Agru America, Inc. articles

In construction, preventing the penetration of liquids and gases is essential to maintaining the integrity of a structure. Often, containment is just as important, especially when dealing with chemical contaminants or other waste. When looking to stop the spread of contaminated liquids and gases, there are few tools as effective as geosynthetic clay liners (GCL). Read on to learn how to design barriers to liquids and gases using three types of GCL: single liners, composite liners, and composi

Comparing various geomembranes for your next geosynthetic application? Don’t overlook high-density polyethylene (HDPE) geomembrane. HDPE has been in use for decades and during that time a number of studies have been conducted to test its longevity and ability to meet environmental sustainability project requirements. Here, we explore some of those studies to examine the benefits of HDPE compared with other geomembranes types such as polyvinyl chloride (PVC).

Water is one of the most destructive forces on the planet, eroding everything from continents to human-made wonders. Water is also a vector by which contaminants spread from landfills and other waste reservoirs. Therefore, creating effective water seals has been a top concern in construction.

For many years, factory-fabricated clay products have been the barrier of choice against water and other migrating liquids. While the traditional tools have been useful, innovations with geosynth

The Geosynthetic Materials Association anticipates higher demand for geosynthetics on the heels of the Fixing America’s Surface Transportation Act, or FAST act, and the recent addition of the Build America Bureau. The new group was created to support the $305 billion FAST Act, which provides long-term funding for U.S. infrastructure planning and development. The FAST Act also set new benchmarks for America’s infrastructure.

Slope stability analysis is vital to preventing slope failures in a variety of engineering applications including landfill design, roads, dams and embankments, to name a few. Proper analysis anticipates both natural and manmade slopes and failure of foundations and retaining walls. This blog covers the necessity of slope stability analysis, how to conduct the analysis and the role of geosynthetics in slope stability.

Slope Stability Meets Four Key Objectives

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After a landfill has reached the end of its service phase, federal law requires owners to install a final soil cover and maintain it over the next 30 years. This is the traditional strategy that most landfill owners employ and represents a significant cost of business. When all the layers are tallied together, the capping and post-closure period can cost up to $400,000 for a small, 100-acre landfill. With advancements in geosynthetics over the past half-century, however, there is a viable alt

Preparing for the closure and long-term care of a municipal solid waste landfill (MSWLF) can be an inordinate undertaking. Whether public or private, all landfills eventually reach the end of their active lifecycle. Before closure, a landfill must meet a series of criteria as determined by Subtitle D of the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA). Following closure, those same regulations also require a minimum 30-year care period of monitoring and maintaining the landfill after i

It was in 1991 that the Environmental Protection Agency promulgated its Criteria for Municipal Waste Landfills that set location restrictions, design and operating standards, groundwater monitoring requirements, corrective actions, closure requirements, and more for landfills. It was these rules that mandated that landfills be lined on the sides and bottom before waste is deposited and capped on the surface when closed.

Landfill liner

In Kentucky, a county board votes to shut down a landfill that had long been the source of odor complaints from nearby residents. In Hawaii, residents push a city council to expedite a delayed landfill closure. Outside Beirut, Lebanon, protesters try to block trucks entering a landfill they say should have been closed a week earlier. These events, while certainly newsworthy, obscure the fact that when they are over the real work has to begin.

Geomembranes, predominately linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE), have been used for landfill caps for decades. Waste Management World has noted how,” Generally they have performed extremely well but, not unexpectedly, there have been a few exceptions that have guided us in developing even better systems.” Currently, there are four commonly used options for landfill caps, each with their plusses and minuses, especially with respect to stability.

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