LANDFILL MINING

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LANDFILL MINING

• CEGR 4143/5143
• Fall 2003

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Landfill Mining Process

• Excavation
• Use excavator and front end loader to remove
  material.
• Stockpile in manageable piles
• Soil Separation (Screening)
• Trommel or vibrating screens used to separate
  soil from solid waste
• Size of screen depends on end use of the
  recovered material
• Processing
• Daily cover
• MRF
• MWC

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Landfill Mining
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Project Planning

• Conduct Site Characterization Study
• Geological features stability of surrounding
  area proximity of ground water estimate
  fractions of usable soil, recyclable material,
  combustible waste and hazardous waste.
• Assess potential economic benefits
• Increased disposal capacity
• Avoid landfill closure, post-closure care and
  monitoring, purchase of additional capacity,
  liability for remediation of surrounding areas.
• Revenues recyclable and reusable materials,
  combustible waste sold as fuel, reclaimed soil
  used as cover soil or construction fill material

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Project Planning Contd

• Investigate regulatory requirements
• Not restricted under current federal regulations
• Some states have enacted general provisions
  concerning the beneficial use of recovered
  materials
• Availability of grant money
• Develop a preliminary worker health and safety
  plan
• Account for safety risks the project will pose on
  workers
• Prior to starting operation, must train workers
  on safety and emergency response procedures

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Project Planning Contd

• Assess Project Costs
• Capital Costs
• Site preparation, purchase or rental of safety
  and reclamation equipment, construction or
  expansion of MRF
• Operational Costs
• Labor, equipment fuel and maintenance,
  landfilling non-reclaimed waste or
  non-combustible fly and bottom ash,
  administrative and regulatory compliance
  expenses, hauling costs

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Landfill Mining - Advantages

• Extend Landfill Capacity
• Extends the life of the landfill by reducing
  waste volume through recovery, combustion, and
  compaction
• Generate Revenue
• Recyclable Fraction
• Soil Fraction
• Energy Production
• Mix combustible reclaimed waste with fresh waste
  and burn in a Municipal Waste Combustor (MWC) to
  produce energy

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Advantages Contd

• Reduce Landfill Closure Costs
• By reducing the landfill size, facility operator
  can lower the cost of closing the landfill or
  making landfill available for other uses.
• Retrofit Liners and Remove Hazardous Wastes
• Liners and leachate collection systems can be
  installed in older landfills
• If already installed, these systems can be
  inspected
• Opportunity to find and properly dispose of
  hazardous wastes

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Landfill Mining - Disadvantages

• Managing Hazardous Materials
• Safety issues
• Controlling Release of Landfill Gas and Odors
• Controlling Subsidence or Collapse
• Adjacent cell may sink or collapse into excavated
  area
• Increase wear on excavation and MWC Equipment

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The Sustainable Landfill Process
Cell Filling
Aerobic Treatment
Landfill Mining and Recycling
Reuse of Landfill Space
Repeat Process
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Sustainable Landfill