Landfill site licensing fuels demand for specialist aftercare management

Landfill management company, Biogas Technology, specialises in gas and leachate

systems and aftercare.

Assessment and recommendation normally starts with a site survey, including

desk-top study of relevant information, and an assessment of the performance

of any existing gas and leachate control measures. This leads to the company’s

recommendations for the management of gas and leachate and preparation of the

aftercare plan.

The aim of the plan will be to provide reliable and cost-effective compliance

with all licence and regulatory requirements whilst optimising activity within

the site to shorten the time until it is rendered inert.

Where gas arising from the site can be utilised this will opportunity will

be identified along with the potential for income to offset the cost of implementing

the aftercare.

System design and installation

Once the aftercare plan has been agreed with all the relevant parties the next

step is the detailed design of any systems required for the effective control

and monitoring of gas and leachate, or upgrade of existing facilities, as appropriate.

The system may involve some, or all of the following:

• gas extraction and flare system
• leachate extraction, treatment and recirculation or discharge
• comprehensive field collection pipework system
• gas utilisation/power generation
• automatic borehole monitoring

An important element in aftercare management is the rigorous implementation

of a monitoring and maintenance programme for the site and the systems installed

in order to ensure their continuing effectiveness throughout the necessary period.

Borehole monitoring will either be carried out manually or remotely on a regular

basis and the systems adjusted to maintain optimum control in response to changing

conditions. Regular reports will be provided detailing results and consequent

actions as proposed or completed.

All systems will be maintained and supported by Biogas Technology’s dedicated

Customer Care division which offers a comprehensive 24-hour contact and breakdown

call-out service.

Long-term assurance

The Biogas aftercare plan is designed to provide operators with assurance that

their long-term investment in landfill is both sound and environmentally responsible.

Biogas offers a single point accountability at each stage of aftercare and

states that it guarantees the performance of its operations.

The aftercare management aftercare service draws on the company’s expertise

in landfill gas and leachate management.

The company provides a full range of other services in this area, including

pumping trials and site assessment, gas and leachate plant hire, gas collection

systems, gas extraction and flare systems, leachate control and recirculation,

gas utilisation plant, site monitoring and instrumentation and renewable energy

systems.

Biogas also announced several new developments recently, notably BioPump leachate

pumps. These are automatic and only switch on when required, with the aim of

helping the user to keep costs down and remain compliant with licence requirements.

The company has also completed a membrane plant which uses a series of membranes

to separate methane and carbon dioxide.

The resulting methane rich gas can be used for various applications, including

vehicle fuel. Benefits cited for this patented technology include reduced emissions,

elimination of black smoke from diesel engines, cost reductions and the utilisation

of an otherwise wasted resource.

Biogas also reports that the year has seen record sales of its flare and aftercare

packages.