the : the of disposal sites

The best solid management solu- also be recycled (technology is now being tion is a combination of methods - you developed to clean plastics and to recycle hear that so much these days it’s almost mixed plastics). This portion can also be by Tom Watson a cliche - but there really aren’t that many used as fuel for a mass burn incinerator, Resource Recycling alternatives to choose from. Waste reduc- or can be returned to the landfill. One ad- tion, recycling, composting, and vantage of landfill mining is that even if are the five basic options. some items have to go back into the land- Solid waste managers would certainly fill, they can now be placed in a newer love to have a few more weapons in their landfill cell equipped with a plastic liner to arsenal. Probably the most common fan- collect . tasy is that some new high technology The biggest question mark for landfill (but low cost) solution will come along. mining is whether hazardous will Maybe if we zapped the garbage with be a problem. Landfills often contain toxic laser beams . . . chemicals, as well as demolition debris But in the meantime, a simple, low laced with asbestos. In the landfill mining technology alternative has begun to cap- pilot project at Naples, Florida, no prob- ture worldwide attention. Give the credit lems with such wastes have been re- to a Florida solid waste official who, in- ported. However, this may be partly be- stead of accepting the consensus that cause there is little heavy industty in the “the landfill is dead,” went back to the Naples area. Also, landfill personnel have landfill for inspiration. tried to record the exact locations where debris containing asbestos has been A combination of elements placed. Current speculation is that mining The concept is called landfill mining. It’s might not be feasible in landfills serving actually a hybrid of landfilling, recycling larger, industrial cities. and composting, and also has possible tie-ins with incineration. The general idea Florida county tests concept is that you dig up portions of an old landfill Robert E. Fahey, solid waste director for and run’the material through equipment Collier County, Florida, designed his first similar to that which sorts different sizes landfill nearly 30 years ago. Today, he’s of rocks in a quarry. The machinery sepa- blazing new ground with landfill mining, rates the material into four piles: large drawing on both his extensive solid waste items, such as tires and re- background and experience workíng ín a frigerators; ferrous metal; an earthen frac- strip coal mine. tion, which includes the landfili’s cover In 1985, Collier County officials decided dirt, waste that has composted over the mass burn incineration was the solid years and small pieces of glass material; waste solution for them. They soon signed and the remaining residue, mostly plas- a contract for an 850-ton-per-day facility, tics, rubber and wood waste. and bonds for the project were sold. Al- As an old landfill cell is mined, the though the capacity was larger than would earthen fraction can be used as cover ma- be needed right away, the plan was to terial for a new landfill cell, possibly result- build it big enough for the future of fast- ing in a substantial savings on the pur- growing Collier County. In the meantime, chase of fil1 di-t. The ferrous metal can be waste would have to be brought in from sold. Oversize items can be sold, given elsewhere or something else would have away or placed in a new landfill cell. Por- to be burned. Fahey then carne up with tions of the remaining residue fraction, the idea of pulling waste out of the with its large percentage of plastics, might county’s Naples Landfill and burning it.

20 Resource Recycling September/October 1988 The Powerscreen separation and screen- ing plant in operation, with a front-end loader in the background. The fraction that contains plastic is being piled up. The fraction that can be used as landfilí cover or possibly in so¡¡ mixes.

Tests run in 1986 showed that the tested in the landfill before Fahey chose resurrected garbage had a high Btu value a separation and screening plant made and would work well as fuel. But in early by Powerscreen International, an Ireland- 1987, county off icials killed plans for the base.d manufacturer of portable equip- waste-to-energy plant, after cost esti- ment for the mining industry. Deis Grant, mates were revised. president of Powerscreen of Florida, Inc., This didn’t deter Fahey, however. By has worked with Collier County personnel then he was convinced that landfill mining to modify the equipment to make it suita- would work. Using part of a $20,000 state ble for landfill mining. grant that had been awarded when the They started out with a standard plant main focus was still landfill mining for used for separating aggregate or topsoil. burner fuel, and obtaining some county It includes a hopper, conveyor belt and funding as well, Fahey and his staff re- vibrating screen. In the first trials, after fined the concept. only a few changes, it produced 20 cubic “There are no rules for this process,” yards per hour of relatively clean fil1 mate- says Fahey. “This is an experiment.” rial that could be used for landfill cover. Fahey’s approach is a curious blend of Now, after months of what Grant de- seat-of-the-pants innovation and gov- scribes as “engineering, and trial and ernmental consetvatism. Without any error,” the equipment cranks out 120 precedents to follow, he’s thinking things cubic yards of fil1 material per hour. On up as he goes along, but he carefully ties the intake, it processes four tons of landfill it all together with lab tests and field trials garbage a minute. Modifications to the and contigency plans. system include a self-cleaning grid that Equipment from three companies was Continued on page 58.

