Question 10 of 12: Landfill Site Selection Factors

Question 10: Landfill Site Selection Factors (8 marks)

Question text not reproduced: the examination questions are © Engineers and Geoscientists BC. Open the official past paper (linked at the top of this page) to read the question, then follow the worked solution below.

Hydrogeology and geotechnical stability come first: low-permeability native soils, adequate depth to groundwater/aquifers, and avoidance of geologically unstable ground (karst, active faulting, floodplains, unstable slopes) all reduce the reliance placed on the engineered liner alone. Land availability and capacity — sufficient area and depth to provide an economically meaningful design life (commonly 20+ years), at an acquirable land cost — determines whether a site is viable at all. Haul distance from the community's waste-generation centres directly drives collection-fleet transportation cost over the facility's entire operating life, often the single largest recurring cost in the system. Buffer distance and land-use compatibility require separation from residences, private wells, surface water, wetlands/environmentally sensitive areas, and airports (bird-attraction/strike hazard).

Climate, topography and drainage affect both leachate quantity (higher precipitation = more leachate to manage) and constructability (natural grade supporting stormwater control and site access). Regulatory and social factors — municipal zoning, provincial environmental-assessment approval, and public/First Nations consultation — can be the binding constraint even where the technical siting criteria are favourable. Finally, access to supporting infrastructure (haul roads capable of carrying collection-truck traffic, utility connections, and potential for landfill-gas-to-energy grid interconnection) affects both construction and long-term operating cost.