Abstract:
A system of panels for use in covering an active face of an operational landfill, in order to prevent and/or minimize litter, odors, leachate production, fires, and the prevalence of flies and vectors. Each panel comprises a plate; one or more brackets; and optionally, a flap. The brackets are adapted to engage with the blade of a compactor or other type of heavy equipment. The panels are moved to and from the active face of an operational landfill using the compactor. The panels are durable and fireproof, and can be transported in a variety of weather conditions. Transporting the panels to and from the active area is easy and efficient as compared with prior art methods.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD  
       [0001]    The present invention pertains to a system of panels for temporarily covering the active area of an operational landfill, in order to prevent and/or minimize litter, odors, leachate production, fires, and the prevalence of flies and vectors. 
       BACKGROUND  
       [0002]    Many jurisdictions require that a cover be placed on the “active face” of an operational landfill on a daily basis. This is done for many reasons, including: to prevent wind-blown litter, to minimize odors and leachate production, and to reduce the risk of landfill fires. The cover also prevents flies from laying eggs in the refuse and isolates the refuse from vectors such as birds, rodents and small carnivores. 
         [0003]    Historically, mineral soil has been used for daily cover. Typically, regulations require that the active face be covered with 150 mm (6″) of soil at the end of each working day. For small landfills, placement of soil cover often results in waste to cover ratios (on a volume basis) that are 2:1 or less. Some landfills have ratios of less than 1:1. This means that more soil cover is going into the landfill than refuse, wasting valuable “air space” (space that could otherwise be filled with refuse). 
         [0004]    Other problems with using soil as the cover include the cost of replacing the soil daily. Often contractors or landfill operators will spend more than 30 minutes each day replacing soil cover. As well, the “borrow pits” that are dug in order to extract the soil increase the size of the disturbed footprint of a landfill. This ultimately increases the costs of land reclamation during closure of the landfill. 
         [0005]    Over the past 15 years, many landfill operators have used some form of alternate daily cover (ADC). The most common form of ADC is a re-usable tarp. Although the use of reusable tarps meets a number of operational objectives, it presents a number of problems. Tarps can get caught on refuse and rip easily. Typically, tarps last less than one year due to damage. Birds, particularly ravens, can peck holes and pull refuse through many of the tarp materials. Further, after heavy snow fall, tarps can be difficult to remove. In heavy winds they can be difficult to place and can easily be blown off the active face of the landfill. 
         [0006]    Other ADC systems have been developed, but each presents its own problems. For convenience, non-reusable plastic tarps have been introduced. For example, one US patent which describes a complicated system for deploying a “film” as an ADC tarp is U.S. Pat. No. 6,558,080, which issued on 6 May, 2003 to Kozak. However, these systems present the issues of high cost, wasting of non-renewable resources, and jamming of the soil cover ballast deployment system that is used to weight down the ADC. Spray-on systems have been used to facilitate application, but these are generally less effective at controlling vectors and at reducing risk of fire. A semi-rigid reusable system comprised of plastic pipes has been introduced in at least one landfill. However, this system apparently presents challenges with deployment and manufacture of the pipes. 
         [0007]    There is still a need to provide an ADC system that fulfills the objectives of litter and fire prevention, erosion and leachate minimization, and fly and vector diversion without presenting the problems of the prior art ADC systems. 
         [0008]    The foregoing examples of the related art and limitations related thereto are intended to be illustrative and not exclusive. Other limitations of the related art will become apparent to those of skill in the art upon a reading of the specification and a study of the drawings. 
       SUMMARY  
       [0009]    The following embodiments and aspects thereof are described and illustrated in conjunction with systems, tools and methods which are meant to be exemplary and illustrative, not limiting in scope. In various embodiments, one or more of the above-described problems have been reduced or eliminated, while other embodiments are directed to other improvements. 
         [0010]    The invention provides an alternate daily cover (ADC) system for covering the active face of an operational landfill. The ADC system provides a series of panels that are placed on the landfill active face, in what might be conveniently called “shingle” fashion. Although as many panels are used as necessary depending on the area of the active face, typically four to eight panels might be required. 
         [0011]    Each panel comprises a plate, brackets and optionally, one or more flaps. The brackets are attached to the top face of the plate. These brackets may have arms which can be engaged by the blade of a compactor, loader or other machinery to lift and hold the panel while it is being transported by the compactor. 
         [0012]    To engage and transport a panel, the compactor operator positions the bucket of the compactor so that the blade of the bucket slides in between the plate and the bracket arms. The bucket is then lifted, bringing the engaged panel with it, and moved to a desired portion of the active face of the operational landfill. Once the compactor has reached the space on the active face of the operational landfill where the panel is to be deployed, the bucket is lowered so that the panel rests on the surface of the active face. The bucket is then retracted, which disengages the panel from the bucket. These steps are repeated with other panels until the active area of the operational landfill is covered with panels. Each panel tends to overlap the edge of another, providing a generally gap-free cover over the active face. 