tiesoorce necycung September/October 1988 dom tests for asbestos shall be run twice dumped. With rain kept out by the dome, each month; and all mining operators and moisture content could be precisely ad- supervisors must pass a course in asbes- justed, allowing control of the volume of Landfill mining tos removal. methane gas produced and the rate of (continued from page 21) The permit also states that precautions degradation of the waste. The BCMR con- controls the feeding of the trash into the must be taken to ensure landfill cells are cept also includes stronger regulations on hopper, a magnetic drum to pull out fer- free from potentially dangerous gas levels hazardous wastes and an extensive col- rous metals, and a lCfoot-long step before mining begins. lection program for household hazardous screen that allows material to tumble so Under the permit, any material passing wastes, to help keep those items out of the fraction containing plastics can be through a 3-inch screen can be used for the landfill. separated more easily. landfill cover (a 2%inch screen is “We believe this method (BCMR) can While severa1 workers were needed to presently used). Other possible uses for process waste, as opposed to filling up a run the equipment at first, it now takes this material will be determined only after space and walking away from it,” says only two, notes Grant - one to run the further testing for hazardous substances, Fahey. front-end loader scooping landfilled waste according to the permit. Although this vision of a future landfill into the machine and another nearby to Landfill mining and related testing is has people talking, it’s the idea of mining make sure everything flows properly. continuing at the Naples Landfill, funded existing landfills that attracts the most in- Powerscreen has decided to market the in part by an additional $20,000 state terest right now. The City of Key West, modified plant developed in Florida, grant. A repott on this second phase of Florida, has also obtained a state grant calling it the Powerscreen Titan Solid the pilot project will be issued by the to mine its landfill, which is known locally Waste Master. county next spring. as “Mount Trashmore.” At an elevation of Fahey says Collier County is paying Fahey envisions an environmentally 83 feet, the landfill is the highest spot on $180,000 for the Powerscreen plant, sound landfill of the future, where waste the Island. under a lease-purchase agreement. This is buried and mined over and over again. Key West’s plan is to burn a portion of is to protect the county, he says, in case He calls this concept BCMR (bury, com- the mined garbage in its mass burn in- some unforeseen problem occurs that post, mine, reclaim). As paf-t of this new- cinerator, says Paul Cates, the city’s solid forces the project to end, or if it turns out age landfill, Fahey proposes that a plastic, waste director. Metals and possibly other that landfill mining is not cost effective. air-supported dome be erected over the materials would be recycled, he says. landfill cell in which fresh waste is being Economic and environmental‘issues On the bandwagon So far, the economics look fine. The Officials with The Conservancy, Inc., a county has been paying about $3.70 per For more not-for-profit environmental organization ton for fil1 dirt to cover the landfill, but can based in Naples, Florida, have become replace that with the earthen fraction believers in landfill mining. Edward E. mined from the landfill at a cost of roughly information Johanson, technical services director for $3 a ton. That material may also have Robert E. Fahey the Conservancy, has worked with Fahey profitable uses outside the landfill, Collier County Solid Waste in the development of BCMR (although perhaps in soil mixes, Fahey believes. A Director Johanson notes he is not yet convinced market exists for ferrous metals mined 3301 East Tamiami Trail of the feasibility of the dome). from the landfill, he says, and he hopes Naples, FL 33962 Oriented towards research and educa- other materials can eventually be recy- (813) 774-8418 tion, the Conservancy recently began of- cled. Further research must be done be- fering its services as a paid consultant on fore it is determined which materials will Edward E. Johanson landfill mining. “We’ll do the upfront evalu- be clean enough to be recycled, he adds. Technical Services Director ation work” to determine if it would be The Florida Department of Environ- Th7, Conservancy, lnc. safe and economical to mine a particular mental Regulation addressed contamina- 1450 Merrihue Dr. landfill, says Johanson. Theywill also help tion and safety issues to some extent Naples, FL 33942 with the permitting process. when granting the permit allowing Collier (813) 262-0304 In addition, the Conservancy markets County to mine the landfill. Permit condi- a computer program that lists five options tions dealing with asbestos are quite spe- Roger C. Bogsted for dealing with solid waste - recycling, cific. For instance, if it is even suspected Director of Marketing composting, landfills, incineration and that material being mined contains asbes- and Public Affairs landfill mining. This computer program al- tos, mining must shut down immediately Landfill Mining Inc. lows a municipality to determine the life and the department must be notified; ran- 600 S. Broadway span of its landfill, the costs of the various Hicksville, NY 11801 options and the ways in which the options (516) 932-0200 might be combined. Johanson says the Conservancy’s po- IF . . . Denis Grant sition is that everything possible, including President plastics, should be recycled rather than your address has changed, please Powerscreen of Florida, Inc. placed in a landfill. The Conservancy, notify us. Write or cal1 Resource Re- P.O. Box 5802 which opposed the mass burn plant orig- cycfing, PO Box 10540,Portland, OR Lakeland, FL 33807 inally planned for Naples, is against the 97210,(503) 227-1319. (813) 687-7153 idea of using mined garbage as fuel in an incinerator, he adds.

