Operations and Closure

Operations
Once the landfill is constructed, BLE continues to provide services to ensure that the facility remains stable and compliant. We commonly provide consultation of waste placement for stability including “sliver” fills, evaluation of interim waste slope stability and evaluation of special wastes on landfill stability. Proper construction of perimeter sliver waste fills helps to capture airspace after settlement causes flattening of the waste slopes.

BLE provides analysis and construction recommendations for haul roads across the waste mound. We can also provide slope monitoring and stabilization recommendations if needed.

In addition, our team will oversee the removal of stormwater berms (rainflaps) to confirm the integrity of the geomembrane liner and we can also provide soil management evaluation and recommendations for “best-use” of available on-site soils. Soils suitable for low permeability compact liners or free draining soils for drainage layers can be identified and quantified during a borrow study.

Other services we provide include:

  • Consultation for mitigation of leachate seeps
  • Exploration, testing and consultation for borrow soil management
  • CQA of gas systems installations
  • CQA of partial and final closure cap installations
  • Electrical Leak Location (ELL) testing
  • Engineering evaluation of alternate closure cap designs
  • Hydrologic evaluations of contaminate releases and corrective action plans
  • Roadway pavement section design and construction testing
  • Groundwater quality statistical analysis
  • Stormwater monitoring and sampling for compliance and reporting
  • Onsite blasting and crushing of rock for landfill use or cell construction
  • Geotechnical consultation for landfill infrastructure including transfer stations, walls and roads, tanks, storm water dams and outlet structures

Environmental Data Validation and Remediation
Landfills are designed to minimize contamination leakage through liner systems, leachate collection, and caps; however, contamination impacts do occur to the underlying soils, groundwater or surface waters.

BLE is experienced and understands the unique challenges and issues involved to remediate landfills.

  • Technical – large area source; inaccessible point source; multi direction groundwater flow;
  • Hazardous – landfill gas (methane) migration off site; impacts to sensitive aquatic ecology
  • Environmental – impacts to air, groundwater, surface water
  • Landfill structural stability – geotechnical and construction issues
  • Cultural/Societal – NIMBY syndrome; public meeting presentations
  • Legal – private-public property owners; off-site land owners impacted

An Assessment of Corrective Measures lays out technologies and/or processes to mitigate environmental contamination. Remedial action objectives typically focus on groundwater impacts, landfill gas (LFG), and leachate releases to stormwater and waters of the State. However, from a practicable standpoint, remedial actions must be reasonably achievable, implementable, constructible and effective, and may require a multidisciplinary team with cross-functional solutions.

Remedial alternatives can present various technical challenges, ranging from:

  • Leachate breakouts
  • Capping to reduce leachate generation
  • Collection and treatment of surface water
  • Gas remediation plans
  • Slope stabilization of the landfill
  • Pump-and-treat of groundwater leachate plumes
  • Monitored natural attenuation
  • Phytoremediation
  • Bioremediation
  • Brownfield redevelopment
  • Acquisition of adjacent buffer property
  • Landfill reclamation
  • Excavation to recover recyclable material
  • Waste relocation

Closure
BLE’s team of engineers, geologists and technicians provide the following closure services:

  • Pre-closure CQA of gas systems
  • Mitigation of leachate seeps
  • Evaluation of alternate closure caps designs
  • Electrical Leak Location (ELL) testing
  • CQA closure construction
  • Post closure groundwater and site monitoring
  • Assessment of corrective measures
  • Corrective action planning
  • Many aspects of post-closure care