|
Riverbend Recycles Leachate to Grow Trees
WM’s Riverbend Landfill in Portland, Oregon,
received an Excellence in Engineering award from the American Academy
of Environmental Engineering for its unique approach to leachate
management.
Leachate is the liquid waste produced by water
passing through the solid waste in a landfill. The wet Pacific Northwest
climate generates significant volumes of leachate that must be removed
from waste cells and treated.
 A
number of treatment options involving filtration, distillation,
and evaporation were considered, but in the end, something more
innovative was designed: a poplar tree farm. This tree farm employs
an advanced drip irrigation system for precision leachate application
and extensive environmental monitoring systems. This sustainable
tree plantation plan ensures consistent harvesting and leachate
handling capacity far into the future. While managing the leachate
generated by the landfill, the trees also provide the added benefit
of an attractive visual buffer and wildlife habitat.
Learn more about our Waste to Energy Projects:
|
