This photo illustration of the conceptual view shows the vertical expansion of the Environmental Restoration Disposal Facility. The large area on the right includes the uppermost surface of the vertical expansion, which will be shaped to form a crown and will be covered with a 2 percent grade and side slopes at 12 percent.

RICHLAND, Wash. – EM’s Richland Operations Office (RL) and cleanup contractor Washington Closure Hanford (WCH) are working innovatively to safely expand the Environmental Restoration Disposal Facility (ERDF) by disposing additional waste on top of the current landfill.

   Enlarging the 107-acre landfill vertically instead of horizontally would save taxpayers $30 million.

   ERDF began operations in 1996 and was expanded horizontally to accommodate waste as Hanford cleanup progressed. The first eight disposal cells were built in pairs with each cell being 500 feet wide, 1,000 feet long, and 70 feet deep. In 2011, ERDF completed construction of super cells 9 and 10, each similar in size and capacity to a pair of cells, but built using efficiencies gained from previous cell construction.   

   Cells 1 through 4 have been filled and are protected with an interim cover, which will be penetrated to ensure leachate — a liquid generated from waste in the vertical expansion — infiltrates the underlying leachate collection system. Cells 5 and 6 are also full and will be the starting point for the vertical expansion. 

   ERDF contains about 17.5 million tons of waste material, is less than 1 million tons from reaching its current capacity, and would be filled by 2017 without the expansion. Plans call for increasing the top of the waste grade by 20 feet.

   Expanding ERDF vertically, instead of using the traditional approach of building new disposal cells, will save $30 million, according to Owen Robertson, EM project engineer for ERDF.

   “Vertical expansion is a safe, efficient way to keep the landfill operating and allow Hanford cleanup activities to continue without delay,” Robertson said.

   The uppermost surface of the landfill will be shaped to form a crown, covered with a 2 percent grade and side slopes at 12 percent. Surface water runoff will continue to be controlled to minimize contact with waste. Fixatives, vegetative cover, aggregate surfacing, berms, and surface grading will continue to be used to minimize erosion.

   Bill Borlaug, WCH lead engineer for ERDF, said vertical expansion will provide space for an additional 3.6 million tons of waste, roughly equal to a super cell.  

   “We’ve also demonstrated that the existing ERDF liner and liquid waste collection systems have sufficient strength to accommodate the expansion,” Borlaug said.  

   Borlaug began working at ERDF in 2005. He has seen tremendous progress in safety and efficiency at the landfill. 

   “I’ve been amazed how well we engage our workforce in finding safe, efficient and compliant ways of doing our work better,” said Borlaug, who spent 15 years in the commercial disposal industry before joining the ERDF team. “Vertical expansion provides a safe, optimum way to minimize the environmental footprint while saving taxpayers money for other cleanup projects.”