Cellular landfill process and apparatus
First Claim
1. A method of disposing of waste comprising the steps of:
- (a) providing an impermeable base at a predetermined landfill site;
(b) constructing upon the impermeable base a plurality of berms and thereby defining in a cell-by-cell manner a plurality of conterminous waste-containing cells with common berms between adjacent waste-containing cells;
(c) constructing an overlying plurality of berms and thereby defining in a cell-by-cell manner a plurality of conterminous waste-containing cells in overlying relationship to the waste-containing cells disposed on the impermeable base;
(d) installing means for removing fluids from at least two levels in each waste-containing cell;
(e) filling the waste-containing cells with waste;
(f) providing in a cell-by-cell manner an impermeable cover for the waste-containing cells; and
(g) providing in a cell-by-cell manner impermeable side coverings for the waste-containing cells.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention is directed to a process and apparatus wherein municipal refuse, and many other types of solid waste, are disposed of in a landfill repository that maintains them in a dry state indefinitely. This eliminates most environmental and many cost problems. The principal design feature of this landfill is its cellular internal structure, which has rows of contiguous, rectangular water- and gas-tight cells that are built on top of one another to form a high, multi-layered structure. These cells are simultaneously constructed and filled with solid waste in a series of short, incremental wall berm construction and filling steps on a one-cell-at-a-time basis in the top layer of the landfill. The sides of the structure and the tops of the cells in the top layer are continuously protected from rain infiltration by impervious covers, and uncontaminated rain waters, leachates, leakage, and gases are separately withdrawn from the system on a cell-by-cell basis by an internal plumbing and monitoring system. Biodegradation is used in cells in the top layer to produce methane gas.
38 Citations
65 Claims
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1. A method of disposing of waste comprising the steps of:
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(a) providing an impermeable base at a predetermined landfill site; (b) constructing upon the impermeable base a plurality of berms and thereby defining in a cell-by-cell manner a plurality of conterminous waste-containing cells with common berms between adjacent waste-containing cells; (c) constructing an overlying plurality of berms and thereby defining in a cell-by-cell manner a plurality of conterminous waste-containing cells in overlying relationship to the waste-containing cells disposed on the impermeable base; (d) installing means for removing fluids from at least two levels in each waste-containing cell; (e) filling the waste-containing cells with waste; (f) providing in a cell-by-cell manner an impermeable cover for the waste-containing cells; and (g) providing in a cell-by-cell manner impermeable side coverings for the waste-containing cells. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36)
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37. A system for disposing of waste comprising:
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an impermeable base disposed at a predetermined landfill site; a plurality of berms defining a plurality of conterminous waste-containing cells upon said impermeable base, with common berms between adjacent said waste-containing cells; an overlying plurality of berms defining an overlying plurality of conterminous waste-containing cells; means for removing fluids from at least two levels in said waste-containing cells; and impermeable top and side covers for said waste-containing cells. - View Dependent Claims (38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65)
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Specification