Vertical Expansion of a Nonhazardous Solid Waste Disposal Facility, Champion International Corporation Courtland Mill, Alabama, 1992 Environmental Conference Proceedings

Nonhazardous solid wastes, consisting primarily of dewatered primary and secondary clarifier filtercake and boiler ash from the Courtland Mill are disposed of on-site in a state-permitted facility. Facility operations have become increasingly difficult due to unstable conditions within the fill as the initial lift has reached capacity. Clogging of the original leachate collection system has been identified as the cause of these problems. A vertical expansion design project was undertaken to provide the mill with additional disposal volume and an acceptable closure plan.

Data from a geotechnical investigation has been utilized to develop a vertical expansion design concept. Conditions within the perimeter dikes and the waste materials were evaluated by soil borings, piezometers, and in situ permeability and shear strength testing. Finger dikes to access drill locations were constructed on the waste surface using geogrid fabric and waste bark. The stability of the perimeter dikes and the fill was evaluated by laboratory testing of samples collected from a series of borings, and evaluation of the test results. The dikes were found to be in good condition, The wastes were determined to be highly compressible and saturated with water and gas, and exhibited low permeability and low shear strength.