Blue Ridge Services

Last Chance to Register! | Fill Sequence Planning Webinar

admin — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 17:25:07 +0000

Most landfills have experienced problems of having to double-handle soil stockpiled in the wrong place. Or constructing a road and finding out that it’s in the way of the new fill area. Or getting part way through the wet season and then suddenly realizing there isn’t enough capacity to last until dry season. These are common problems with a simple solution: fill sequence planning.

What is a fill sequence plan? It’s an optimized engineering drawing that provides step-by-step guidance for filling your landfill, and also provides a basis for budgeting and scheduling major landfill projects. A plan can help you accurately schedule large capital expenditures, and will answer questions like:

• Where will your next tipping pad be located?
• Will your current lined area last until next year?
• Are your access roads, stockpiles and haul roads in the best locations to provide the longest use?

Register for this webinar, and learn how to develop a sound, practical fill sequence plan that will help you run an efficient, productive operation.

Date: Wednesday, January 18, 2012

Time: 9 a.m. (Pacific Time)

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New Webinar Production and Efficiency: Time Motion Studies

admin — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 18:00:31 +0000

Operating a landfill – like any other manufacturing process – consists of a series of repetitive tasks. In fact, many landfill tasks are performed hundreds of times per day …with millions of repetitions over the life of the landfill. To achieve peak performance, it is vital that these tasks be performed at the highest level of efficiency.

The landfills that are surviving – even thriving – in today’s competitive market, are the ones that have streamlined their operation, task-by-task …until the entire operation functions smoothly and efficiently.

A Time-Motion Study:
1. Is based on a detailed review of several days of video;
2. May include thousands of individual data points;
3. Measures the time required to perform each task (and subtask);
4. Identifies variation within the system;
5. Allows us to compare Current Performance with Ideal Performance;
6. Provides a baseline for measuring Improvement;

The webinar is Thursday, December 15, 2011 at 9 a.m. (Pacific Time). Interested in attending? You can register here.

Taught by Neal Bolton, a Civil Engineer with over 34 years in heavy construction and landfill operations and author of “The Handbook of Landfill Operations,” the webinars are 60 minutes long, and include a free PDF of the training guide.

The great thing about a webinar? No travel costs, you can participate from your office/home computer, and you can literally attend during your lunch/coffee break.

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Preview of Our Landfill Safety Training Program

admin — Thu, 29 Sep 2011 19:17:37 +0000

Watch the video below for an overview of our safety training program for landfills and transfer stations. And visit our Landfill Safety website for more information.

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How to Reduce Landfill Operating Costs – Webinar

sarahbolton — Fri, 23 Sep 2011 15:46:48 +0000

Most landfills today are struggling to maintain their financial footing. Between the ongoing recession and increased diversion, disposal tonnage is down – and so is revenue. This intensifies competition, making tipping fee increases unpopular – and often counter-productive.

So why do some landfills thrive while others struggle to survive? Because some have learned to operate with Effective Efficiency: They do the right things – and do them well – over and over again. Want to make changes that matter? The answer is in the Operation.

We are launching a brand new series of webinars designed for any and all professionals employed in the landfill industry. Taught by Neal Bolton, a Civil Engineer with over 34 years in heavy construction and landfill operations and author of “The Handbook of Landfill Operations,” the webinars are 75 minutes long, and include a free PDF of the training guide.

The great thing about a webinar? No travel costs, you can participate from your office/home computer, and you can literally attend during your lunch/coffee break.

Want to sign up or find out more information? Click on the link below:

https://student.gototraining.com/58z65/register/2893986409175454976

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Preventing and Controlling Landfill Fires

sarahbolton — Mon, 13 Jun 2011 20:49:00 +0000

Not every landfill has had to deal with a fire, but every landfill has the potential. When you combine hot summer days, heavy equipment and tons of flammable material, you increase the chance of having a fire.

Prevent and Control Landfill Fires

One of the simplest ways to prevent landfill fires is to keep hot loads out of the landfill. Keep a close look-out for smoke. Use your eyes and your nose. Often smoke is most visible in the early morning.

Landfill fires can occur from a variety of sources like hot loads, landfill equipment or chemical reactions. Wildfire from off-site is another risk.

Keep the vegetation around your site maintained, and consider building firebreaks to protect your property, equipment, and structures. Our affiliate company, Terra-Track, offers landfill site maintenance services, including construction of firebreaks and customized care around structures like landfill gas lines.

Reduce your risk and train your crew how to prevent and control landfill fires.

Preventing Landfill Fires is Safety Topic #14
Controlling Landfill Fires is Safety Topic #15

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Dealing with Special Wastes

sarahbolton — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 21:13:51 +0000

The news is all a-buzz these days with talk about the news about the new Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008, which outlines specific guidelines for the lead content in children’s toys.

According to information from the Center for Environmental Health, the strict regulations have been postponed for another year, which means landfills won’t be overwhelmed with discarded Barbie Dolls and toy trains anytime soon.

(This controversial issue has been discussed by several major news organizations, including the International Herald Tribune and Austin News KXAN-TV in Austin, Texas.)

However, this brings up an important issue for landfills to consider: What should you do when dangerous/hazardous wastes come to your landfill?

1. Unless your landfill is a hazardous waste facility, you should not accept hazardous waste. Some states allow landfills to accept small amounts of certain hazardous wastes. To find a list of wastes defined as hazardous or to find a hazardous waste program in your state, visit this page on the EPA’s website.

