Georgia Solid Waste Trust Fund Report for Fiscal Year 2008 1 A publication of the Environmental Protection Division Georgia Department of Natural Resources July 2009 Introduction SWTF // Report for Fiscal Year 2008 EPD has published several documents on the Solid Waste Trust Fund outlining its history and uses. These documents are available for viewing and download at http:// www.georgiaepd.org/ Documents/ techguide_lpb.html#swtf The Solid Waste Trust Fund (SWTF) was established in 1990 as part of the Georgia Comprehensive Solid Waste Management Act. This Act, along with its amendments, provides a framework for guiding how solid waste is to be managed in the state. An amendment to the Act in 1992 established a primary source of funding for the SWTF in the form of a $1 fee for every new tire sold in the state. Each year, fees collected the previous year are available for appropriation by the Legislature through the state budget process to the Georgia Environmental Protection Division (EPD) whose director is authorized by the Act to serve as the trustee for the fund. The moneys allocated to the trust fund are then used to carry out the solid waste management goals of the Act. The trust fund is authorized for: Appropriation In FY 08, the Legislature appropriated $6 million from the tire fees collected in 2007 to the Solid Waste Trust Fund. In addition to funding internal programs that carry out the intent of the SWTF, EPD also disperses money from this fund to other state agencies and divisions within the Department of Natural Resources (DNR), including the Department of Community Affairs (DCA), the Georgia Environmental Facilities Authority (GEFA), the Wildlife Resources Division (WRD), the Georgia Department of Corrections (GDC) and the Pollution Prevention Assistance Division (P2AD). These state agencies provide technical assistance, funding and public education on waste reduction, recycling and other solid waste issues, and assist local governments with solid waste planning. emergency, preventative and corrective action at solid waste facilities scrap tire management and cleanup closure of abandoned landfills solid waste reduction and recycling In FY 08, the trust fund was used to: manage and clean up scrap tires respond to three solid waste emergencies close the abandoned Scales Road Construction and Demolition landfill (page 16) litter prevention and abatement implement three major statewide waste reduction and recycling initiatives (page 12) administrative costs associated with managing the fund 2 The Act also requires that EPD produce an annual report carry out litter prevention and abatement activities (page 13) on the activities funded by the SWTF; this report fulfills that requirement. FY 08 Spending Plan SWTF // Report for Fiscal Year 2008 In FY 2008, $6.2 million* was approved by the DNR Board for the following authorized uses: Solid Waste Reduction and Recycling: $2,067,500 (33.35%) Litter Prevention and Abatement: $1.4 million (22.58%) Scrap Tire Management and Cleanup: $1,257,028 (20.27%) Administrative Costs: $1,055,472 (17.02%) Closure of Abandoned Landfills: $220,000 (3.55%) Emergency, Preventative and Corrective Action: $200,000 (3.23%) *In addition to the $6 million legislative appropriation, this total includes $200,000 carried over from FY 07. SWTF Budget by Agency* 1.61% 2.42% 3.60% 48.30% 44.07% Department of Community Affairs (DCA): $2,994,500 Environmental Protection Division (EPD): $2,732,500 Georgia Environmental Facilities Authority (GEFA): $223,000 Wildlife Resources Division (WRD): $150,000 Georgia Department of Corrections (GDC): $100,000 3 *The Pollution Prevention Assistance Division (P 2AD) received no money from the SWTF in FY 08. The Solid Waste Trust Fund By the numbers in FY 08 SWTF // Report for Fiscal Year 2008 Scrap Tire Management Closure of Abandoned and Cleanup Landfills Solid Waste Reduction and Recycling 472,124 $4.38 million 1,912,604 25,800 estimated number of illegally dumped tires removed and recycled through local government amount spent to clean up and provide post-closure care for the abandoned Scales Road landfill in number of Web site pages viewed at EEinGeorgia.org, Georgia's on-line guide to environmental education tons of food waste and other organics composted at state prisons efforts and enforcement DeKalb County $938,595 action 2,808 amount of landfill number of solid waste tipping fees saved by $304,941 amount reimbursed to local governments for approved Emergency, Preventative and Corrective Action related technical assistance questions answered by state agencies state prisons through recycling and composting programs tire cleanups 38 number of scrap tire dumps awaiting cleanup 6,695 number of scrap tire generators in the state $121,730 amount spent on corrective action at landfill fires and at a landfill where uncontrolled methane created an explosion risk to nearby homes and a school $223,000 total amount of recycling and waste reduction grants awarded by GEFA to local governments to fund solid waste and recycling infrastructure improvements 35 number of "away-fromhome," event recycling trailers distributed around the state $131,000 total amount of Clean Community Challenge Litter Prevention and Abatement 11 number of local governments receiving SWTF dollars through grants awarded to Georgia communities 171,758 141 number of litter-related citations issued by WRD 4 rangers GEFA 1,017 tons of materials at state prisons collected for Christmas trees recycled during "Bring One for the Chipper" events statewide recycling SWTF // Report for Fiscal Year 2008 Solid Waste in Georgia By the numbers in FY 08 How much waste was disposed in Georgia landfills in FY 08? 