Making a Mini-Landfill

1. Making a Mini-Landfill Kenya Smith December 5, 2008 C - Hour

2. Table of Contents • Introduction • Purpose of Project pg. 3 • Definition of Landfill pg. 4 • Research on Michigan Landfills • Map of Landfill Locations pg. 5 • Method of Leachate Collection/Treatment pg. 6 • Contamination Problems and Control pg. 7 • Geological Features Surrounding the Landfill pg. 8 • Uses of Methane Produced pg. 9 • Mini-Landfill • Data Table pg. 10 • Summary of Observations and Picture pg. 11 • Analysis/Conclusions pg. 12-13 • Purpose Revisited pg. 14 • Bibliographypg. 15

3. Introduction: Purpose of Project • To simulate what happens to trash/ debris that end up as solid waste • To learn about the operation of a landfills

4. Introduction: Definition of Landfill A landfill is a site used for solid waste disposal in which refuse is buried between layers of dirt so as to fill in or reclaim low-lying ground.

5. Research of Michigan Landfills:Map of MI Landfill Locations

6. Research: Method of Leachate Collection/ Treatment • Michigan landfills, like that of Richfield Landfill. Inc, are required to have a system that keeps leachate from entering the soil and underground structures (e.g. aquifers). • An impermeable barrier below the waste disposal site amongst geological fractures. A gel solution is entered into the fractures about the barrier. • The leachate joins with the gel and situates on the impermeable barrier becoming part of the subterranean formation.

7. Research: Contamination Problems and Controls • Soil contamination can result from leaching of wastes into the soil from landfills. • Contaminants can cause health risks from direct contact with the soil or contaminated groundwater. • Cleanup can consist of using microorganisms that “eat” toxins or by digging up the contaminated soil. • Air stripping is a technique that can be used to purify contaminated groundwater or wastewater. It forces air into a tower-like system at high pressure as contaminated water enters from the top. The water then passes through areas of plastic packing which pick up the contaminants.

8. Research: Geological Features Surrounding Landfill • Richfield Landfill in Genesee County is located above a water table that resulted from glacial movement over the region. • The water table has a depth between 600 and 800 feet. • No other prominent geological features like hills, steep slopes, etc.

9. Research: Uses of Methane Produced • Methane gas is collected by drilling "wells" into the landfills, and collecting the gases through pipes. • Once the landfill gas is processed, it can be combined with natural gas to add to the natural gas supply or can be burned in an internal combustion engine or a generator to create electricity.

10. Mini-Landfill: Data Table

11. Mini-Landfill: Summary of Observations and Picture • In the mini-landfill, waste (i.e. paper) was not visibly broken down by any biological processes. Aside from moistening, it remained in relatively the same state. • The toxic waste (i.e. the plants) grew if it could penetrate the other levels of waste and by the final week, began to turn brown.

12. Mini-Landfill: Analysis/Conclusions • What happens at a landfill? In a landfill, solid waste materials are dumped in cells, lined to prevent contamination of leachate. As some the garbage breaks down over time, gas is released (esp. methane), but much of the waste isn’t biodegradable and waste continues to fill the landfill cells until it reaches capacity. The volume of the waste is constantly compacted to take up less space and covered with layers of soil. • What happens to the trash when it’s buried? When trash is buried, non-biodegradable waste simply takes up space, while degradable, organic waste breaks down and releases methane gas which is highly flammable. Once wet, a leachate forms a can contain hazardous toxins from waste that adversely affect surroundings. 3. What changes did you observe in your landfill over the 2 months? There were no major changes aside from the growth of the “toxic waste”/ plant. Two months was not an adequate amount of time for the paper waste to break down through biological processes.

13. Mini-Landfill: Analysis/Conclusions 4. How is this like an actual landfill? Like an actual landfill, not much benefit comes from this form of waste management, at least not as not enough to cancel out its negatives. The only thing that really prospered in the landfill was the toxic waste, while the biodegradable waste takes a very long period to break down. Ultimately, waste placed in landfills that have the ability to be recycled or reused are wasted and aren’t nearly as beneficial as these green options. 5. What changes will you make in your household as a result of this experiment? Seeing just how tedious the process of paper breaking down in a landfill is, I truly understand how recycling is a much more beneficial option to the environment and more effective. I will reduce usage of non-biodegradable goods if they don’t have a long life span. I will be more proactive about buying “green” items with recyclable packaging.

14. Mini-Landfill: Purpose Revisited • The purpose of the mini-landfill project was fulfilled, since I was able to simulate what happens to trash that ends up in actual landfills. • Also, the operation of landfill was also learned from this project. • Ultimately, something greater comes from this project though, and it is insight to just how much we need to invest in “green” methods because landfills less than environmentally sound and the earth merits better treatment.

15. Bibliography • http://www.deq.state.mi.us/documents/deq-whm-stsw-mapoflandfillsinLP.pdf • http://www.freepatentsonline.com/4790688.html • http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soil_contamination • http://www.ncgreenpower.org/types/landfill_methane.html • http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Landfill • http://mi.water.usgs.gov/pubs/WRIR/WRIR98-4039/images/fig5.jpg • http://www.deq.state.mi.us/aps/downloads/ROP/pub_ntce/N7762/N7762%20Staff%20Report%207-16-08.doc • http://www.thedavisonindex.com/moxie/news/deq-gives-ok-for-landfill.shtml