Landfill management involves a lot of compliance with regulatory agencies. For the sake of environmental protection as well as keeping areas safe and liveable, daily landfill operations need Alternative Daily Covers (ADCs).

Business operations and entire supply chains depend on municipal solid waste landfills for their bottom line. On top of that, laws and regulations place additional pressure on landfill operators for process improvements. Improving operational efficiency often involves using ADCs.

At Debrovy's, we specialize in manufacturing high-quality ADCs. These help waste-management professionals meet regulatory requirements all while maximizing landfill efficiency and extending site capacity. Continuous improvement of waste management while ensuring compliance are key benefits of ADCs.

Understanding Alternative Daily Covers

Federal regulations require landfills to use at least six inches of daily cover at the end of each day to control odors, prevent fires, reduce litter, and minimize scavenging by animals. 

Traditionally, this meant hauling and spreading thick layers of soil ("earthen material") across the active landfill face—a time-consuming and expensive process that consumed valuable airspace.

Alternative Daily Covers are a must at many landfills because these specialized geosynthetic tarps and covers meet regulatory and environmental standards. A good ADC also reduces the amount of soil erosion.

The appeal of these as an "alternative" to soil-based covers is improved efficiency and cost-effectiveness. ADCs deploy quickly, are readily removable, and are reusable.

The Limits of Traditional Soil Covers

Soil-based daily covers require excavating material from borrow areas within the landfill site or importing material from off-site locations. This process demands substantial labor, heavy equipment operation, and fuel consumption.

Soil-based covers also take up airspace, which determines a landfill's lifespan and revenue potential. Every six inches of soil takes up space that could otherwise be used for waste disposal. 

For landfill operators facing increasingly limited space and rising costs for site development, preserving airspace has become a top priority.

Additionally, soil covers can impede the movement of landfill gas and leachate. A buildup of gas and leachate can lead to complications like soil degradation and groundwater contamination. 

How Debrovy's ADCs Solve These Challenges

Debrovy's Alternative Daily Covers are engineered from high-quality geosynthetic materials. The reinforced polyethylene and polypropylene are designed to withstand harsh conditions in active landfill environments. 

• Airspace Preservation: Our geosynthetic covers can be deployed each evening and removed the following morning before operations resume. This reusable approach preserves the valuable capacity to cover material, extending the operational life of a landfill by years and maximizing return on investment.
• Superior Durability: We offer ADCs in multiple material thicknesses to match operational needs and environmental conditions. Options range from 12-mil material lasting two to two-and-a-half years, or five years in climates with less sun exposure. Our 24-mil covers provide eight to ten years of service, with even longer lifespans in cooler regions. 
• Customization Options: Our three webbing styles optimize strength and handling characteristics. Custom options include double webbing on outer edges for enhanced durability, cable pockets for secure attachment, extra heavy-duty cargo webbing, D-rings at the end of each strap for easy equipment connection, and cable-in or chain-in pockets on the sides or all four edges.
• Wide Range of Sizes: Our ADCs are available in numerous standard sizes ranging from 40' x 40' for smaller operations to massive 150' x 150' covers for large-scale landfill sites. We can manufacture custom sizes on request. 

Operational Efficiency and Cost Savings

ADCs' operational efficiencies translate directly to cost savings. Deploying geosynthetic covers less time and labor than spreading soil. Pulling covers into place with existing landfill equipment such as dozers, excavators, or specialized deployment vehicles, is a good alternative to the repetitive hauling and grading required for soil-based covers.

Reusable ADCs means less sourcing, transporting, and applying new cover material. That reduces fuel consumption, equipment wear, and labor hours, freeing up the team to focus on other operational priorities. Over the course of a year these efficiencies can amount to substantial savings in operational costs.

ADCs effectively control odors, prevent litter from escaping the landfill, keep organic matter covered, and minimize vector attraction. The covers are a physical barrier shielding waste from wind and precipitation, reducing odor emissions and preventing lightweight materials from getting swept up by the wind. 

This can all contribute to a positive relationship with neighboring communities and reduce complaints that lead to regulatory scrutiny. Keeping people safe and the air clean can go a long way with communities.

ADCs Are Not Final Covers

Do note that while ADCs serve as excellent daily covers, yet are distinct from intermediate or final covers used for closed landfill cells. 

Daily covers are temporary barriers applied and removed as part of routine operations, whereas intermediate and final covers are permanent installations designed for long-term containment and site closure.

Regulatory Compliance Is Simple with ADCs

Navigating the regulatory landscape of landfill operations can be complex, as requirements vary by state and locality. Managing organic material and complying with collection systems, whether working with organic waste (e.g., food products) or green waste, is something all landfill operators need to stay on top of.

Many jurisdictions recognize the benefits of ADCs and maintain pre-approved lists of acceptable alternative cover materials. That's part of why Debrovy's offers multiple ADC options to choose from, as we understand that your needs may depend a lot on your region.

Our team at Debrovy's can support customers through approval processes by providing documentation, technical specifications, and performance data to help secure regulatory approval for ADC implementation at your facility.

Looking for a good alternative daily cover for your landfill? Make the switch to Debrovy's ADCs for your landfill operations!