Alternative Final Landfill Covers

Alternative final landfill covers (AFLC) are a new and rapidly emerging technology that improves the environmental performance and cost-effectiveness of final landfill covers in arid regions. The primary functions of a final landfill cover system are:

Minimize deep percolation of rain water.
Minimize the production of leachate and landfill gas.
Isolate the waste from the public.

Landfill covers are constructed to meet the requirements of Title 27, California Code of Regulations, and rely on a combination of layers of specified thickness and permeability to limit percolation through the cover.

Alternative final landfill covers are those that utilize a final cover system other than that prescribed in Title 27. Currently the most commonly used alternative final landfill cover is the evapotranspiration (ET) cover, also called a monolithic cover or an alternative earthen cover.

Additional Information

Last updated: September 22, 2011

Alternative Final Landfill Covers, http://www.calrecycle.ca.gov/SWFacilities/AFLC/
Mike Wochnick: Michael.Wochnick@calrecycle.ca.gov (916) 341-6318