Mill Refuse Beneficial Reuse, 1995 Environmental Conference Proceedings

Dean A. Sylla, PE

STS Consultants, Ltd.

John A. Sweat

Georgia - Pacific Corporation

Georgia-Pacific Corporation (G-P) owns and operates a licensed mill refuse landfill and a licensed sludge landfill near their paper mills in central Wisconsin. In 1989, the mill refuse landfill had a remaining life of approximately two years. The sludge landfill consists of three areas. Sludge disposal activities were ceased in Area 02 of the sludge landfill prior to reaching final closure contours because of concerns relating to sludge stability. G-P initiated an aggressive recycling program to conserve capacity at the mill refuse landfill and completed a pilot study to evaluate use of mill refuse to obtain final closure contours at the sludge landfill. Results of the study showed that mill refuse was beneficial in stabilizing the sludge surface. It is anticipated that use of mill refuse will allow the Area 02 sludge landfill to be closed with conventional cover construction, at a cost saving in excess of $1 million. Use of mill refuse at the G-P sludge landfill has circumvented the need to site and construct a separate mill refuse landfill, and resulted in a landfill tipping fee cost saving in excess of $3.3 million. Total cost savings resulting from beneficial use. of mill refuse are in excess of $4.3 million.