16.5 million total tons of waste (from all categories) disposed in Georgia landfills 11.3% percent of total tons of waste disposed in Georgia that is generated in other states 12.9 million tons of municipal solid waste (from Georgia and other states) disposed in Georgia 3.3 million tons of construction and demolition waste (from Georgia and other states) disposed in Georgia How many landfills are operating in Georgia? What is the economic impact of recycling? 55 number of municipal solid waste landfills in Georgia 47 number of construction and demolition debris landfills in Georgia How much capacity remains in Georgia landfills? 34 number of years of capacity remaining in Georgia's municipal solid waste landfills 50 estimated number of manufacturers in Georgia that use recyclable materials to make their products 8% percent of the paper used in the U.S. that is recycled by Georgia's paper industry 1/3 fraction of the plastic beverage containers recycled in North America that are used by Georgia's carpet industry 59 number of years of capacity remaining in Georgia's construction and demolition landfills 5 SWTF // Scrap Tire Clean-up Since the program began in 1992, more than 14.2 million scrap tires have been removed from illegal tire dumps and recycled. 6 Number of scrap tires removed through enforcement action 9,700 Number of scrap tires cleaned up through local government events 462,424 Amount reimbursed to local governments for cleanups $304,941 Environmental Protection Division Scrap Tire Cleanup be successfully substituted In addition to being fire hazards, scrap tire dumps for coal in certain industries). are breeding grounds for Depending on the circum- snakes and disease-carrying stances, EPD either hires a rodents and mosquitoes. contractor to remove the Mosquitoes, carriers of the tires or reimburses local West Nile Virus and Eastern governments who lead the Equine Encephalitis, can cleanup. A local government breed up to 100 times faster may also use SWTF money in a water-filled scrap tire to remove scrap tires as than in the natural environ- part of a community- ment. Because of these dangers, eliminating scrap tire dumps is a major goal of EPD's Scrap Tire Management Program. A citizen reported this abandoned house in Fulton County to EPD in FY 08. Approximately 2,000 tires were found dumped on the property. If EPD cannot locate the property owner, or the owner refuses to pay, EPD will work with the local government to reimburse them for the collection and recycling of the tires. sponsored clean up event. As FY 08 began, 10 projects were awaiting cleanup and 24 more were identified later in the fiscal year. The Solid Waste Trust Fund is used to clean up tire dumps Cleanup began at 28 of the projects in FY 08; an estimated where the responsible party is either unwilling to remove 462,424 scrap tires were removed and recycled. In FY 08, the tires, cannot afford to remove them, or is unknown. EPD reimbursed 33 local governments a total of $304,941 Since the program began in 1992, more than 14.2 million for projects to clean up and recycle scrap tires. scrap tires have been removed from illegal tire dumps and recycled into useful products or used as an alternative An additional 9,700 scrap tires were removed and recycled source of fuel (scrap tires have a high BTU value and can by private parties as a result of EPD enforcement action. Number of registered scrap tire generators in Georgia 6,695 Number of permitted processors in Georgia 9 Number of carrier permits issued 163 SWTF // Scrap Tire Management Scrap Tire Management Tires that are not properly managed can end up in illegal tire dumps. To ensure that the majority of the approximately 9 million scrap tires generated in Georgia each year (plus the millions more imported from other states) are properly managed, EPD tracks scrap tires from their point of generation to their final disposition at a processor or recycler. Tire chips are used to make other products, such as road base, or are burned in power plants as a source of fuel. EPD has seven staff members in district offices around the state who conduct compliance inspections and outreach and enforce the state's scrap tire laws. In FY 08, EPD conducted 4,509 inspections. EPD regulations require retailers and other generators of scrap tires (including public and private fleet owners) to register with EPD. Tracking the generators helps ensure scrap tires are properly managed and do not end up illegally dumped. Scrap tire carriers and processors must be permitted by EPD. In FY 08 there were 6,695 scrap tire generators, 135 carriers, 39 sorters and nine processors in the state. EPD Roughly 9 million scrap tires are generated in Georgia each year. Millions more are brought to Georgia from other states for processing. also issued permits to 28 scrap tire carriers located in other states that also do business in Georgia. 