Neal Bolton

A landfill is a landfill is a landfill. If you've seen one, you've seen 'em all, right?

Wrong. America's landfills are as varied as the people they serve. And while there might be similarities, there are also lots of differences. From rural to urban, from alpine to desert floor, from subtropical to arctic, America's story can be defined by individuality and diversity. So too can our landfills.

We're pleased to present Montana's landfills, the first in a series of profiles that will highlight the variety and uniqueness of landfills across America.

We're also pleased to give you, the reader, a better understanding of those things we call landfills and give credit to those folks who are making landfills work, very well thank you, under a wide range of conditions,

State Profile: Montana

It's a land of cows and cowboys, wheat fields and plains. It's a place of rivers and mountains and geysers. Heck, it's Big Sky Country. It's Montana.

Whatever the word "Montana" conjures up in your mind, chances are garbage isn't part of the picture. But sure enough, even in the state that many refer to as "The Last Best Place," there are landfills. But even with landfills, there's no denying that Montana is quite a place.

Montana is a rural state. And similar to many other rural states, Montana's form of landfill regionalization might seem somewhat unregionalized when compared to urban areas where a single landfill might service millions of people.

It is a big state–our fourth largest behind Alaska, Texas, and California. But with only 903,000 residents, Montana ranks 47^th in population. There are, on average, about six people per square mile. As I said, it's rural. And it's clearly not a likely home for a megalandfill. The fact is, Montana's three largest landfills, handling 54% of the state's total wastestream, average just more than 500 tpd of waste (based on a six-day week). The remaining landfills average less than 50 tpd.

When EPA came up with Subtitle D, one of its goals was to force regionalization. In other words, replace the local town dump with a state-of-the-art, regional landfill–one that has the tonnage (and thereby the financial ability) to operate at a higher standard.

Well, it worked. In 1985, there were 375 official landfills in Montana. Today there are 30. And while their average tonnage might be below the range of what you'd consider necessary for a viable landfill, in Montana they're working.

Landfills in Montana must deal with many of the same issues that other landfills deal with. Competition, litter, the cost of placing cover soil: All of these are important issues for landfills everywhere.

Of course some things are easier in Montana than in other states, such as wading through regulatory bureaucracy. There isn't any–at least not compared to lots of other states. Because Montana has only 11 (state) regulators who deal with solid waste, you can usually get in touch with a live person–not umpteen levels of recorded push-button choices–whenever you need to.

On the other hand, some things are more difficult. Landfills that operate in Big Sky Country have found that very often there is a big wind coming out of that big sky. If you work at a landfill, you know what that means: litter.

The cold weather also poses some unique challenges for Montana's landfill operators. Subzero temperatures can cause diesel to gel, batteries to fail, and soil stockpiles to freeze rock-hard. In a climate where wet packer truckloads can freeze solid (inside the truck), running a landfill requires careful planning and a good bit of determination.

Now for a little closer look, here's a glance at a typical–yet in many ways nontypical–Montana landfill.

Case Study: Northern Landfill, Conrad, MT

The Northern Montana Joint Refuse District operates a landfill near Conrad, MT.

What? You haven't heard of Conrad, MT?

Conrad is located in northern Montana, on the east edge of the Rockies. The local economy is based primarily on farming, ranching, and oil, with a bit of tourism thrown in for good measure.

With a population of 3,500, Conrad has three banks, several schools, a hospital, 10 restaurants, and no traffic jams. And yes, there is a rodeo. In May, "Whoop-Up Trail Days" offers a rodeo, a parade, and a pancake breakfast. It's one of the town's main events.

In many places, 3,500 people might be a subdivision, or a fraction of a suburb. But for Conrad, it's a self-sufficient community–a regional center. And owing to its rural location, it has its own regional landfill too.

Developed in response to Subtitle D, the 105-ac. Northern Landfill replaced several old "town dumps" and began operating in 1992. It serves three counties, receives approximately 1,200 tons of waste per month (more in the summer), and has an estimated 75 years of capacity.

Using compacted native soil as its only liner, the Northern Landfill is operating under a groundwater monitoring waiver because of its good location. It is, in essence, high and dry. And with the Rockies in the background, it is also, as landfills go, very scenic. It might be trash, but according to Montana DEQ Regulatory Program Manager Pat Crowley, "It's trash with a million-dollar view."

The Northern Landfill took in 15,162 tons of waste in 1999. Yes, that's around 50 tpd. And yes, it is a regional landfill.

The landfill has no dozer but has two compactors: an Al-jon 81K and a Bomag 451. Cover soil is stockpiled at the top of the cell. At the end of the day, the bucket-equipped Bomag covers the waste by pushing the soil down the slope.

The landfill also has a motor grader, a scraper, and various support equipment on-site. For those readers who might think this is too much equipment for such a small landfill, remember: For rural landfills, self-sufficiency is the key to survival.

What about service? No problem. The Northern Landfill also operates six manned rolloff container sites. These are mini transfer stations, each having two to four rolloff containers. Up to 50 mi. from the landfill, these rolloff sites provide convenient service for residents who don't want to make the trip to the landfill. To avoid the cost of hauling brush and clean woodwaste to the landfill, three of the rolloff sites also have burn pits. Up to 50-plus tons of brush and clean wood were accumulated during the year and burned in the winter at these sites.

The landfill offers recycling of household appliances, used motor oil, computers, and various metals.

Despite the relatively low tonnage (by national standards), the Northern Landfill deals with many of the same problem issues that larger landfills deal with. According to Landfill Manager Bill Forrest, "Litter can be a problem, especially in the winter." To fight back, Northern Landfill workers have come up with an innovative solution: They use a Litter Vac, towed behind a pickup to clean out vee ditches built especially to collect litter. The pickup is equipped with a camper shell that serves as the container for the Litter Vac. The landfill also utilizes 12-ft.-high deer fencing to control litter.

The next time you think about Montana, I don't expect you to think about landfills and garbage. There are too many other great things to dwell on. And fortunately, because landfills like the Northern Landfill are out there day in and day out, rain or shine, handling the trash and doing the job, you don't have to think about it.

Want to know what's happening at landfills around the country? Check back next issue when we'll be looking at a landfill in a more tropical climate: Hawaii.

Neal Bolton is principal with Blue Ridge Services in Atascadero, CA.