Composition and Characteristics of Excavated Materials from a New Jersey Landfill
Publication: Journal of Environmental Engineering
Volume 131, Issue 3
Abstract
The composition of material excavated from the Burlington County landfill in New Jersey was determined, and the major reclaimed fractions characterized. Based on a waste age map, 98 samples ( each) collected from 13 gas extraction well borings were handsorted into 14 fractions and fines that fell through the screen were collected. At least 50%, by weight, of the material was fines. The most abundant oversize materials (overs) fractions, by weight, were miscellaneous items, wood, other plastics [not polyethylene terephthalate or high density polyethylene containers], and paper. Less paper was found in the oldest section of the landfill , most likely due to microbial degradation. Several of the characteristics of the materials excavated from the landfill, such as temperature, particle size, bulk density, volatile solids, and contamination were correlated with the age of the deposits made. High levels of adherent soil will likely prove to be an insurmountable obstacle to recycling most excavated waste fractions other than fines unless further processing is pursued.
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Acknowledgments
The writers would like to thank the Burlington County Board of Chosen Freeholders and the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection for their support.
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Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Environmental Engineering
Volume 131 • Issue 3 • March 2005
Pages: 478 - 490
Copyright
© 2005 ASCE.
History
Received: Jul 28, 2003
Accepted: May 28, 2004
Published online: Mar 1, 2005
Published in print: Mar 2005
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