7 Solid Waste Reduction and Recycling : EPD SWTF // Solid Waste Reduction & Recycling Number of technical assistance requests answered 227 Number of schools enrolled in Georgia Green & Healthy Schools program 8 Environmental Protection Division EPD waste reduction staff responded to 227 requests for encourage the development of markets in Georgia to technical assistance in FY 08. Requests included recom- compost food waste. Local and national experts spoke on mendations on managing zoo waste and recycling a variety subjects such as food rescue and the connection of of materials including toilets, concrete and asphalt organics diversion to climate change. In June 2008, EPD shingles. Staff provided in-depth assistance to businesses staff launched a webpage that will serve as the primary interested in processing construction and demolition source of information in the state for food waste diversion. materials and starting composting operations. Environmental Education and Outreach Food Residuals Diversion EPD coordinates with more than 300 state agencies, non- Twelve percent or more than 800,000 tons of the waste sent to Georgia landfills each year is food waste, with approximately 48% of this total coming from the greater Atlanta area, according to a statewide waste characterization study completed in 2005. As part of a new initiative funded by a $45,000 federal grant, EPD held two one-day conferences in FY 08 to encourage options to divert food residuals from landfills. The first conference, on composting basics, was held in December 2007 in conjunction with EPA and North Carolina. Forty-four people from across the state attended, including EPD staff, local government solid waste managers, EPA Region 4 staff, profits and others to produce EEinGeorgia.org, an online guide to environmental education (EE) in Georgia. EE in Georgia provides a range of information related to environmental education in the state, including a directory of organizations; a statewide calendar of events; a searchable database of resources; lesson plans based on state curriculum standards; facts about Georgia's environment; and updates on grants, awards and news. farmers and non-profits. Other sponsors include This represents the largest single category of solid waste going into the state's municipal solid waste landfills. In May 2008, 70 people attended the second event, DCA's Keep Georgia Beautiful program, the Department of Education, the Georgia 8 "From the Table to the Farm." This conference covered options for diverting food waste and ways to Terry Coleman, deputy commissioner of the Georgia Department of Agriculture, addresses EPD's food waste composting conference, "From the Table to the Farm." Parent Teacher Association and the Environmental Education Alliance of Georgia. Number of EEinGeorgia.org Web site pages viewed 1,912,604 Percent increase from FY 07 in submissions of environmental education events to EEinGeorgia.org 24 SWTF // Solid Waste Reduction & Recycling "The EE in Georgia Web site offers value to environmental education in Georgia by providing a comprehensive directory of in-depth information on a variety of topics. This service is invaluable for helping promote our workshops, events, resources and contests to both formal and nonformal educators, while also enhancing capacity building and networking opportunities. It is truly the bridge that links the gap between formal education and environmental education." Karen Garland, Environmental Education Senior Manager, Georgia Conservancy In FY 08, EE in Georgia contin- gagement and achievement. The ued to see increased use of its program is based on research by a Web site. The program added a national education organization searchable EE school directory showing students perform better to the site. By June 2008, 25 on standardized tests when they schools had created profiles to take part in environment-based showcase their EE programs investigations in their communi- and serve as models for other ties. EPD provides teachers at the schools. EIC schools with access to Compared to the previous fiscal year, the number of Web site professionals, programs and resources. pages downloaded per month increased in eight of the 12 months. The program also published 12 issues of an electronic newsletter to inform Potter Street Elementary in Bainbridge, a Georgia Green & Healthy School, has earned thousands of dollars as well as national recognition for its recycling program, which boasts a 100% school participation rate. Here, the students learn from "Dr. Recycling." EPD collaborated with local governments, state and national agencies and nonprofit organizations to create Georgia Green & Healthy Schools (GGHS), a teachers and other educators of the latest EE news, program designed to reduce waste and conserve natural teaching resources, events, grants, contests and awards resources. (subscriptions increased from 2,702 to 3,705). In FY 08, through workshops at three conventions, GGHS In FY 07, EE in Georgia received $15,000 from the Georgia introduced more than 300 teachers and education leaders Department of Education to revise EE lesson plans to to the program. GGHS also worked with EPA to host a meet new Georgia Performance Standards. By June 2008, conference on indoor air quality for school facility manag- 99 plans had been revised. ers and nurses. In addition, GGHS is working with Fourteen Georgia public schools participate in EIC, Using Southface on a grant to increase energy conservation in schools by adding high quality energy education. By the 9 the Environment as an Integrating Context for end of FY 08, eight schools were enrolled in the program. Learning, a program designed to improve student en- SWTF // Solid Waste Reduction & Recycling Sustainable development guidelines will help preserve marshes like these on the Georgia coast. 