1. Raleigh County Solid Waste Authority
“Talkin Trash”

2. Renewable Energy Project in Southern West Virginia
From a Thought to a Reality
Trials and Errors
Strategic Partnerships
Short Term and Long Term Investments

3. Engineering In Motion Exposing Old Cell Multiple Const. Layers
Blasting for New Cell
Liner & Textile Install
Collection Piping
Completed Cell

4. The Start of Waste Placement and Landfill Gas (LFG) Production

5. Landfill Methane Gas
Wikipedia defines landfill methane gas as a greenhouse gas that is 25 times more detrimental to the atmosphere than carbon dioxide.
LFG Methane is created during the natural decomposition of solid waste.
Typical composition of LFG is 45% to 60% Methane and 40% to 60% Carbon Dioxide with remaining balance consisting of Nitrogen, Oxygen, Ammonia , Sulfides, Hydrogen, Carbon Monoxide and Non-Methane Organic Compounds such as Benzene, Vinyl Chlorides and Trichloroethylene.

6. Operational issues with LFG
As gas pressure increased in the landfill, the leachate was pressurized to the surface and would migrate to the storm water diversion ponds
Issues in meeting permit benchmarks for the storm water pond NPDES
Odor nuisance and complaints from the adjacent neighborhoods
Distressed Vegetation on the landfill soil cap

7. Trials and Errors
RCSWA installed various passive gas wells in the closure cap of the old landfill in 1992/1993.
The methane gas passively vented to the atmosphere which alleviates pressure of the decomposing waste.
Four solar spark vent flares were installed in the new landfill in late 2005 to determine gas quality and quantity in the new waste.
Approx. 14 acres of closure cap was installed in 2008/2009 and also installed 14 active gas wells in the new landfill waste.
Installed extraction piping and enclosed flare in 2009.
Expanded well field to 17 wells in 2012.
Expanded well field to 28 wells in 2016.

8. RCSWA Investment Costs for Active Gas System
The RCSWA incurred costs of installing the closure cap synthetics was $745,000.
The RCSWA incurred costs for the LFG Active gas piping, wells, flare and appurtenances was approx. $950,oo0.
The RCSWA total incurred costs was approximately $1.8 million dollars.

9. Drilling Active LFG Methane Wells

10. Landfill Gas Photos Solar Vent Flare, 2005 Old Passive Vents
Drilling Wells, 2005
Solar Vent Flare, 2005
New Flare, March 2009
New Flare, March 2009

11. Strategic Partnership
The RCSWA was approached by a private developer interested in collegiate green energy in 2010.
Met with Seven Islands Environmental Solutions in and entered into an agreement for producing Green Energy.
Seven Islands Environmental Solutions is a subsidiary of Cox Communications in Atlanta Georgia.
Additional subsidiaries include Auto Trader, Cox Automotive, Kelly Blue Book and Manheim Auto Auctions.
Cox generates around 20 billion dollars annually in revenue.

12. New River Clean Energy

13. Caterpillar 3520 Generator Engine

14. Cat Engine Radiators

15. Design for the Future
The RCSWA owns property for approximately 100 years of life.
Designed the transmission line size to handle future expansion of the well field.
Installed access to compressed air at all well locations.
Electric Generation is designed with foundation to add additional generator engines.
Current electricity generation capacity is 3.2 megawatts of electricity.
Current LFG production is approximately 450 SCFM of LFG with a methane concentration of approx. 51%. This is currently producing approximately 1 – 1.2 megawatts of electricity.

16. Lessons Learned
Balance between compaction - air space - and gas production is relative.
Accelerated moisture conditioning of the waste = accelerated decomposition and gas production.
Landfill design should incorporate various horizontal gas collection systems.
Temperature and Barometric pressure vastly affects gas production.
Waste age and composition determines gas quality.

17. Contact Information
James Allen, Executive Director
Raleigh County Solid Waste Authority
200 Fernandez Drive, Beckley, WV – 25801
Office Phone – (304) 255 – 9335
Cell Phone – (304) 575 – 6564