Landfills are a key component of modern waste management, as a landfill is the final destination for tons of municipal and industrial refuse.
Professionals in the waste industry know that the performance, safety, and environmental impact of a landfill rely on the landfill cover system, a critical element.
Debrovy’s supplies high-quality landfill covers that meet regulatory requirements at a price within waste-management companies' budgets.
What Is a Landfill Cover and Why Does It Matter?
Placing a landfill cover over waste helps isolate refuse from the environment. A cover can be a temporary solution applied during active landfill operations, or it can truly cap off a project by sealing a landfill once it reaches capacity.
So, what do landfill covers do, specifically? Well, these play multiple critical roles:
- Control odors and prevent vectors such as insects, rodents, and birds from accessing waste.
- Reduction of windblown litter: A secure cover keeps trash from leaving the landfill boundary.
- Limitations of infiltration of rainfall and melted snow while also reducing leachate generation.
- Erosion control: Covers can stabilize the landfill surface to reduce soil loss and protect slopes from washouts.
- Regulatory compliance: Federal, state, and local regulations are in place to ensure that issues like chemical contaminants in a landfill are managed by solutions like landfill covers.
Types of Landfill Covers
At Debrovy's, customers can order customizable landfill covers across a range of different sizes, weights, colors, materials (polypropylene or polyethylene), and treatment (e.g., flame-retardant polyethylene).
We offer the following three styles:
- Style A: Webbing is sewn vertically and horizontally across the hem and seams.
- Style B: Webbing is sewn across all seams and hem only.
- Style C: Webbing is sewn vertically across seams and hem, along with additional horizontal webbing six feet from the hem.
What to Consider When Choosing a Landfill Cover
- Climate Conditions: Rainfall, wind, and temperature extremes affect erosion, moisture infiltration, and covers durability of covers.
- Site Geometry and Settlement Behavior: Landfill surfaces can settle as waste decomposes, so covers must be able to withstand this without tearing or exposing waste.
- Regulatory Requirements: Local and federal guidelines dictate material choices, slope stability, infiltration rates, and vegetation requirements.
- Operational Costs: Daily covers minimize airspace loss and reduce labor, which can cut costs over the lifespan of a landfill.
- Material Performance: Tensile strength, puncture resistance, UV stability, and flexibility determine its longevity and effectiveness.
Debrovy’s Landfill Covers: Engineered for Performance and Compliance
As a trusted partner in landfill operations, Debrovy supplies a full range of landfill cover solutions. Our heavy-duty UV-resistant tarps can withstand repeated use.
Thickness can influence lifespan. On average, our 12-mil landfill covers could last from two to two-and-a-half years, perhaps up to five if the cover is in an environment with less intense sun exposure.
14-mil covers can get four years (or up to seven years in cooler climates), 20-mil covers an average of six years (in cooler climates, that could be up to 10 years), 24-mil covers could last between eight to ten years (or even fifteen years in cooler climates).
Sizes range from 40' by 40' to 150' by 150', although we can manufacture custom sizes on request.
Other customization options include adding double webbing on the outer edge for added strength and adding cable pockets to the edges for more secure attachment.
We can also add D-rings at the end of each strap and add cable-in or chain-in pockets on the sides or all four edges.
Lastly, the option of extra heavy-duty cargo webbing can be ideal for tougher environments.
What sets Debrovy’s apart is our commitment to performance, durability, and compliance. We know that every day your landfill operates, you’re balancing safety, regulations, and profitability. Our landfill covers are engineered to meet stringent standards, and our experts are ready to help you select the optimal solution for your specific challenges.
Tips for Landfill Cover Management
- Routine Inspection: Regularly check for tears, displacement, or degradation, especially after extreme weather events.
- Maintenance and Repairs: Patch holes, redistribute soil to avoid exposure, and check for any tearing. Inspect the landfill cover upfront to see if any defects could warrant a return or replacement.
- Monitor Settlement: Adjust grading and repair slopes as the landfill settles, as doing so can prevent ponding, which can lead to infiltration and cover failure.
- Proper Anchoring: Secure covers at the edges and along slopes by using anchors or weighted systems to mitigate any wind uplift.
Environmental Regulations for Landfills
Landfill operators must deal with regulators' laws and public opinion. The EPA sets guidelines on landfill operations to protect air, water, and soil resources.
For landfill owners and operators, advanced covers help landfills meet regulations while reducing overall environmental footprint, as well as controlling odors and contaminants that can lead to community complaints.