Christian Collins, the Deputy Director of Utilities for Manatee County, and Shane Fischer, P.E., of SCS Engineers, take readers through a pressing problem in many communities and regions – dwindling landfill airspace. As populations continue to grow and citizen consumption increases, the amount of waste surges, pushing landfills to their limits sooner than anticipated.
The co-authors guide us through the options a Florida landfill considers and the successful solution they ultimately implemented, doubling the life of the existing landfill’s footprint. This inspiring case study, originally published in Talking Trash, is now shared with our landfill clients, demonstrating that effective landfill management is achievable.
About the Authors:
Christian Collins is the Deputy Director of Utilities for Manatee County, with more than 30 years of expertise in wastewater and water plant operations, design and construction, reclaimed and biosolids management, solid waste facility operation and maintenance, and leading large teams, licensed in water and wastewater operations.
Shane Fischer, P.E., is a Vice President of SCS Engineers. He has more than 25 years of diverse experience designing and permitting civil engineering and solid waste management projects from the initial concept, construction, and operations.
Additional Landfill Airspace Resources:
On July 16, 2024, the Volusia County Council approved a contract with SCS Engineers to develop a new 271-acre Class I landfill. The landfill, located at the southeast expansion area (SEA) of the Tomoka Farms Road Landfill, is part of the County’s long-term plan to meet its Class I sanitary solid waste disposal needs for over a century. The Public Works will oversee the project, Solid Waste Division, under the guidance of the County’s Project Manager.
SCS Engineers will provide a range of engineering services, including developing a solid waste permit application package for the Florida Department of Environmental Protection. They will design the landfill gas collection and capture system, supporting infrastructure, geotechnical needs, and leachate collection to protect groundwater and soil. Additionally, they will provide support services for selecting a construction contractor for the first 20-acre disposal cell at the new landfill.
SCS will collaborate with the County to identify any constraints that may impact the cost or constructability of future projects. They will also explore potential opportunities associated with this project to ensure the design complements and maximizes future development opportunities.
Landfills are complex systems integrating liquid and gas management systems to protect the environment. Volusia County selected SCS Engineers for their expertise in designing modern landfills that adhere to strict state and federal regulatory and quality control guidelines. The firm’s understanding of how current landfill operations interrelate with the development of SEA was a key factor in their selection.
Modern landfills are ecosystems that isolate waste from surrounding environments, such as groundwater, air, and rain. While the County’s reuse, recycling, and organics management programs significantly reduce waste in landfills, the SEA development provides an essential service that will continue uninterrupted as communities transition to even more sustainable programs and infrastructure to reuse landfill gas and other byproducts.
Vice President Dan Cooper, P.E., expressed his gratitude, stating, “SCS is privileged that Volusia County has entrusted us as a partner to sustainably engineer SEA’s safe and efficient development. We’re honored to assist the Solid Waste Division in their mission to support the citizens and the environment.”
Additional Resources:
SCS Engineers is pleased to announce the addition of Mary Morkin-Garcia and William Haley to the SCS team. Morkin-Garcia joins as the new project director of Southwest groundwater monitoring programs, while Haley assumes the role of Project Director of the Southern California landfill engineering group. Both employees will report to Srividhya Viswanathan, vice president and leader of the landfill engineering practice for SCS’s Southwest business unit.
“Mary and William are stellar additions to our team, combining decades of experience in environmental remediation and landfill engineering. We look forward to the valuable contributions they will bring to our organization,” said Viswanathan.
Morkin-Garcia is a project manager and Professional Geologist with over two decades of experience in environmental remediation project management. Her Master of Science in Hydrogeology and extensive fieldwork contribute to her Project/Field Hydrogeologist expertise. Her experience includes managing multi-year projects in remedial design, building demolition, site remediation, and regulatory site closure. She oversees all aspects of these projects, including design, coordination of field activities and personnel, internal and external project cost and schedule control, reporting, risk management, and quality assurance in accordance with state and local standards.
Haley is a Professional Engineer with 13 years of experience and a Bachelor of Science from the Colorado School of Mines. Haley’s experience includes developing, managing, and leading project teams while providing landfill design and engineering services nationwide. These services include design, permitting, construction, regulatory compliance, and capital budgeting. Haley has successfully directed solid waste engineering projects for over 40 landfills and disposal sites in 13 states.
Find your environmental career at SCS and help businesses, communities, and our planet thrive.
