The Anguilla Landfill on St. Croix. By. ERNICE GILBERT/ V.I. CONSORTIUM
Members of the V.I. Waste Management Authority during a Tuesday meeting approved a contract for the continued use of a product whose purposes is to help manage spread of landfill waste while providing savings to WMA.
The product, Alternative Daily Cover (ADC) from a company named Rusmar Foam Technologies, is currently being used at local landfills.
Every day, landfills must be filled with 6 inches of soil, however while dirt is still utilized in the territory, the usage of the ADC was stated to greatly reduce expenditures. Additionally, since land space in the USVI is limited, so is the availability of soil. Obtaining the necessary volumes of dirt can also be costly, and that's where ADC comes in.
It was recommended that the authority, through its executive director, approve a three-year contract for St. Croix and St. Thomas with the company, whose patented ADC has been deemed a highly engineered system of cover, application and dilution. The product has been successfully tested at the Anguilla Landfill on St. Croix since August 2021, according to WMA officials.
The contract would expand the use of the product to the landfill in St. Thomas, and continue its use at the St. Croix landfill. It was recommended that the contract be awarded at $600,000 a year, or $25,000 monthly at each landfill beginning June 1, 2022.
According to Rusmar Foam Technologies' website, the ADC long duration foam is a patented formulation that produces a thick, long-lasting, viscous foam barrier for immediate control of dust, odors, blowing litter, disease vectors and scavengers when applied to landfills as daily cover material. It is also an excellent choice for emission control at remediation sites where dust, odors and volatile organic compounds are a concern.
Some board members questioned whether there was proof that the ADC worked despite the benefits being claimed. Among other benefits, the product is believed to serve the purpose of soil, which is required for landfill maintenance. After being put into the landfill, the ADC is supposed to breakdown after 48-72 hours.
Aside from financial savings, notably in terms of soil purchasing, the ADC is also supposed to discourage birds, which is significant given the landfill's closeness to the Henry E. Rohlsen Airport. With all of the perks outlined, members were curious about the possibility of owning the product. It was confirmed that the ADC was not for sale. However, the price includes all supplies, equipment, and upkeep.
Before the board agreed to the new three-year contract, members discussed whether there were any alternatives. Representatives from the Waste Management Authority stated that significant consideration was given before picking this specific product. It was also stated that while operating a landfill, both daily cover and intermediate cover must be considered, and that twelve inches of soil was required for intermediate cover. If this was not maintained, it could result in a fire which has previously occurred in the area. The St. Croix landfill's most recent fire happened some months ago and it was noted that an improvement had been seen in that regard.
After much discussion, approval was granted for the ADC.