58 Resource Recycling SeptemberIOctober 1988 klso active in marketing this latest solid But he adds that the company does not to five years, thus providing breathing waste alternative is Landfill Mining Inc., intend to mine sites where hazardous ma- room for the long-range decision process. of Hicksville, New York. The firm is a sub- terials are believed to be buried. Thompson and other Northeastern sidiary of Britton, Dunhill and Lloyd, Inc., The most costly aspect of landfill mining Connecticut communities want to move an investment mortgage banking com- would be testing and preparation, says towards regional solutions to such prob- pany in Hicksville. Britton, Dunhill and Bogsted. “The actual operation itself lems as solid waste, Williams notes, and Lloyd does business in Florida, and com- wouldn’t be that expensive.” those extrafew years might allow for that. pany executives heard about Fahey’s Williams, who has led the push to project there. After meeting with him they Connecticut town interested explore landfill mining, says he first heard offered to market his invention. They sub- Although landfill mining has its limitations, about the method when a Thompson resi- sequently formed Landfill Mining Inc. and it could be a real boost for the town of dent who had vacationed in Florida hired Fahey as a consultant. Thompson, Connecticut, according to brought him a newspaper clipping about The firm would work with various spe- Donald E. Williams Jr., the town’s first the Collier County project. If test results cialists in providing complete landfill min- selectman (chairman of the town board). indicate there should be no problems with ing services for a municipality. The com- Town leaders are talking with Landfill Min- contamination of materials mined from the pany also markets the BCMR concept, ing Inc. officials about using the process, landfill, Thompson will most likely go and currently has prospects for this in and preliminary testing has been done at ahead with the project, says Williams. Pittsburgh and Tokyo, says Roger C. Bog- the community’s landfill. Throughout the country, municipalities sted, director of marketing and public af- The landfill in Thompson, a rural com- will await the results of the pioneer landfill fairs. munity of about 8,500 persons, is ex- mining projects. If hazardous wastes do Landfill Mining Inc. representatives will pected to run out of space by May 1989. not appear to be an insurmountable ob- soon meet with officials of the U.S. En- Recycling has already been stepped up, stacle, landfill mining will surely receive vironmental Protection Agency, Bogsted but other solutions are also needed. serious consideration from solid waste says, in an attempt to have some federal Trucking waste and disposing of it at managers. One thing in its favor is that guidelines set regarding landfill mining. another landfill or an incinerator, could be many people have the same basic re- Ideally, financia1 assistance through very costly, but Thompson officials must sponse towards landfill mining as they do Superfund legislation would be made make a decision soon. Williams says the towards recycling: it makes sense. But available if hazardous substances were goal of landfill mining in Thompson would then comes the real question: does it also unearthed during landfill minin$ he says. be to extend the life of the landfill by three make dollars? RR