Dr. Ali Khatami, PE, is SCS Engineers’ National Expert for Landfill Design. Over his 40-year career, he has developed countless innovative engineering solutions to improve landfill design and function. Dr. Khatami generously shares his wealth of knowledge and expertise with clients and colleagues. He prepared a series of in-depth videos to explore various landfill design components. In this first blog, we introduce Dr. Khatami’s videos that cover modern landfill design and best design and construction practices. These modern approaches provide greater efficiencies and financial savings, with elegant and often simple solutions to issues that challenge landfills.
This webinar covers the advantages of modern landfill engineering and system design. Today’s modern landfills offset inflation and labor costs through transformative reduction, recycling, and reuse programs while turning methane into renewable energy. Advanced remote monitoring and control technology and data capture provide many efficiencies and insight to landfill operators and owners running increasingly larger collections of plants and facilities. This trend necessitates more landfill design sophistication and master planning to recoup the growing capital investment. In this webinar, Dr. Khatami discusses modern landfill design, focusing on optimizing site layout and maximizing air space – a landfill’s golden egg. [Run time 1:10:03]
Temporary Caps over Landfill Slopes
Dr. Khatami explores the benefits of placing temporary caps over landfill slopes and provides best practices. Advantages include delaying construction of the final cover, allowing additional settlement before final cover (thus increasing capacity), temporarily eliminating percolation of rainwater into waste (thus reducing leachate), improving gas collection, improving odor problems, and improving aesthetics. [Run time 19:08]
Surface Water Swales and Downchutes in Landfill Final Covers
Dr. Khatami explores a surface water management system for landfill final covers that SCS Engineers has used for many facilities. The system is very effective and efficient and is simple to construct. It easily channels water from the slopes to the perimeter ditches without causing erosion or slope problems. Dr. Khatami walks through the components of the system and takes us through the construction step-by-step. [Run time 40:50]
Dr. Ali Khatami is SCS Engineers’ National Expert for Landfill Design, as well as Construction Quality Assurance and Elevated Temperature Landfills. He has over 40 years of research and professional experience in mechanical, structural, and civil engineering. He is a licensed Professional Engineer (PE) in Florida and a Florida Licensed Environmental Assessor (LEP). As a Vice President and SCS’s National Expert in Landfill Design and Construction Quality Assurance, Dr. Khatami works with our various offices to solve complicated technical matters. He shares his knowledge by advising our technical professionals, presenting at conferences and national webinars, publishing technical papers and blogs, preparing training material for professional staff, and mentoring SCS Young Professionals. Connect with Dr. Khatami on LinkedIn.
In the realm of global sustainable development, engineering stands as a crucial pillar, driving innovation and progress. Women, representing half of the world’s population, play a pivotal role in this narrative, bringing diverse perspectives and innovative solutions to the forefront. One such trailblazer in the field is Anastasia Welch, whose contributions at SCS Engineers exemplify the impact women engineers can have on shaping a sustainable future.
With a keen eye for detail and a passion for environmental sustainability, women like Anastasia drive positive change in the waste industry. Here’s her journey, which we hope will inspire you.
Building Professional Experience
As a Vice President/Project Director, Ms. Welch utilizes her civil engineering background to affect solid waste-related projects in numerous states for both municipal and private clients. Throughout her career, Anastasia has focused on solid waste-related solutions ranging from design and compliance to planning. As a solid waste practice leader in the Central Region, Anastasia leverages her experience across the company to bring the appropriate personnel and work efforts to meet clients’ expectations and needs.
This month, she achieved a milestone in her career with her promotion to the Business Unit Director for SCS’ Central Region. She brings technical expertise and a unique perspective that enriches her team’s problem-solving capabilities. By influencing industry standards and promoting responsible environmental practices throughout the firm, her leadership extends beyond the Central Business Unit.
Project Experience
Mrs. Welch enjoys assisting her clients to help them meet their long-term goals. Anastasia is passionate about landfills and the waste systems that serve our communities. As of 2020, she is the Co-Chair of SWANA’s Landfill Re-Branding Committee, focusing on changing how the public views landfills. More recently, she has become much more involved with industrial clients, assisting them with their multimedia permitting and compliance needs.
Anastasia appreciates the details of technical compliance regulations by putting the pieces together, whether for a landfill or an industrial manufacturing facility. She excels by protecting our environment in a responsible way that still allows businesses to thrive.
