I.

The danger of plastic bags

- ~ 200 different species of sea life including whales, dolphins, seals and turtles die due to plastic bags. - Over time plastic bags break down into smaller, more toxic petro-polymers. Which eventually contaminate soils, and waterway. - As a consequence microscopic particles can enter the food chain. - The effect on wildlife can be catastrophic - Birds become terminally entangled - They die after ingesting plastic bags which they mistake for food. - A study in 1975, showed oceangoing vessels together dumped 8 million pounds of plastic annually. The real reason that the world's landfills weren't overflowing with plastic was because most of it ended up in an ocean-fill. - Bags get blown around, to different parts of our lands, and to our seas, lakes and rivers. - Bags find their way into the sea via drains and sewage pipes. - Plastic bags have been found floating north of the Arctic Circle near Spitzbergen, and as far south as the Falkland Islands. - Plastic bags account for over 10 percent of the debris washed up on the U.S. coastline. II. Interactive Incinerator Activity

- If the landfill is not available, incinerator facility is the next option for garbage disposal - The garbage is loaded onto a conveyor belt which leading to an incinerator - Waste is burned in primary furnace, which can burn up to 100 degrees centigrade

- The vapors and ash from the primary furnace enter the secondary furnace - The secondary furnace burns the ash and vapors up to 1300 degrees centigrade - The ash is collected and sent to a landfill being expose, the vapors the gases are sent to scrubbers, which removes oxides and heavy metals - Dirty water is removed and sent to a water treatment facility III. Protective Cover

1. Cover vegetation - As portions of the landfill are completed, native grasses and shrubs are planted and the areas are maintained as open spaces. The vegetation is visually pleasing and prevents erosion of the underlying soils. 2. Top Soil - Helps to support and maintain the growth of vegetation by retaining moisture and providing nutrients. 3. Protective Cover Soil - Protects the landfill cap system and provides additional moisture retention to help support the cover vegetation. Composite Cap System 4. Drainage Layer - A layer of sand or gravel or a thick plastic mesh called a geonet drains excess precipitation from the protective cover soil to enhance stability and help prevent infiltration of water through the landfill cap system. 5. Geomembrane - A thick plastic layer forms a cap that prevents excess precipitation from entering the landfill and forming leachate. This layer also helps to prevent the escape of landfill gas, thereby reducing odors. 6. Compacted Clay - Placed over waste to form cap when landfill reaches permitted height. Layer prevents excess precipitation, formation of leachates and reduces odor Working Landfill

7. Daily Cover - At the end of each working period, waste is covered with six to twelve inches of soil or other approved material. Daily cover reduces odors, keeps litter from scattering and helps deter scavengers 8. Waste - As waste arrives, it is compacted in layers within a small area to reduce the volume consumed within the landfill. This practice also helps to reduce odors, keeps litter from scattering and deters scavengers. Leachate Collection System 9. Leachate Collection Layer - A layer of sand or gravel or a thick plastic mesh called a geonet collects leachate and allows it to drain by gravity to the leachate collection pipe system. 10. Filter Geotextile - A geotextile fabric, similar in appearance to felt, may be located on top of the leachate collection pipe system to provide separation of solid particles from liquid. This prevents clogging of the pipe system. 11. Leachate Collection Pipe System - Pipes surrounded by a bed of gravel transport leachate to low points called sumps. Pumps in the sumps remove leachate from the landfill and transport it to the leachate management facilities. Composite Liner System 12. Geomembrane - constructed of plastic called HDPE. It is tough, impermeable and resistant to attack by compounds in leachate. 13. Compacted Clay - Located under the geomembrane, barrier to prevent leachate from leaving landfill and entering environment 14. Prepared Subgrade - The native soils beneath the landfill are prepared as needed prior to beginning landfill construction.

IV.

Landfill activity

1. What are the types of solid waste that Americans throw away and which are the most abundant? - Paper, plastics, glass, etc. 2. What can we do with our waste? - Recycle, limit the amount of waste we have 3. You are building a new landfill in Freemont and you want the best location possible. What are three (3) considerations you need to make before you begin construction? - Topography - Location of groundwater table - Amount of precipitation 4. When you are building a landfill and you have cleared a parcel of land, what are the steps in building your landfill? Now build it! - Compacted Clay geomembrane leachate collection pipe filter geotextile leachate collection layer waste daily cover compacted clay geomembrane protective cover soil top soil plants. 5. Now your landfill is operational. What is the procedure for filling the landfill and closing it? How do you know when the landfill is full? - Fill in the landfill with a liner system, storm water drainage system, leachate collection system, methane collection system and the cover. 6. Your landfill has been capped off. What do you do to monitor your landfill? - Groundwater, leachate and gas. 7. Label the parts to the landfill below.

V.

Landfill Energy

Converting Trash-to-Energy Landfill gas (LFG) is created as biological processes decompose the solid waste in a landfill. In its raw form, this gas consists of about 50 percent methane (natural gas), about 50 percent carbon dioxide and a small amount of non-methane organic compounds. Landfill gas, if uncontrolled, can contribute to smog, global climate change and odors, but it can also be captured, converted, and used as an energy source. Landfill gas is extracted from landfills using a series of gas collection wells and a vacuum system. This system directs the collected gas to a central point where it can be processed and treated depending upon the ultimate use for the gas. There are over400 operational LFG energy projects in the United States and a growing number around the world. There are several ways to convert LFG to energy: 1. Electricity Generation - The generation of electricity from LFG makes up about

two-thirds of the currently operational projects. The vast majority of these projects use micro-turbines or industrial engines to drive generators. 2. Direct-Use - The direct use of LFG can be in a boiler, dryer, kiln, greenhouse, or other thermal applications in nearby businesses. It can also be used directly to evaporate landfill liquids. 3. Cogeneration Cogeneration projects, known as combined heat and power, use LFG to generate both electricity and thermal energy, usually in the form of steam or hot water. 4. Alternative Fuels Landfill gas has been successfully delivered to the natural gas pipeline system as well as converted to vehicle fuel in the form of compressed natural gas and liquefied natural gas. - Without a pump in the well, high levels of hot, aggressive liquids choke off landfill gas recovery - AutoPump AP4s from QED pump the liquids down, exposing more screen and increasing landfill gas extraction rates