Westport Transfer Station (CA)

After all the cells in a landfill are used and are full, then we start the process of reclaiming. The idea is that the space on top of the landfill can be used for other purposes. Whatever is the type of landfill, the space on top of it is covered by layers of dirt, to recreate reusable soil. The space is compacted, and it is made sure to be leakproof so that there is no spillage onto the environment.

There are specific laws that regulate the use of landfills after being full and there are specific measures to be taken and to assure compliance. For chemical and garbage that is hazardous, there is a synthetic material that covers it. There is an intricate drainage system. For general garbage, there is a liner system at the bottom area of the cells. The top is covered by topsoil, clay, and synthetic materials.

After this has been done, the space on top of the landfill can support various uses. It can be used to create parks, As of right now, there are more than 1000 parks in the USA that originated from landfill places. The area on top can be used to generate electricity and attach solar panels. This idea is a bit dangerous as the ground below can shift during the years. The area on top of a landfill can even support wildlife habitats, as the layers of clay and dirt that cover the landfill can support and grow trees.

There is a lot of waste generated in the USA. In 2018, there were 292 million tons of waste generated. Averagely that is 4.9 Lb. of waste per person. The waste from municipalities is recycled the most. The data says that in 2018, there was a recycling rate of 32%. Some of the waste is reprocessed not other means such as bio-chemical management.The largest categories of waste pertain to paper, food plastics, yard trims, and metals. Food, plastics, and paper make are the main resources for energy production from waste.

Each landfill has a different cost to use its services. The price depends on many factors, such as type of waste ( hazardous, construction and demolition waste, municipal solid waste, and inert waste ), location of the landfill, and the individual charges of the landfill. According to statistics, the USA average price per ton is $53.72. The costs tend to be higher in the Pacific area, where they reach an average of $72.02 per ton of waste. The prices are averagely the cheapest in South Central, where they reach $39.66 per ton. From statistics, we see that the highest populated areas, the Pacific and the northeast are the costliest, while the other areas of the USA tend to have cheaper prices per ton.

The first step onto the waste stations is to weigh the incoming garbage trucks. These sites are also open to the public and they help the community. The work of waste sorting stations is very important, and it helps to optimize the process of waste management. Transfer stations pre-compact the waste thus it is easier for the bulldozers to manage the waste at the sanitary landfills.

Chemical landfills are a variation of sanitary landfills. Chemical landfills are made to secure and hazardous waste. This type of landfill is made on top of a nonporous bedrock. The idea is to create a place that is specialized to reduce the likelihood of hazardous waste reaching the environment. This type of landfill has a pit with a heavily protected bottom that does not allow hazardous materials to reach the soil. These landfills are operated by specialized personnel, and they have strong monitoring systems. To deposit materials in a chemical landfill, it is mandatory to research the local applicable laws and any federal laws that pertain to the type of waste that you intend to dispose of.