LANDFILL DEVELOPMENT 

The 423-acre Austin Quarter Landfill opened March 18, 1994. The $10 million
facility consists of an approved disposal area of seven cells of approximately
90 acres. The landfill was constructed making composite-lined cells consisting
of 2 feet of compacted clay, betonite mat, 60 mil HDPE liner, geotextile protective
material, a leachate drainage/collection system (geonet and # 78 stone), and one 
foot of operational soil before garbage could be placed in the landfill.

The current active disposal area has a 13-acre lined footprint and was constructed 
in September 2005. 

Waste at the landfill working face is covered daily with tarps to save soil/landfill
space and again at the end of the week with 9 inches of soil. Space (waste density)
and soil usage is tracked by aerial topography on a semi-annual basis.
This information is used to determine future expansion needs as well as any
necessary changes in operations.

It is extremely important to compact the waste as densely as possible to maximize
landfill space. A minimum of 1,250 pounds per cubic yard is expected with a goal
of 1,350 pounds per cubic yard. The most recent density surpassed the goal by
approximately 100 pounds per cubic yard.

Alamance County currently accepts 350 tons per day for disposal at the MSW Cell.
At present pace, our landfill should last 40 years or more based on current tonnage,
waste compaction density and soil usage.