Landfills are essential in how we dispose of our waste, and we must monitor multiple functions of the overall operations. In Michigan, there are 46 landfills accepting waste according to the Michigan Department of Environment Great Lakes and Energy (EGLE). This number doesn’t include the amount of landfills that are full or couldn’t meet upgrade requirements. Due to these requirements it is important for a landfill to ensure they can prove they are within normal levels of the State’s requirements. As waste slowly breaks down at a landfill, it can cause negative environmental impacts if it is not regulated and monitored properly. There are several well-established techniques available to regulate and treat landfill waste. UIS can assist in monitoring your landfill equipment. Monitoring will aid you in ensuring you are complying with the requirements.  

How SCADA integrates with your landfill operations: 

If you run a landfill, you need to consider the many benefits that an SCADA system can offer. What is SCADA? SCADA (Supervisory Controls and Data Acquisition) helps individuals like you control and monitor each piece of equipment you oversee and puts it all together on an easy-to-access screen.  

One of the benefits of a SCADA system is to monitor the Leachate Pump Station. Liquids are released by the waste as it decomposes. Leachate forms when the water in the waste works its way through the landfill. Leachate levels in the landfills are routinely monitored to ensure the leachate collection system is working properly. Having visibility of the leachate levels allows a visual of the tank level. This allows the landfill operator to know when to unload and how much has been removed from the tank. Further helping with monitoring, alarms can be set to trigger notifications when the leachate amount is higher than the set point.  

Monitored Landfill equipment:

• Electric generating station
• Leachate Pump Station 
• Gas flares 
• Gas collection system 
• Blower 
• Moisture Removal 

 

 

 

Benefits of SCADA: 

You can easily monitor from your computer, tablet, or phone at any time. When an emergency strikes you will be able to quickly identify where the problem is coming from and take action. Bringing your complex systems all into one system will help your landfill operation increase efficiency, safety, and sustainability. 

• Instant notifications of issues 
• Enhanced Monitoring and Control 
• Safety and Compliance 
• Data Analytics and Reporting 
• Remote troubleshooting All these benefits provide Landfill operators with reduced operation and maintenance costs and increased control of systems.

 

 

Calibrations: Proper equipment calibration is essential to ensure accuracy and equipment reliability, reduce equipment downtime, and eliminate safety risks. 

• Various instruments are used in landfills, such as gas analyzers, temperature sensors, pressure sensors, and leachate level flow meters. 
• Verifying the accuracy of measurement instruments to ensure reliable and consistent readings. 
• Significance of properly calibrated instruments in maintaining accurate data for waste decomposition rates, gas emissions, leachate pump management, and more.

Where older landfills burn off landfill gasses through a flare, newer landfills use a gas collection system that connects to an electric generating station, where it is converted to energy. This energy is used to power the landfill facilities and is converted and used as green energy. UIS has serviced and maintained many landfill electrical equipment by performing electrical maintenance to ensure your landfill equipment runs as reliably as possible. 

Landfill Power Equipment and Services: 

• Transformer Maintenance and Oil Testing 

• Arc Flash Study 

• Infrared Scans 

• Load Break Switch Replacement 

• Emergency Services and Troubleshooting