         [0013]    This ADC system of the present invention is advantageous over the prior art in that the panels are: easy to engage and transport; are made from durable materials and are therefore long-lasting; and, can be transported and manoeuvered in a variety of weather conditions. 
         [0014]    In addition to the exemplary aspects and embodiments described above, further aspects and embodiments will become apparent by reference to the drawings and by study of the following detailed description. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
         [0015]    Exemplary embodiments are illustrated in referenced figures of the drawings. It is intended that the embodiments and figures disclosed herein are to be considered illustrative rather than restrictive. 
           [0016]      FIG. 1  is a side schematic view of a compactor spreading and compacting waste on the active face of an operational landfill. 
           [0017]      FIGS. 2   a  and  2   b  are schematic perspective views of prior art ADC systems. 
           [0018]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a panel according to the invention. 
           [0019]      FIGS. 4   a  and  4   b  are perspective views of a panel being engaged and carried by a compactor. 
           [0020]      FIG. 5  is a schematic perspective view of an operational landfill covered by ADC system according to the invention. 
           [0021]      FIG. 6  is a top schematic view of a series of panels used in accordance with another embodiment of the system, each panel having flaps extending from two adjacent sides thereof rather than just from one. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION  
       [0022]    Throughout the following description specific details are set forth in order to provide a more thorough understanding to persons skilled in the art. However, well known elements may not have been shown or described in detail to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the disclosure. Accordingly, the description and drawings are to be regarded in an illustrative, rather than a restrictive, sense. 
         [0023]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an operational landfill  100 . A compactor  200  is traveling up the “active face”  102  (the ramped portion) of the operational landfill  100 , spreading and compacting fill waste with a blade  204  of its bucket. At the end of each working day, active face  102  must be covered. 
         [0024]      FIGS. 2   a  and  2   b  are perspective views of operational landfill  100  covered with prior art cover systems.  FIG. 2   a  shows the active face of landfill  100  covered with mineral soil  120  while  FIG. 2   b  shows the active face of landfill  100  covered with a tarp  130 . These prior art cover systems present the disadvantages outlined above. 
         [0025]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a panel  10  of the ADC system of the present invention. Panel  10  comprises a plate  20 , brackets  40  and optionally, one or more flaps  60 . In one embodiment, plate  20  is made of a metal, namely steel. However, plate  20  may be made from one or more of a variety of different materials. In the embodiment shown, the material is a rigid, relatively inflexible material. However, more flexible materials such as plastics may also be used. 
         [0026]    Plate  20  has a top face  22  and a bottom face  24 . As previously stated, in the shown embodiment, plate  20  is made from one material, namely steel. However, those skilled in the art will readily see that plate  20  can be made from more than one material if desired. Optionally, top face  22  and/or bottom face  24  may be overlaid with a different material. Alternatively, the majority or entirety of plate  20  may be overlaid with a flexible material, for example, a material that will protect it from moisture. 
         [0027]    Brackets  40  are attached to the top face  22  of plate  20 . In the illustrated embodiment, there are two brackets  40 . However, there may be any useful number of brackets  40 . In a preferred embodiment brackets  40  each comprise an elbow  42  and an arm  44 . Brackets  40  may be welded to plate  20  if both are made of steel. However they are affixed onto plate,  20 , the purpose of brackets  40  is to allow an operator of machinery to pick up and move and otherwise manipulate the position of plate  20 . 
         [0028]    Plate  20  will typically have four or more edges. In the embodiment shown, plate  20  has a rear edge  26 , a front edge  28  and side edges  30   a  and  30   b.  In the illustrated embodiment, edges  26  and  28  are parallel. Side edges  30   a  and  30   b  are also parallel, such that plate  20  has a rectangular shape. However, plate  20  may take on a variety of different shapes. For example, plate  20  may be trapezoidal or rhombus-shaped. Or the shape of plate  20  may be irregular, but for most uses a rectangular-shaped plate will suffice, and a plate of rectangular shape will continue to be described herein just for clarity. 
         [0029]    In the embodiment shown, brackets  40  are located near the center of plate  20 , and are equidistant from side edges  30   a  and  30   b.  However, those skilled in the art will readily see that brackets  40  need not be located in the center of the plate. Alternatively, brackets  40  may be located closer to one edge of the plate and/or may be spaced further apart than they are in the shown embodiment. 
         [0030]    Optionally, one or more flaps may be attached to plate  20 . In the illustrated embodiment, flap  60  is attached to plate  20  near front edge  28 . Flap  60  may be adhered to plate  20  by an adhesive, or may be attached mechanically, for example, by way of screws or bolts passing through the flap  60  and into or through the plate  20 . In one embodiment of the invention (shown in  FIG. 3 ), plate  20  has one flap  60  along the front edge  28 . Flap  60  extends beyond the front edge  28  of the plate  20 . However, those skilled in the art will readily see that plate  20  may have more than one flap (or may have no flaps at all), and that flap(s)  60  may be attached to a side edge rather than a front edge, or to any other edge or combination of edges. For example, plate  20  may have  2  flaps on adjacent sides (or a single flap having an “L-shape”), such that flaps  60  cover two adjacent edges (for example, the front edge and a side edge). This arrangement is shown in  FIG. 6 . The importance of flap  60  is discussed in greater detail below. 
