Landfill Siting

Landfill siting involves the interplay of engineering, science, and politics.  The engineering disciplines required include civil, environmental, geotechnical, hydrogeological, and transportation.  The science disciplines required include archeology (in some cases), biology, geology, horticulture, hydrogeology, and wetlands.  Through its in-house resources, or through associations with other consultants, SCS provides these disciplines to its clients to complete landfill siting projects.  SCS has worked extensively with local governments, governing boards, citizens groups, and regulatory agencies in siting landfill facilities. 

Local governments and waste management companies ask SCS to perform a feasibility analysis for a prospective landfill development.  SCS assesses the suitability of the site for landfill development and defines overall project economics.  We have performed these analyses at locations across the U.S. and Canada.  SCS has also performed land availability analyses for solid waste and sludge disposal in light of various regulations.

Several example projects are outlined below:

Orange County, Florida.  SCS completed a comprehensive siting study for a new municipal solid waste landfill and supporting transfer stations for Orange County (Orlando Area).  The study included an assessment of future solid waste generation and disposal characteristics, identification of candidate sites, site evaluations, and ranking of candidate sites.  Geographical Information System (GIS) technologies were used to facilitate identification of candidate areas and sites, the site screening, and site evaluations.  A 50-year planning horizon was established for the project.  The project involved significant interaction with many departments within  

Eastern Ohio, Confidential Client.  SCS used overlay mapping to identify prospective landfill sites across an entire county.  Based upon available information, physical inspections, and on-site drilling, we identified, scored, and ranked suitable sites. 

Fulton County, New York.  SCS performed a large landfill site selection effort for Fulton County, New York.  Local political authorities and state technical representatives eventually approved the recommended site.  The siting process involved developing screening and ranking criteria, evaluation of candidate sites, and development of recommendations.  Representatives of the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation commented that this was the first thorough site selection effort in the state. 

Hillsborough County, Florida, Southeast Landfill Capacity Expansion.  SCS was retained to perform a landfill siting analysis on the nearly 2,000 acres of land owned by the County.  SCS identified two potential areas for development of a new Class I landfill and prepared conceptual designs for each.  Archeological, historical, flora and fauna, wetlands, hydrogeological, and geotechnical investigations were subsequently completed.  The alternative areas were ranked and recommendations made to the Board of County Commissioners for selection of the new expansion area. 

Jacksonville, Florida, Browning Ferris Industries (now Allied).  BFI made an initial selection of a site to respond to an RFP issued by the City of Jacksonville to site, design, construct, and operate a new Class I landfill for the City.  BFI retained SCS to evaluate the site relative to the Subtitle D landfill siting prohibitions and other siting restrictions, prepare conceptual designs based on regulatory setbacks and other considerations, and estimation of landfill capacity.

 Ohio, Chambers Development Company.  SCS prepared a site selection report for Chambers Development Company, and submitted it to Ohio EPA and U.S. EPA.  The study confirmed the developers' reasons for selecting a specific site, and discouraged relocating this landfill.

Prince William County, Virginia.  SCS conducted a greenfield landfill siting study for Prince William County for a new C& D disposal facility.  The project involved developing county-specific screening and siting criteria, application of those criteria, identification of candidate areas and sites for siting the disposal facility.  The process involved a citizen’s advisory committee, which served as the liaison between the Board of Supervisors and County technical staff and SCS.  The siting study successfully identified and ranked candidate sites, and included preliminary design and cost estimates for the preferred site.