Watershed Geosynthetics Assists Berkeley County, SC Landfill With Its Patented Closureturf™ System

Berkeley County’s Landfill showcases the multiple benefits of ClosureTurf™ for improving stormwater quality, reducing odor, reducing cover maintenance and improving landfill gas collection over a traditional Subtitle D vegetative cap.

Alpharetta, GA (PRWEB) - Berkeley County Water and Sanitation recently announced the completion of a 10-acre long-term cover system at its landfill site in Moncks Corner, South Carolina. The site is the first application in the state to use ClosureTurf™, an EPA Subtitle D compliant landfill closure system specifically designed to eliminate soil erosion, reduce post closure maintenance costs, increase slope integrity and enhance landfill gas (LFG) management. By implementing the ClosureTurf™ system across the 10-acre area, Berkeley County will save approximately $720,000 over a 30-year period in future maintenance costs while reducing the environmental impact and improving safety and performance.

Officials at the landfill had to address significant challenges: There were space issues leaving little room to place a two-foot thick traditional soil capping system that would require extensive waste removal. The landfill is also located in an earthquake zone and an area susceptible to hurricanes and high rainfall events. In the event of seismic activity or significant rainfall, the soil used in a traditional capping system would present a significant slide hazard.

ClosureTurf™ is an innovative three-component system comprised of an impermeable geomembrane layer underneath for drainage and friction, a high-strength polyethylene engineered synthetic turf on the surface for durability and aesthetics, and sand infill for longevity and protection from vehicular traffic. Once installed, a landfill is converted from a mountain of unsightly trash to one that is much more aesthetically pleasing.

“ClosureTurf™ was invented to put an end to the traditional daily struggles for a landfill operator due to erosion, environmental impact and gas collection. We are thrilled with Berkeley County’s decision to utilize Closure Turf and they will reap the benefits for years to come”, states Mike Ayers, President of Watershed Geosynthetics.

“We’re proud to say we’re the first in South Carolina to use this alternate method of landfill capping,” said Mark Schlievert, Director of Solid Waste, Berkeley County Water and Sanitation. “By using ClosureTurf™, we saved an initial cost of $50,000 and estimate additional savings of $24,000 a year (over the 10-acre area) during the site’s 30-year maintenance period. In addition, we significantly reduce water contamination, dust, and heavy equipment noise and pollution from ongoing maintenance.”

To gain approval to implement ClosureTurf™, which is considered an alternative long-term cover landfill system, Berkeley County landfill officials worked closely with the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (SC DHEC). The 10-acre long-term capping project was completed within nine months. Also of great benefit was the fact AGRU America, based in Georgetown, SC, who manufactures the structured geomembrane component of Closure Turf and also is the distributor of the product, was instrumental in bringing this project to fruition.

About Watershed Geosynthetics 
Based in Alpharetta, GA, Watershed Geo is a innovative geosynthetic company specializing in engineered products that solve earth’s greatest challenges with solutions that reduce risks, require virtually no maintenance and stand the test of time that far exceed the performance of traditional methods through the highest levels of testing. Through best-in-class materials and extreme engineering, WatershedGeo’s goal is to unearth solutions that eliminate plaguing industry issues while delivering more aesthetically-pleasing and effective results. The company's in house polymer scientists, geotechnical engineers and hydrologists have worked with multiple universities and private research labs to achieve unprecedented performance for its products. Watershed Geo’s stable of products include: 

•     ClosureTurf (landfill and ash impoundment closures)
•     HydroTurf (high hydraulic shear protections - Revetment)
•     VersaCap (odor prevention, emission control, and leachate reduction)
•     LFG low pressure valves (GCCS system shutdown protection)
•     SynTerra Wall (MSE wall protection and aesthetics)

About Berkeley County Water & Sanitation 
According to http://www.bcwsa.com/about-us, Berkeley County Water & Sanitation (BCWS) specializes in potable water distribution, the collection and treatment of waste water, recycling and solid waste disposal. Operating as a self‐supporting public utility, BCWS serves more than 40,000 water and sewer customers and 176,000 solid waste customers. With a strong belief in customer service, BCWS continuously seeks to provide safe, reliable water and sanitation services at a competitive, non‐profit rate in the spirit of a publicly owned utility. Leading the Lowcountry in green energy innovation, BCWS is aggressively developing a Bio-energy Park to convert selected waste streams into clean, renewable energy.