavated Cell or Trench Method (Source: Worrell, W., 2002)

2. Area Method (Above Ground Landfill)

Area landfilling method involves depositing of waste in layers and forming

terraces over an identified landfilling area. It generates excessive leachate,

which is not only to difficult to control but will also pollute ground water table.

(Lokesh, M., 2013)

Figure 2.2. Area Method (Source: Worrell, W., 2002)

 3. Canyon/ Depression Method

Used where natural or artificial depressions exist and these are used for

land filling. Depends on the geometry of the site, hydrology and geology of

the site, and access to site. The normal practice is to place such that water does

not accumulate behind the landfill. (Dutta, D., 2016)

Figure 2.3. Canyon Method (Source: Worrell, W., 2002)

C. Daily Cover

At the end of each working day, daily cover for landfill, are used to cover

compacted solid waste in a sanitary landfill. The soil material obtained must be

suitable for plants, must not have excess sodium, salts, or lime and should not be

too acid. Additionally, after soil material has been removed, the soil material

remaining in the borrow area must be thick enough over bedrock, a cemented pan,

or the water table to permit revegetation. (United States Department of

Agriculture, 2016) Materials used as daily cover include soil, compost, incinerator

ash, foam, and tarps (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 2014). The key

objectives of placing daily cover are to:

1. Minimize windblown-litter

2. Control odours

3. Prevent birds from scavenging

4. Prevent unauthorized scavenging by humans

 5. Prevent infestation by flies and vermin

6. Reduce the risk of fire

7. Provide a pleasing appearance

8. Shed surface water and minimize contamination of runoff.

D. Monitoring

The monitoring program is an essential component of the management

plan for a landfill site. It provides operators with information to assess the effect

of the landfill on the surrounding environment and assists in ensuring that the

landfill is operated and controlled to the specified standards.

The objectives of a monitoring program are:

 to establish baseline environmental conditions;

 to detect adverse environmental impacts from the landfilling of

waste;

 to provide information for the assessment of an application for a

waste licence, review of a waste licence or surrender of a waste

licence;

 to demonstrate that the environmental control measures are

operating as designed;

 to assist in the evaluation of the processes occurring within the

waste body;

 to demonstrate compliance with the licence conditions;

 to provide data for emission inventories;

 to provide data to inform the public;

 to provide data for the improvement and updating of monitoring

programs;
  to assist in an investigation in the event of a trigger level or

emission limit value being breached.

There are three key phases of monitoring at a landfill and these are

summarized in Table 2.3.

Table 2.3. Key Phases of Monitoring At a Landfill (Source: Campbell, R., 2003)

Phase Type of monitoring Reason

Prior to landfill Baseline Site investigation, environmental impact
operation assessment, preparation of a waste
licence application.
During the operation Compliance/Assessment Comply with waste licence.
of the landfill
Aftercare and Compliance/Assessment Comply with waste licence, preparation
restoration of the of licence review application, surrender
landfill of licence.

1. Monitoring Requirements

a. Temperature Monitoring

Monitoring of landfill internal temperature is very useful for

establishing the risk of or extent of a fire as well as in monitoring to

confirm that the fire has been extinguished. In Table 2.4, the relation of

landfill conditions and temperature is presented.

Table 2.4. Relation between landfill conditions and temperature

Temperature Landfill Conditions

<55 oC Normal Landfill Temperature

55 – 60 oC Elevated Biological Activity

60 – 70 oC Abnormally Elevated Biological Activity

> 70 oC Likelihood of Landfill Fire

 b. Gas Composition Monitoring

Monitoring of gas composition provides very useful insight fire

conditions at depth and the success of firefighting measures. Parameters

that must be measured at various times include methane, oxygen, carbon

monoxide and hydrogen sulphide. Of those four gases, the carbon

monoxide is the most useful indicator of a subsurface fire. In Table 2.5

an empirical scale is presented that assists to the assessment of fire

conditions in demolition landfills.

Table 2.5. Relation between CO concentrations and fire at the landfill

CO Conc’n (ppm) Fire Indication

0-25 No Fire Indication

25-100 Possible Fire in Area

100-500 Potential Smouldering Nearby

500-1000 Fire or Exothermic Reaction Likely

>1000 Fire in Area

 References

1. Daily Cover for Landfill. 2016. United States Department of Agriculture.

2. Worrell, W. A., Vesilind, P. 2002. Solid Waste Engineering. 2nd Edition. Cengage Learning.

3. Holding Tank Sewage System. Northeast Tri County Health District. 2007

4. Dutta, D. 2016. Landfill-Basics. Slide Share.

5. Sanitary Landfill Methods. Environmental Engineering. 2018.

6. Lokesh M. 2013. Landfilling Methods for Urban Waste Disposal. Waste Management.

7. Campbell, R. 2013. Landfill Manuals. 2nd Edition. Office of Environmental Enforcement,

Environmental Protection Agency.

8. Guidance Note on Daily and Intermediate Cover at Landfills. Environmental Protection

Agency, Ireland.

9. Greedy, D. 2010. Landfill Operational Guidelines. 2nd Edition. ISWA Working Group for
Landfill.