10 Number of technical assistance requests answered by P2AD staff 423 Amount of local government grants awarded by GEFA $223,000 Pollution Prevention Assistance Division In FY 08, the Pollution Prevention Assistance Division (P2AD) responded to 423 requests for solid waste assistance, including questions on wood, food and electronics waste; packaging materials; construction and demolition debris; and recycling. Also in FY 08, P2AD released the second version of the Sustainable Office Toolkit (http://p2ad.org/toolkit/). Organizations can use the toolkit to help plan, develop and implement environmentally-friendly practices, such as waste reduction, environmentally preferable purchasing and sustainable building. The site, http://www.scrapmatchga.org, is an on-line materials exchange sponsored by P2AD that provides a place for companies to advertise their excess materials or by-products, including metal, plastics and textiles. Companies also can place "want ads" for items. Finding uses for these unwanted materials saves energy, conserves natural resources and lowers disposal costs. In FY 08, the site had 117,336 Web page views and 89 new registered users. P2AD continued to work with Southface to promote sustainable community development guidelines for coastal Georgia with the publication of the Earthcraft Coastal Communities Guidelines in FY 08. Georgia Environmental Facilities Authority The Recycling and Waste Reduction Grant program, administered by the Georgia Environmental Facilities Authority (GEFA), provides funding to local governments to construct recycling facilities and purchase equipment to reduce and recycle waste. In FY 08, GEFA received $223,000* from the SWTF for these local government grants. Projects funded for FY 08: Athens-Clarke County Household hazardous waste storage building $16,000 Bacon County Forklift for recycling center $6,750 Bulloch County Recycling containers $14,000 Decatur County Recycling container $15,490 Forsyth County Recycling containers $13,500 City of Griffin Recycling containers $21,000 Hart County Recycling containers $19,068 City of Kennesaw Recycling containers $24,117 City of Macon Recycling containers $50,000 Rome-Floyd County Recycling center $42,200 City of Tifton Recycling facility upgrades $19,000 *Actual total ($241,125) included funding not spent from previous year. SWTF // Solid Waste Reduction & Recycling Tons of organic material composted 25,800 Tons of material recycled 1,017 Dollars saved through composting and recycling $938,595 In FY 08, GDC recycled 780 tons of cardboard from 30 of its state prisons and other facilities. Georgia Department of Corrections As part of its efforts to manage and reduce solid waste, the Georgia Department of Corrections (GDC) operates 10 composting operations that process food and other organic waste from 21 of its state prisons. In FY 08, GDC composted 5,500 tons of food waste and 20,300 tons of other organic material. Assuming a landfill tipping fee of $35 per ton, the cost savings to GDC was $903,000. GDC also recycles solid waste from 30 of its state prisons and facilities. In FY 08, GDC recycled 780 tons of cardboard, 187 tons of steel and other metals and 50 tons of pallets. Assuming a landfill tipping fee of $35 per ton, the cost savings to GDC was $35,595. A new "in-vessel" composting system at Coastal State Prison will allow GDC to process more material and generate more compost. 11 Organic material is shredded and mixed inside the composting vessel. Number of technical assistance questions answered 2,158 Tons of material recycled through special events program 14 Number of Christmas trees recycled 171,758 SWTF // Solid Waste Reduction & Recycling Since 1996, when the ban on yard trimmings began, more and more communities have developed ongoing programs to dispose of yard waste, including Christmas trees. In FY 08, the "Bring One for the Chipper" program collected 171,758 trees from 363 sites. More than 5,200 volunteers from 128 communities and organizations participated, working an average of four hours each. 12 Department of Community Affairs In the FY 08 spending plan for the in their communities. In FY 08, 14 SWTF, DCA was allocated over $2.9 tons of recyclable materials were million to fund the following projects: collected through this program at Regional Recycling Hubs 180 events around the state. In FY 08, Savannah, Bulloch County, Recycling Education Campaign Griffin and Valdosta were selected to To educate citizens and local officials receive regional recycling collection on the benefits of recycling, DCA hub grants. The funds will be used to launched a statewide recycling construct new or expand existing education campaign in FY 07. As part facilities that will serve as the initial framework of a statewide network of regional collection hubs for commingled