The Bioreactor Ribbon Cutting Ceremony was held on Wednesday, April 22nd - Earth Day.  Fifty + people were in attendance including members of Council, Landfill Board members, Enterprise CEO's, Department Directors, City of Mesa, City of Scottsdale, and Town of Gilbert representatives, as well as employees. 

Vice President Harvier opened the ceremony with prayer, and was followed by the Bird Dancers who blessed the event.  President Diane Enos addressed the group, and Rich Allen, P.E., Site Engineer then explained what a Bioreactor is and why the Landfill has chosen to use this technology.  Stephanie Hinson, CEO, then finished the speaking portion of the ceremony expressing thanks to Council and Landfill Board for their forward-thinking vision and support, provided a few quips related to the difficulty journey, and lastly presented ceremonial scissors and display stands to: Mr. Bryan Meyers, Community Manager; President Diane Enos; Margie Wilson, Landfill Board Vice-Chairperson; Anita Perez, Landfill Board Member; Jack Friedline, City of Mesa Deputy City Manager; John Little, Scottsdale City Manager; Lonnie Frost, Town of Gilbert Public Works Director; Dave Mezzacappa, SCS Engineers - project engineer; and Rich Allen, Salt River Landfill Site Engineer.

The ribbon cutting was then done by Mr. Frost, Mr. Friedline, Mr. Harvier, Ms. Hinson, President Enos, Mr. Largo, Ms. Wilson and Mr. Little.

Then one garbage truck from Scottsdale, Mesa, Gilbert and the Indian Community descended into the new cell, and they all dumped their loads together at the bottom. 

Bioreactor Technical Facts

1)      No liquids will be introduced in the first lift to allow collection of landfill gas immediately upon adding liquids.  Initially gas will be collected from the leachate cleanout riser pipes located at the bottom of the landfill.  Once sufficient waste has been placed additional gas collection will occur through horizontal gas wells installed in the waste.

2)      Liquids will be added in two distinct ways.  Water will be applied at the active face and once a sufficient amount of waste is in place liquids will be injected in a series of pipes.

3)      It is estimated that approximately 20 million gallons of liquids will be applied annually at the working face using the site's on-site water wagon.  It should be noted that these liquids will predominantly come from the site's on-site groundwater production well.  Some liquids may also come from the capture of stormwater.

4)      Liquids injection will begin approximately one year after the application of water at the active face begins. In the first year of injection, approximately 35 million gallons will be added through horizontal piping galleries. The second and third years, 65 million gallons will be added, and the fourth year 60 million gallons. It is anticipated that after injection begins that approximately one third to one half of the liquids annually would come from the leachate produced at the bottom of the landfill.  Additional liquids could come from stormwater, landfill gas condensate and leachate from other Phases of the landfill.

5)      After approximately 6 months of filling or an average depth of waste of approximately 25 feet the first set of pipes will be installed in horizontal trenches dug into the waste at 75 foot spacing.  The pipes will come up the side slopes and be initially connected to the landfill gas collection system and utilized for landfill gas collection once a full lift (15 feet) of waste has been placed over the pipes.

6)      Thereafter every 15 foot lift will have pipes installed in horizontal trenches offset from the pipes below at 75 foot spacing.  The first set of pipes will be converted to injection pipes for fluids after the 15 foot lift of waste above the second set of pipes has been completed.  This way the landfill will always be collecting gas from the bottom of the landfill and above the injection pipes (sandwich affect).  It is anticipated that injection will begin approximately one year after waste has begun to be placed.

7)      A total of six layer of pipes will be installed in the below grade portion of Phase VI for a total of nearly 100 pipes.