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59 Resource Recychg SepfembeUOctober 1988 agement conference sponsored by the bibliography costs $49.50 and is listed DocumentsAvailable B Legal Environmental Assistance Foun- as PB88-861430lWEP. Comprehensive Curbside Recycling: dation. A copy can be ordered as PB88- n Evaluation of and Co- Collection Costs and How to Calculate 185830/WEP for $25.95. Compost for Highway Construction Them is a 30-page guidebook prepared n Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) summarizes the research results of a by the Glass Packaging Institute. The Scrap Recycling is a 1 OO-page listing State of California project. The 97-page manual presents comparative data from of 209 reports, articles and studies on document is yours for $14.95 as PB88- 19 typical curbside recycling programs in PET recovery. It is listed as PB88- 178843lWEP. 10 states. Included are severa1 work- 863584iWEP and costs $49.50. n Metals Recovery From Wastes, De- sheets for use by prospective program of- ti of Polymers, Janu- cember 1485-May 1988 contains 377 ficials, and a glossary of economic terms. ary 1473-May 1488 is a 15-year, 257- citations in its 19 pages. The bibli- To receive a free copy, contact Chaz Mil- citation, 140-page bibliography. It also ography costs $49.50 and is listed as ler, Glass Packaging Institute, 1801 K costs $49.50 and can be ordered as PB88-865241iWEP. Street N.W., Suite ll 05-L, Washington, PB88-863360iWEP. To order any of these reports, write to D.C. 20006; (202) 887-4850. n Organic Solvent Recovery and Rec- NTIS, 5285 Port Roya1 Road, Springfield, lamation, June 1970-April 1988 pro- VA 22161. For each total order, include The National Technical Information vides 216 bibliographic citations in its $3.00 for postage and handling. Service is selling severa1 recycling docu- 91 pages. The order number is PB88- ments. 863238NVEP and the bibliography Plastics Recycling Action Plan for n There is No Away: An Interdis- costs $49.50. Massachusetts is a guide to post-con- ciplinary Conference on Waste Re- n Solid Waste Reclamation and Re- sumer plastics recycling. Written by duction, and Disposal Alter- cycling: Plastics presents 176 cita- Gretchen Brewer in collaboration with Re- natives is the 225-page proceedings tions for studies and articles published cuperbec, Inc., it is available for $7.65 from a Florida man- over the last 18 years. The 93-page from the Massachusetts State Bookstore, Room 116, State House, Boston, MA 02133. Buyers from outside the U.S. should contact (617) 727-2834 for a price quote.

Wrapped in Plastics is a comprehensive report on the environmental impact of plastics packaging. Topics include the European Experts Discuss Maximum Waste Diversion growth in the plastics packaging industry; l pollution from plastics production; the ef- Mixed Plastics Recycling Success Stories fect of plastics packaging on and l solid waste; and proposed solutions, in- Unwrapping the Packaging Problem cluding legislation, use of degradable l Meeting the Challenge of Multi-Material plastics and source reduction programs. Apartment RecyclIng Written by the Solid Waste Alternatives l Project of the Environmental Action Foun- Jurisdictional Issues: Sorting out Who Does What dation (EAF), it is available for $10 to in- dividuals and nonprofit environmental groups; $20 to government and educa- tional institutions; and $30 to industry. To Over 40 Register Now! order, contact EAF, 1525 New Hampshire Exhibit Booths Space is Limited Avenue N.W., Washington, DC 20036; (202) 745-4870.

Northeastern Recyclers Resources Di- rectory will be published this year by J.M. RCOCONFERENCE Publications, an independent research CHATEAU LAURIER HOTEL company. It will identify Northeastern re- October 24 - 26, 1988 cycling markets and provide pertinent re- For more informatton cd (416) 960-0936 cycling information. For more information, or toll-lire 1 -SOO-263-2S49 CC wrlte Recycltng CamcU of Ontalo. P.O. Box 310. Statlon P. Toronto. Ont. MSS 2S-S write or call J.M. Publications, P.O. Box 186, Bethel, CT 06801; (203) 798-9574.

Ffesource Recycling September/October 1988