Agenda - Council - 10/14/1980 - Laserfiche WebLink

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- 14 - De greater in-place waste density at the shredfill site. On a site- specific basis, daily cover may not be required, since litter and pathogen problems are reduced. Decreased settlement and improved operation during cold and wet weather have also been noted. 2. BALING Baling is a solid waste volume reduction technique that consists of compacting solid wastes into high-density (approximately 1,800 lbs. per cubic yard), rectangular-shaped bales. An on-site solid waste baling operation includes a baling plant and a specially designed balefill (landfill accepting baled wastes). Alternatively, the baling plant may be located, at a large-quantity source of solid waste or at a waste collection and collection point. The basic advantages of the process increases arere~uctions in required landfill volume, ease ~f waste transport and placement, litter reduction, decreased settlement and reduced reauirements for cover material. A potential disadvantage is that the com- pacting process slows the decomposition process, thus potentially extending the period of time during which the landfill will con- tinue to generate gas and leachate. Accordingly, the conditions that favor this alternative are in areas in which there is a shortage of landfill sites, thus requiring maximum utilization of available land. There is currently a study underway by the EPA to determine the relative environmental advantages of balefill sites over con- ventional landfills. This information is not available in final form at this time. 3. PRELI~INARY CONCLUSIONS Research on shredding technologies has increased in the past few years. Preliminary indications are that shredding is a viable means of reducing landfill space requirements through volume reduction and elimination of cover requirements. Based increased density alone, without considering potential materials recovery, shredding has the potential to reduce landfill needs by up to 30 percent. Results from environmental studies on relative impacts of balefills versus conventional landfills are not as conclusive as shredding research. Until more environmental data is available, it would be premature to recommend a baling system for the Metropolitan Area as a means to reduce added landfill needs. RESOURCE RECOVERY The types of resource recovery methods discussed in this section include recovery of heat energy, biological treatment and recovery, and tree waste recovery. Even though waste separation involves the