recyclables. These regional Trailers to collect recyclables are part of a statewide campaign to encourage recycling away from home. of the project, DCA hired a contractor in FY 08 to test market different recycling messages to help choose which one would be most likely to recycling hubs will reduce transportation and other recy- change recycling behavior in the state. cling costs, making it more viable for communities to offer recycling and for industries to obtain recovered materials. Technical Assistance Special Event Recycling To help provide easy and convenient recycling opportunities away from home, DCA began a special event recycling program in FY 07. As part of this program, in FY 08, 35 special event recycling trailers were delivered around the state. Local governments apply for grants to receive the trailers, which are then made available to event organizers All local governments are required under the Solid Waste Management Act to have a 10-year plan for managing solid waste. In FY 08, DCA staff fielded 456 requests for assistance with the process and approved 34 plans. DCA also answers questions on recycling and general waste management issues. In FY 08, staff responded to 1,186 such requests and also answered 516 calls related to proper management of household hazardous waste. Average number items of litter per mile on Georgia roadsides 655 Pounds of litter removed during Great American Cleanup 2 million Amount of Clean Community Challenge grants awarded $131,000 SWTF // Litter Prevention & Abatement Department of Community Affairs Statewide Litter Campaign Great American Cleanup In FY 08, DCA received $1.25 million to continue its The Great American Cleanup is an annual event designed administrative support of the statewide litter initiative. As to assist local governments in revitalizing their communi- part of the surveys conducted to gauge the public's ties and educating citizens. In FY 08, 57,667 volunteers perception of litter, 87 percent of Georgians said that litter representing more than 700 communities worked 307,560 affects their quality of life. Most Georgians -- 94 percent -- hours picking up litter from Georgia's roadways and think litter is a problem in the state and 46 percent said cleaning up illegal dumpsites. Nearly 2 million pounds of they knew someone who had littered in the past two waste were removed and properly disposed. years. A statewide roadside Clean Community Challenge litter assessment The Clean Community Challenge (CCC) is an incentive- Gov. Sonny Perdue meets with Valdosta Mayor John Fretti and Buster the Brown Trasher, mascot for the state litter campaign. conducted as part of the initiative found that almost two-thirds of the litter in the state can be attributed to "passive" based program to recognize local governments that are holistically addressing litter prevention in their communities. Participants have access to resources to conduct community-based litter assessments and be eligible to receive grant funding to implement local litter prevention sources (e.g., unsecured strategies. In FY 08, five communities completed the loads, garbage trucks, construction sites). In FY 08, a follow-up Debris from waste hauling trucks is a common source of "passive" litter on Georgia's roads. study revealed that, on a statewide basis, an average of eligibility requirements to participate in the program and three -- Forsyth, Madison and Liberty counties -- were selected to receive Clean Community Challenge grants totaling $131,000. 655 items of litter per mile were found on the state's 13 roadsides. This figure was down 23 percent from 2006. Litter citations issued by WRD 141 SWTF // Litter Prevention & Abatement Number of Citations Issued per Charge 78 Littering 30 Unlawful dumping of egregious litter < 500 lbs. 2 Unlawful dumping of egregious litter > 500 lbs. Wildlife Resources Division Litter Law Enforcement In the course of their day-to-day activities, rangers with the Wildlife Resources Division (WRD) of the Department of Natural Resources come across litter and solid waste dumping violations that might otherwise have gone undiscovered (e.g., dump sites in remote areas of the state) and, therefore, play a crucial enforcement role in the state's litter initiative. In FY 08, WRD rangers issued 141 litter-related citations. See list at left for a breakdown by citation. 16 Unlawful burning of egregious litter < 500 lbs. 13 Unlawful burning of egregious litter > 500 lbs. WRD rangers not only look for violations of the state's litter laws on land (below right), they even take to the waterways (above right). Many times the rangers are able to identify suspected litterbugs from the trash they find. 2 Unlawful dumping/burning of egregious litter (biomedical/ 14 hazardous/commercial) The Miller/Trammel Road Landfill in Forsyth County remains a risk for methane explosions. Emergencies and corrective actions 3 SWTF dollars spent to respond to emergencies $121,730 Environmental Protection Division Since 1993, the SWTF has been used to respond to tire fires, control methane gas coming from landfills, and extinguish fires at landfills. The FY 08 budget reserved $200,000 to respond to such emergencies. Readings taken in November 2007 and January 2008 showed levels well above the explosive limit. Due to limited funds, EPD has not been able to fully mitigate the problems. EPD continues to monitor the site. Forsyth County. While Cobb County. At the grading the site of a new request of Cobb County subdivision being built officials, EPD used emer- around the abandoned Miller/ gency funding to put out an Trammel Road Landfill in underground fire at the Forsyth County, the contrac- Cobb County firemen work to douse the fire at the West Sandtown closed West Sandtown Road tor destroyed wells used to Road Inert Landfill, as a backhoe mixes the burning debris with soil. Inert Landfill in November monitor methane levels. 