SWACO has constructed a new landfill cell, which will help to ensure there is landfill space available for Franklin County residents and businesses well into the future. The new cell was finished in December 2018 at a cost of $9.7 million.
Today’s landfills are engineering marvels, designed in cells to keep the waste materials separated from the surrounding area. Construction takes careful planning, and this was certainly the case with the newest cell. It was constructed using environmentally safe practices. The project consisted of cell construction and separatory liner construction. The separatory liner was installed to separate the new cell from older portions of the landfill.
In the fall of 2017, SWACO enlisted R.B. Jergens Contractors to construct the first phase of the landfill cell, which spans 18.6 acres. The process involved many steps, including:
- excavation of over-burdened soils
- placement of structural fill to construct perimeter berms
- placement of an underdrain system
- installation of a 3-foot thick re-compacted soil liner layer
- installation of a 60-millimeter high density polyethylene textured geomembrane
- installation of a 16-ounce non-woven geotextile cushion layer
- placement of the leachate collection system
- installation of future gas collection lines
The Ohio Environmental Protection Agency reviewed and approved the project on December 7.
Many parties have helped make this project a success for SWACO and Franklin County residents, including Weaver Consultants, Bair Goodie and Associates and AECOM. Additionally, this project would not be possible without a team effort among SWACO, the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency and the engineers and contractors involved in the project.
Together, we are working hard to make Franklin County a safe and healthy community for all.