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Environmental Engineering Landfills Environmental engineers must study the geology (rocks and rock formations) and hydrogeology (distribution and characteristics of the area water) of the area where the landfill is to be built. They must also take into consideration the temperature variations and levels of rainfall for each site.
In some areas there is a high risk of groundwater contamination from landfills. Environmental engineers must then design the landfill to minimize rainwater percolation (filtering) and pooling.
Landfill Research East Calgary Test Cells - Cross-sections of two cells the City of Calgary built for landfill research Bioreactor Landfills The aim of bioreactor landfills is to increase the rate of degradation in the layers of packed solid waste. In order to improve biodegradation a high and consistent level of moisture must be maintained. Environmental engineers are studying ways of measuring the moisture content in the landfill layers and designing and testing ways of redistributing the moisture evenly throughout the layers. The Sustainable Landfill Bio-Cell technology, developed by Schulich School of Engineering researcher Dr. Patrick Hettiaratchi, was recognized with the Environmental Award of Excellence. Currently a pilot project with the City of Calgary, the Bio-Cell technology has the capacity to help alleviate Calgary's growing need for landfill space. The technology creates a recyclable and reusable landfill. The Bio-Cell also generates enough gas to keep the landfill self-sustaining. It treats 85,000 tonnes of residential and commercial waste. The benefits of this research will have a tremendous impact on the community. Want to know more? Gas Emissions, Site Reclamation, Groundwater Quality Control |