2007. A contractor extin- When new wells were installed, readings showed that guished the burning debris by mixing it with soil and the explosive levels of methane had moved underground to county's fire department doused it with water. In Decem- several of the subdivision lots. ber 2007, the Cobb County Fire Marshal notified EPD that After the subdivision's developer filed for bankruptcy in March 2007, EPD hired a contractor to add more monitor- smoke was coming from two other areas of the landfill. The contractor returned and again extinguished the fire. ing wells, evaluate methane levels, test the groundwater McRae. Approximately $87,000 from EPD's emergency and recommend corrective actions to protect nearby fund was spent to clean up improperly disposed solid 15 residents. An estimated $33,000 of the funds reserved for waste contaminated with lead in a residential area in the emergencies was used for this project. city of McRae, Georgia. SWTF // Solid Waste Emergencies & Preventative and Corrective Action Amount spent in FY 08 to close the Scales Road landfill $4.38 million SWTF // Abandoned Landfills As part of the work at the Scales Road landfill, a backhoe is used to move waste and create a stable final slope. 16 Environmental Protection Division Scales Road Landfill Georgia's population growth over the past 20 years resulted in an unprecedented building boom across the state. But along with construction of new housing, commercial districts, schools and infrastructure comes waste from these activities. Landfills specifically built to take this construction and demolition (C&D) debris dot the state. One of those is the Scales Road Landfill in DeKalb County. The Scales Road Landfill began accepting waste in 1990. By the time it ceased operating in 2004, it covered nearly 25 acres and contained approximately 2 million tons of waste. In 2000, the landfill's owner declared bankruptcy, soon to be followed by the insurance company that provided financial assurance for landfill closure. In 2005, the owner informed EPD the company did not have the funds needed to properly close the landfill and abandoned the site. Because the landfill was not properly closed, environmental conditions deteriorated: erosion exposed waste and fires broke out. In addition to the fires, other environmental threats included increased sedimentation in nearby surface waters due to runoff and contamination of groundwater with leachate (rainwater that falls on the landfill and percolates to the bottom, picking up pollutants along the way). Gases, such as sulfides and methane, from the landfill also threatened the quality of life of the roughly 10,000 people who live within a two-mile radius of the site. EPD began cleanup and closed the landfill in order to protect human health and the environment. Because the landfill owner and its insurance company were insolvent, EPD budgeted money from the Solid Waste Trust Fund for the project. In March 2007, EPD awarded a $4.9 million contract to close the landfill. The majority of the work on the landfill was completed in FY 08, for a total of $4,382,372.47. The final cost of the project is expected to be within the projected budget of approximately $4.9 million, which also will provide for the contractor to maintain the site and monitor groundwater for 12 months after EPD accepts the final closure report. SWTF // Abandoned Landfills Scales Road Successes Work completed under budget Work completed on time Risks to environment reduced Results of methane gas monitoring are below explosive hazard levels SWTF dollars responsibly managed by EPD with appropriate oversight and accountability The large amount of rainwater entering the landfill created deep gullies and craters that exposed waste and allowed gases and odors to escape. Exposed waste also increased the risk for fire. The area of large rocks to the left in the picture above has stabilized the former gully in the "before" picture (left). Before work began, large cracks were visible in the vegetation covering the surface. These cracks allowed a higher than Near the end of work on the landfill, the cracks are gone as new 17 vegetation is established. Other changes include new equipment to acceptable amount of rainwater into the landfill, which increased the monitor the generation of methane and other gases and to vent production of gases such as methane and allowed them to escape. them safely out of the landfill. Georgia Department of Natural Resources Environmental Protection Division 4244 International Parkway Atlanta, Georgia 30354 www.georgiaepd.org 18 Printed on recycled paper Photo of mountains on cover and photos on pages 3-5 courtesy of the Georgia Department of Economic Development