Her specialty services areas include landfill design, transfer stations, solid waste planning, industrial facilities support, gas, stormwater, and environmental & industrial compliance.
Demonstrating a Passion for Environmental Engineering and Leadership
Anastasia’s dedication to details has proven instrumental in navigating the complex landscape of waste management and landfill design. Women engineers like Anastasia bring a holistic approach to problem-solving, ensuring that solutions are sound and environmentally responsible.
Anastasia’s role as Co-Chair of SWANA’s Landfill Re-Branding Committee exemplifies SCS Engineers’ proactive stance in reshaping industry narratives. By actively working to change public perceptions of landfills, she demonstrates the transformative power of combining technical expertise with effective communication and education.
Publications and Presentations
Anastasia actively contributes to the field through various publications and presentations, showcasing and sharing successful solutions. Noteworthy publications include “Developing a Master Plan for the City of Kirkwood, MO” and “Systematic Pathways to a Sustainable Waste Business.” Her presentations at conferences such as the Global Waste Management Symposium and the Missouri Waste Control Coalition Conference reflect her dedication to knowledge sharing and staying at the forefront of industry trends.
Education and Professional Licenses
Anastasia holds a B.S. in Civil and Environmental Engineering from the University of Missouri, Columbia, graduating in 2000. She is a licensed Professional Engineer in Kansas, Missouri, Iowa, and North Dakota, showcasing her commitment to maintaining high professional standards.
The Transformative Power of Women in Environmental Engineering
Anastasia’s journey is a story of dedication, expertise, and leadership, from her educational background to her technical and managerial experience. Anastasia demonstrates a passion for environmental sustainability and a commitment to excellence.
As we celebrate the achievements of women like Anastasia, we recognize the collective impact women engineers have on achieving sustainable development goals. Their contributions go beyond technical expertise; each brings a fresh perspective, resilience, and a commitment to leaving a positive mark on the world. By fostering inclusivity, encouraging mentorship, and championing diversity, we pave the way for more engineering women to be architects of sustainable progress. The journey of women in engineering and as environmental consultants, exemplified by Anastasia, is a testament to the endless possibilities when talent knows no gender or color.
SCS Engineers is an exciting, challenging, rewarding place to work that is nationally recognized as an industry leader. Join us in supporting businesses and communities throughout North America.
By preparing site life calculations with knowledge of multiple approaches, we can proactively position solid waste systems to meet future needs. However, the simplest approach is often the most prudent when every variable is unknown.
The growing Florida population has greatly pressured all public infrastructure, including waste disposal services. Planning for these adjusted growth trends is paramount to a successful system that provides the community with essential services. By preparing site life calculations with knowledge of multiple approaches, we can proactively position solid waste systems to meet future needs. Don’t overlook having a thorough understanding of current disposal trends and airspace utilization as the starting point for planning the future success of a solid waste system.
In their Florida SWANA presentation, Kollan Spradlin and Fauve Herron focus on using three different landfill site life calculation methods that they have previously used to assess the remaining life of Florida landfills.
Two of the three calculation methods will use service area population projections to model future waste disposal. They will also discuss a third model that does not utilize population projections — The Remaining Capacity Method. Originally developed by SCS Engineers’ founder Bob Stearns, The Remaining Capacity Method relies on past tonnage and volume utilization data to forecast the future date at which available remaining volume will be depleted.
Their Site Life Calculations presentation will cover data requirements, the drawbacks and advantages of each method, the identification of errors, and model implications.
Presenters from the ENR-Ranked No.1 Firm for Solid Waste Management:
Kollan Spradlin, PE, CHMM and Fauve Herron, EIT
Abdul Mulla-Saleh, PhD, PE, BCEE, joins SCS Engineers as a Project Director specializing in civil and environmental services for solid waste management and master planning, landfill permitting, site development, landfill expansions and closures.
“Abdul brings superior credentials to serve SCS’s clients. Our Southeastern engineering teams bring a holistic approach to solid waste management by combining field skills, advanced technology, and engineering experts to focus on sustainable solutions,” states Vice President Shane Fischer.
Dr. Mulla-Saleh is a licensed Professional Engineer in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina and a Board Certified Environmental Engineer who has supported large civil and environmental projects globally. His portfolio includes new site development and infrastructure projects, master plans for drainage and wastewater, solid waste management, hydrologic and hydraulic studies, flood control structures, pump stations, and roadways.