         [0031]    In the illustrated embodiment, flap  60  extends the full length L of front edge  28 . However, flap  60  does not have to extend over the entire length L, nor is it necessarily confined to length L. 
         [0032]    In the shown embodiment, flap  60  is made from a relatively flexible material, such as rubber. In one particular embodiment, flap  60  is conveniently fashioned from rubber conveyor belting. However, flap  60  may be made from one or more of a variety of materials. In another embodiment, flap  60  is made from the same material that plate  20  is overlaid with and is contiguous with that material. 
         [0033]      FIGS. 4   a  and  4   b  show panel  10  being engaged and transported by compactor  200 . In  FIG. 4   b,  panel  10  is engaged with bucket  202  and is being transported by compactor  200 .  FIG. 4   a  shows a close-up view of brackets  40  of panel  10  and bucket  204  of compactor  200  prior to engagement. It is appreciated that only the central portion of the surface of plate  20  is illustrated in this figure. 
         [0034]    As show in  FIG. 4   a,  bucket  202  has a blade  204 . To engage panel  10 , blade  204  is placed on top of plate  20  or very close to the top surface  22  of plate  20 , and is slid between plate  20  and arms  44  until blade  204  comes into contact (or nearly comes into contact) with elbow  42 . Next, the operator of compactor  200  lifts bucket  202  into the air bringing the engaged panel  20  with it. As can be seen in  FIG. 4   b,  panel  10  thus travels with bucket  202 , such that plate  20  is below blade  204  and is held onto blade  204  by arms  44  of brackets  40 . 
         [0035]      FIG. 5  shows compactor  200  disengaging panel  10  onto active face  102  of operational landfill  100 . Once bucket  202  is above the space where the operator wishes to place panel  10 , bucket  202  is lowered so that bottom face  24  of panel  10  is placed against active face  102  and panel  10  rests on active face  102 . Bucket  202  is then retracted so that panel  10  is disengaged. 
         [0036]    As shown in  FIG. 5 , the system of the invention requires that a plurality of panels  10  be placed on active face  102  in shingle-fashion. In other words, a panel  10  is picked up from a storage location, and placed at or near the top of the active face  102 . A row of top-most panels may be placed at the top of the active face if the face is wider than the width of one plate. Then, another panel is picked up and placed beneath the top-most panel, but overlapping it along the bottom edge of the plate of the first panel. In this particular figure ( FIG. 5 ), not only the active face, but the top portion of the landfill is shown covered with plates  10 , but it is not necessarily the case that the top portion of the landfill must or should be covered with the system. 
         [0037]    The plates themselves of adjacent panels can be placed partially atop one another so that they overlap one another if they do not include flaps  60 . However, as shown, the plates  20  of panels  10  may have flaps  60  along one or more edges and in that instance the plate edges may be placed adjacent to one another (abutting one another, or even simply quite near one another) so that it is only the flap  60  of one panel which overlaps the plate  20  of the next panel. This overlap ensures nearly complete coverage of active face  102  and prevents it from being exposed to rain, wind, vectors, and the like. The flexibility of the flap  60  causes the flap to conform more closely to the top surface of an adjoining plate where the plates might be askew or otherwise not completely flush with one another, minimizing gaps. Flaps  60  can also be attached to one or more side edges of plates  20  as shown in  FIG. 6 , ensuring similar coverage between respective sides of the adjacent plates  20 . 
         [0038]    Once the system has been put into place, it remains so until removed by the compactor operator (usually the next day). To remove panels  10 , the operator of compactor  200  simply follows the reverse of the procedure that was used to place panels  10  on active face  102 . Again, although item  200  has been referred to a compactor, other types of heavy equipment may be used to engage and transport panels  10 . 
         [0039]    The system of placing the panels of the present invention in shingle-fashion on the active face of an operational landfill has many advantages over other forms of ADC. Firstly, the panels are very durable, are fireproof, and are expected to last for many years. Secondly, the panels may easily be recovered, even in high winds or after a heavy snowfall. Third, a set of panels can be engaged and transported easily, typically in less than 15 minutes. Furthermore, since the panels are re-useable, they present a lesser environmental impact than disposable ADC systems. 
         [0040]    While a number of exemplary aspects and embodiments have been discussed above, those of skill in the art will recognize certain modifications, permutations, additions and sub-combinations thereof. It is therefore intended that the following appended claims and claims hereafter introduced are interpreted to include all such modifications, permutations, additions and sub-combinations as are within their true spirit and scope.