Traditional Landfill vs. Balefill

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Saint Lucie County, Florida was facing a familiar problem of limited life remaining in their existing landfill.  What to do with the incoming 1000 tons per day of commercial and municipal solid waste? With the assistance of their consulting engineering firm, Camp, Dresser & McKee, they enacted several new procedures which made significant improvements but did not provide the additional time desired. 

A detailed study revealed that baling the MSW would provide over 20 years of useful life.  Numerous baler vendors were evaluated and Sierra International and Macpresse were selected.  The differences between the traditional method of landfill operations and a balefill were most impressive.

Using two Macpresse solid waste balers Model 112, they use 45% less airspace, 60% less diesel, reduced the time haulers are on-site by 80%, and increased density from 1149 lbs. per yd³ to over 2000 lbs. per yd³, a 74%  increase.  Operating costs were also reduced.

Several other significant advantages were recognized by St. Lucie County when they started using a high density balefill system.  All processing is now performed inside, eliminating the problem of inclement weather conditions.  Wind control problems were practically eliminated, improving community relations.  Use of daily cover material decreased from 270 yards to only 16 yards (daily cover variance received due to baled MSW).  They now recover over 400% more metals, cardboard and plastics.  Environmental regulators have been favorable to the new operating procedures and end-results.

Previously the county used outside contractors for methane gas pipe and well maintenance.  Now  with bales they can use their own staff, further reducing operating costs.

"During our investigation as to whether we should consider baling...it didn’t take us very long to come up with the opposite question: 

Why NOT bale?”

Leo Cordeiro,
Solid Waste Manager