2. Require prior notice. Because dangerous/hazardous wastes often require special handling, it may slow down the operation. Requiring prior notice allows you to schedule the dangerous wastes into the day’s plans.

3. Make sure the gatehouse attendant is actively watching out for dangerous/hazardous loads. If one comes in, the attendant may need to direct the customer to a hazardous waste facility.

3. Operators should always be on the lookout for hazardous materials in the waste stream, in case the gate attendant didn’t notice the materials.

4. Consider creating a flyer for your customers that lists hazardous wastes, what’s accepted at your landfill, and information on where to find a hazardous waste facility. You could hand flyers out at the gatehouse or post it on your website.

5. Hold a hazardous waste collection day. Customers can pay a fee to your landfill, drop off hazardous waste, and you can transport them to the appropriate facility. This might minimize people “sneaking” hazardous wastes into a load. Here is a video from the The Bergen County Utilities Authority hazardous waste collection day.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Readin’, Writin’, and Waste Management: Educating Your Customers

sarahbolton — Sat, 14 Feb 2009 03:50:07 +0000

At your landfill, you probably have some sort of employee training in place. Maybe it’s equipment training – how to get the most out of your compactor or dozer. Or maybe, you have some sort of safety video you play in the breakroom. Perhaps you post announcements on a bulletin board.

But what about your customers? What sort of training do you have for them? (Check out this link to information about a solid waste household training program in the Philippines).

That’s right, I’m talking about the family that comes in on Saturday afternoons to dump a load of landscape waste. Or the elderly couple that drives their station wagon up to the active face to carefully (and slowly) unload plastic waste bags.

For many people, a once-and-a-while trip to the landfill might very well be the only exposure to the world of waste management.

And they might have some questions. Here are some that might come up… you will want to have an answer:

-Does your landfill offer composting disposal and/or purchase?

-What about a website? Do you have one? (Hint: You need one).

-Can my child and/or pets get out of the vehicle?

-Can I bring hazardous wastes (like lead-based paint, batteries, etc.) to the landfill?

-Where can I recycle stuff?

What are some other questions that your customers have? How have you addressed those questions?

Lights, Action – Safety

sarahbolton — Sun, 18 Jan 2009 02:12:38 +0000

Safety. It’s one of those popular buzzwords that people – especially people in the waste management industry – like to throw around a lot. It sounds good.

When you talk about things like “emergency response plans,” “personal protective equipment,” and “safety guidelines,” it makes you look like you know what you are doing.

In reality, though, what is the status of “safety” at your facility?

-Could you wipe an inch of dust off those emergency response plans? (A plan is useless unless everybody involved knows what they are supposed to be doing. When was the last time you actually talked about the plan and maybe even practiced the plan?)

-Are you using those earplugs to block out high decibels of noise…or are they serving as a fashion accessory? (Personal protective equipment can’t protect you unless you actually use it).

-If you have safety guidelines, are they being enforced? (Do you have a “no scavenging” policy at your landfill? Is it really a policy…or is it a flexible guideline that can be bent a bit when something cool is dumped at the site?)

According to information from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, in 2006 waste management employees had the fifth most dangerous job. Waste collection was rated a “high hazard” job with a fatality rate 10 times that of all workers.

At the end of the day, there is only one person responsible for safety: You. Regardless of whether you are the landfill manager or the guy that picks litter twice a week, it’s up to you to know how to work safely and then, most importantly, really do it. Safety is not just a plan, it’s an attitude.

Stay Warm…Be Safe

admin — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 19:48:21 +0000

Flip on the Weather Channel, and you will see icy cold temperatures in just about every part of the United States (except for Florida, where of course the temp is just about perfect!).

While most people can just put on an extra layer or crank up the heat at work, landfill workers must often work outside in cold temperatures. It can be difficult and downright dangerous if proper safety precautions aren’t followed.

Here are five tips to working safe in cold weather:

-Stay out of the wind. Even if you must work outside, find ways to shield yourself from the wind. This may be as simple as parking the machines so that the mechanic can work on the leeward side of the machine or adjusting the schedule of the litter crew to pick when the wind isn’t blowing as hard.

-Dress appropriately. Several light layers of clothing are best because the air trapped between the layers provides additional insulation. You can also remove layers as needed to avoid becoming overheated and sweating.

-Take frequent breaks. When it’s cold, increase the number of breaks to get inside, warm up and drink something warm.

-Avoid caffeinated drinks and alcohol. Both can increase blood flow to your extremities and cause you to lose heat faster.

-Avoid frostbite. Keep your skin covered and be aware that the temperature can be affected by the windchill. It might be colder than you think, so cover up. The National Weather Service has a wind chill chart to help you figure out what the temperature really is. Find it here.

Blue Ridge Services

*Last Chance to Register!* | Fill Sequence Planning Webinar

*New Webinar* Production and Efficiency: Time Motion Studies

Preview of Our Landfill Safety Training Program

How to Reduce Landfill Operating Costs – Webinar

Preventing and Controlling Landfill Fires

Dealing with Special Wastes

Readin’, Writin’, and Waste Management: Educating Your Customers

Lights, Action – Safety

Stay Warm…Be Safe

Last Chance to Register! | Fill Sequence Planning Webinar

New Webinar Production and Efficiency: Time Motion Studies