His successful track record includes projects in the US, where he completed environmental projects, including landfill engineering and solid waste management facilities design, sustainable waste management, including zero waste and carbon neutral concepts, and technical quality assurance.
Abdul is a published author and presents at industry and association educational events. He is a member of the American Academy of Environmental Engineers, the American Society of Civil Engineers, the International Solid Waste Association, and the Solid Waste Association of North America. He earned his PhD in Civil Engineering at the University of South Florida; his MS in Environmental Engineering also at the University of South Florida; and his BS in Civil Engineering at the University of South Alabama.
There is a demand for qualified professionals such as Abdul, and opportunities for those just beginning their careers at SCS Engineers. Each and every team at SCS has opportunities to help protect our water, air, and land for those interested in gaining experience or sharing their expertise with industries responsible for safeguarding the environment as they deliver essential services and products.
For more information about us, please watch our video to see what you can do for your business and community. If you prefer working outdoors as part of a talented, unique team please watch this short video. No matter your job at SCS, you will make a difference!
The trend to go larger necessitates more landfill design sophistication and master planning to recoup the growing capital investment upfront. During this month’s SCS Engineers webinar and open forum, our panel will discuss landfill design, focusing on optimizing your site layout and maximizing air space – a landfill’s golden egg.
Live on Thursday, September 29, 2022
2:00 pm Eastern Time for 1 hour
This educational, non-commercial webinar with a Q&A forum throughout is free and open to all who want to learn more about landfill design. We recommend this month’s discussion for landfill owners/operators, solid waste planners, environmental engineers, municipalities, and environmental agency staff.
Certificates of Attendance are available for attendees who registered on Zoom and attended the live session.
Today’s modern landfills offset inflation and labor costs through transformative reduction, recycling, and reuse programs while turning methane into renewable energy. Advanced remote monitoring and control technology and data capture provide many efficiencies and insight to landfill operators and owners running larger and larger collections of plants and facilities on their landfills.
The trend to go larger necessitates more landfill design sophistication and master planning to recoup the growing capital investment upfront. During this month’s SCS Engineers webinar and open forum, our panel will discuss landfill design, focusing on optimizing your site layout and maximizing air space – a landfill’s golden egg.
Live on Thursday, September 29, 2022
2:00 pm Eastern Time for 1 hour
This educational, non-commercial webinar with a Q&A forum throughout is free and open to all who want to learn more about landfill design. We recommend this month’s discussion for landfill owners/operators, solid waste planners, environmental engineers, municipalities, and environmental agency staff.
Certificates of Attendance are available for attendees who registered on Zoom and attended the live session.
The Reno County Board of Commissioners approved contracting with SCS Engineers to support the County’s Solid Waste Department through 2024. SCS will provide environmental engineering, consulting, and field services for the Reno County Municipal Solid Waste Facilities for the next three years. The contract approval directly resulted from the firm’s experience, expertise, and long-standing relationship with Reno County.
SCS has a history of providing compliance, planning, and engineering services to Reno County. The firm helps the County continually comply with the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) and other agency regulations. Compliance activities throughout the year include groundwater and leachate sampling, laboratory analyses, permit renewals, air permitting, and associated report preparation in accordance with Kansas Administrative Regulations.
Landfills contain complex systems to protect the health of nearby communities and the environment. The County uses SCS professionals’ expertise and proprietary software for air quality and gas collection and control systems (GCCS) operations, monitoring, and maintenance (OMM). Reno County relies on SCS to maintain these systems and keep them in compliance to focus on their other operations.
These preventative services keep the landfills fully compliant with state and federal regulatory requirements while aligned with the County’s system performance goals and anticipated operational and maintenance activities.
In 2021 the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) changed legislation regulating landfills, specifically the New Source Performance Standards (NSPS) and other air quality regulations. These changes significantly increased the monitoring, record-keeping, data management, and reporting tasks for many landfills across the nation, including the Reno County Facility. SCS has helped Reno County navigate these changes and will continue to facilitate changes as the County looks to expand its landfill in the future. Combined with the supply chain and labor shortages, the Solid Waste Department is securing its essential services from disruptions.
Project Director Steve Linehan said, “SCS is privileged that Reno County entrusts us to partner with them to maintain the landfills’ safe and efficient operations. The Solid Waste Department supports the citizens and the environment; we’re honored to help.”
