Mitigating Odors at the Livestock Road Regional Landfill

The Region 2000 Services Authority is looking at a variety of actions to reduce and mitigate odors at the Livestock Road Regional Landfill.

Other Related Reports and Updates: 

New: Region 2000 Services Authority Odor Mitigation Update (revised 8/10/2017)

Region 2000 Regional Landfill Livestock Road Facility Odor Investigation Report

Odor Testing

Starting in May 2015 ambient air quality testing was performed at several locations in and around the Livestock Road Regional Landfill including the landfill working face, at points around the landfill perimeter and at numerous locations in the surrounding neighborhoods.  These tests revealed relatively low concentrations of methane (CH4), which is odor free, and hydrogen sulfide (H2S) which is malodorous even at very low levels of concentration.  As expected, methane was detected in and around the leachate collection system cleanouts.  With this information, landfill gas pumping tests were performed at the lechate cleanouts to determine the potential gas collection volume and methane levels.  A pilot scale landfill gas collection system was proposed once these additional tests were concluded.

Pilot Scale Gas Collection System at Leachate Cleanout Points

(Click on map for larger image.)

Gas collection piping was installed at the leachate collection pipe cleanouts (indicated by the dark blue lines on the adjacent aerial map) to collect landfill gas which began operation on June 15, 2015.  During this pilot program, which is currently operational 24/7, approximately 150 cubic feet per minute of landfill gas is being withdrawn from 8 leachate cleanouts around the perimeter of the active landfill (Phase III).  The collected gas is then filtered through a carbon filled canister and then burned off through a flare system.  After its installation, monitoring tests are showing a decrease in methane gas emissions and odors around the perimeter of the active landfill.

In January 2016 a larger flare system was installed.  This new system has increased the pilot scale collection system to 350 cubic feet per minute with 28 inches of vacuum, increasing the landfill gas treatment capability.

Gas Extraction System

In January 2016, the Region 2000 Services Authority will consider an unsolicited proposal to install a comprehensive, permanent gas collection system which has been received from SCS Engineering.

The proposed landfill gas collection system will include vertical landfill gas extraction wells, leachate cleanout connections, buried landfill gas collection piping, isolation valves, condensate management features, and a blower/flare station. 

It should be noted that the Livestock Road Regional Landfill is not large enough to be required by any State or Federal agency to install such a gas collection system. 

Odor Neutralizing Misting System

A misting system, which combines water with a botanical odor control neutralizer, was installed along approximately 900 feet of the western and southern boundary (indicated by the pink lines on the adjacent aerial map) of the active landfill.  Operation of the 32 misting units began on July 17, 2015.

The Region 2000 Services Authority is currently seeking proposals for the operation of the system that would be based on-real time weather and wind conditions.

 (Click on map for larger image.) 

 Odor Neutralizing Long Range Spray System

Two odor neutralizing "cannons", similar in concept to those units utilized in making snow at ski resorts, discharge a water and ordor contral neutralizing solution into the air at a rate of 1440 gallons per day under 1000 psi and are strategically placed for maximum effectiveness. Currently, this system is operating 24 hours a day, 7 days per week. 

Alternative Daily Cover

A common daily cover for waste placed in landfills has always been soil.  Daily cover reduces odor, pest attraction, and blowing litter and dust.  In order to apply a more effective daily cover the Region 2000 Services Authority uses an alternative to soil.  Currently the working face of the Livestock Road Regional Landfill is sealed with Posi-Shell at the conclusion of each operating day.  Posi-Shell is a fiber cement material that is applied by a hydro-seeder unit.  In the Landfill’s application, it is also combined with an odor neutralizer to further mitigate odors.

Water Truck Dust and Odor Control

An odor control neutralizer is added to the water sprayed from the water truck and on to the roads throughout the Livestock Road Regional Landfill for mud, dust, and odor control.  This spray is applied to the roads as part of the Landfill’s daily operation to reduce mud, dust, and odors from the road.

Working Face Operation

A 10’ – 15’ berm is built at the beginning of each “lift” so that the landfill operations are screened from adjacent properties. The daily fill area is operated behind this berm until the lift reaches the top and then a new berm is constructed.  Plans are to increase the height of the berm to provide even better screening of operations. 

Moisture also increases gas production in a landfill.  In order to reduce moisture, the final slopes are graded and covered with 12”-18” of intermediate soil cover and then seeded.  This allows stormwater to flow from the landfill and into the stormwater retention pond onsite rather than the stormwater soaking into the landfill.  The working face is also graded at a 2% - 4% grade so that positive drainage is maintained to avoid ponding and pockets of stormwater runoff.

Future Permanent Cap and Vegetation

When the current cell fo the Livestock Road landfill is full it will be permanently capped and grassed; this is expected sometime in 2017.  This process essentially will “seal in" the landfill gas caused by the breakdown of the organic material deposited into the active cell.  This permanent cover will also increase the effectiveness of the gas collection system.

(Picture shown is of the cap and cover from the Concord Turnpike Landfill in Lynchburg, VA - Summer 2015) 

Lateral Expansion - The Next Landfill Phase

The next landfill cell, Phase IV, will be located on the eastern side of the current landfill and working face.  It's location is further away from the surrounding neighborhoods as noted on the aerial map shown.

 
(Click on map for larger image.)