What is the landfill remediation project?
The landfill remediation project is a three phase project that will put permanent caps over the landfill cells at the Lunenburg Regional Community Recycling Centre (LRCRC).

In 2006, the LRCRC shut down its first generation landfill site. Waste from the towns of Bridgewater, Mahone Bay, Lunenburg, and the Municipality of the District of Lunenburg began to be shipped to Kaizer Meadows; a second-generation landfill outside of Chester that met new government standards for environmental protection.

Now, to continue to meet environmental regulations, the landfill cells at the LRCRC must be properly capped to protect the environment.

What’s the difference between a first generation and a second generation landfill?
Second-generation landfills are strictly regulated to fulfill environmental regulations that keep out banned items such as recyclable items and organic materials, which produce methane gas during decomposition. First-generation landfills were built before these regulations were put into place. Often, they contain a variety of things that will not break down or break down very slowly, such as plastics and metals, and even hazardous materials. These sites have been shut down and replaced with second-generation landfills.

In some situations, first generation landfills are being dug up and transferred to a second generation landfill. In other situations, when it is deemed safe by the Department of Environment, a first generation landfill can be safely capped: this is the case at the LRCRC.

Over how many phases/years will this take place?
The landfill remediation project will take place in three phases, each lasting two years.

In Phase One, the first year (2009) was spent designing landfill caps, appropriate drainage ditches, and placement of wells for water testing. This year, the second year, implementation has begun and one-third of existing landfill cells will be capped.  During Phases Two and Three, the same process will be followed: a year of design, followed by a year of implementation that will cover one-third of landfill cells until all cells are properly capped in accordance with provincial regulations.

 
Why do we need to cap the landfill?
The landfill needs to be capped to contain waste and prevent environmental issues such as leeching. Leeching is the process where rainwater gets into landfill sites, absorbs contaminants in the landfill, and seeps into the ground. Capping the landfills properly will prevent this from happening.

 
Will there be any odours?
If you live in the immediate area, close to the LRCRC, beginning September 7, and ongoing throughout the months of September and October, potentially into the beginning of November, the LRCRC will be spreading compost over the landfill cells to act as a growth media for grass. During this time, about 10,000 cubic meters (13,079 cubic yards) of compost will be moved, graded and leveled over a large area. This same process will happen again in Phases Two and Three. This will cause excess odours, and we apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.

 
After compost is spread, does anything go on top of it?
Yes. Each landfill cap is a layer of compacted clay 75 cm thick (2.5 feet), followed by 30 cm (1 ft) of compost and topped with hydroseed to encourage grass growth.  The grass helps keep the compost layer from eroding and will be monitored to ensure that no bushes or trees start to grow as their root systems could break through the layer of compacted clay.

After the project is complete, will there still be odours?
After the project is complete, the large amount of compost currently being kept at the facility will have been spread and stabilized, eliminating additional odours from this particular project. However, compost processing will still take place onsite, and so odours in the immediate area around the LRCRC will still occasionally be present.

 
Why use compost?
There were a few other options aside from compost, but it was decided to use compost as a significant cost savings.

Other options available would cost $24 per square meter ($24 per 10.75 square feet). Since compost is already readily available in mass quantities, the price is reduced to $2.25 per square meter. The project will cap nearly 36,000 square meters (387,500 square feet) in Phase One, saving $783,000. Over the course of the project, using compost will save well over two-million dollars.