Altamont Landfill and Resource Recovery Facility

The Altamont Landfill in Livermore, CA, established in the early 1980s, has grown from a basic waste disposal site to a comprehensive facility integrating waste management with resource recovery. It addresses the region’s waste disposal needs while focusing on environmental stewardship. The facility incorporates advanced technologies like landfill gas collection for energy and recycling programs. It plays a crucial role in reducing environmental impact, generating renewable energy, and implementing conservation measures, emphasizing sustainability and community engagement.
 
Forgen won a contract in the spring of 2018 to complete three heavy civil construction projects within the limits of the landfill. These projects aimed to expand the landfill space by blasting and excavating hard rock within the limits of the expansion, rough grading of the cell floor and side slopes in preparation for next phase of construction, constructing experimental landfill cover, and various improvement for stormwater management. Overall, these initiatives were geared towards modernizing landfill operations, meeting regulatory standards, and enhancing environmental stewardship and environmental remediation at the Altamont Landfill.

The first project consisted of blasting, processing and removal of over 100,000 cubic yards of rock which was hauled to a stockpile location approximately 1.25 miles from the excavation area and graded to match the surrounding topography.

The second project entailed an experimental landfill cover called an Evapotranspirative (ET) cover. The goal of an ET cover is to reduce water infiltration into landfills, which helps minimize the creation of leachate, a liquid formed when water passes through waste materials. By limiting water infiltration, ET covers help prevent the leaching of contaminants from the landfill into surrounding soil and groundwater, thus improving environmental protection and regulatory compliance.

The ET cover was constructed on a 10-acre area atop the existing landfill by placing 55,000 cubic yards of screened material over the garbage. The uneven ground caused by trash settlement across the area posed a challenge for our team, as the ET cover needed to be exactly 3 feet thick.

The third project involved the construction of a 30,000 cubic yard dam, which created a sediment basin at the bottom of the landfill property. A sediment basin at the bottom of a landfill is designed to capture and manage sediment-laden runoff. This structure complies with environmental regulations, protects water quality, and controls erosion within the landfill area. The basin construction also included creating 9,500 cubic yards of 18-inch minus riprap generated from on-site rock and placed in the inlet and dam spillway.

After completing these projects, we achieved several key outcomes. The blasting and removal of rock for excavation and expansion of the landfill space, significantly improving waste disposal efficiency.

The ET cover reduced water infiltration, limiting leachate generation and enhancing environmental protection. Constructing the sediment basin effectively managed runoff, meeting environmental regulations and protecting water quality on-site. Overall, these initiatives enhanced landfill operations, minimized environmental impact, and promoted sustainability and environmental remediation for our client