Leachate on the move

At a recent regional Swana conference the discussion of one session centered around reducing or fixing leachate seeps. This problem of leachate breaking out of the landfill at a location not in the design is not uncommon. In "The Solid Waste Handbook" William Robinson states that "The use of heavier textured soils as daily cover may interfere with the downward movement of leachate and has resulted in the appearance of leachate seeps on the side of a landfill."
The Swana conference presenter, a regional engineer for a publicly held waste company, stated one effective way of preventing these seeps is to use an Alternate Daily Cover product - thereby avoiding those heavier soil layers that can interfere with the flow of leachate through the landfill and reducing soil usage.
Todd Green, of American Environmental commented that Posi-Shell made a big difference for their landfill in eliminating leachate breakouts allowing leachate to make it's way to the liner and recirculate more quickly.
The importance of keeping leachate within the landfill is vital to public water and safety, taking the needed steps to protect our water makes the issue of daily cover more than just a decision of preference.