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When I was a kid, going to the dump was a big event. I would run around and bug my dad all day "when are we going to the dump? Is it time yet?" Usually, my friend Howie would go with us. My dad would load the back of the truck with tree branches, grass clipping, wood and other junk we were taking. Howie and I would ride in the back of the truck- it was our job to lay on top of everything, to make sure nothing blew out of the truck. I guess my dad figured that taking two 8 year olds to McDonalds was cheaper than buying a tarp. Also, if one of us kids fell out the back of the truck, the other one could hold the tree branches until we circled back. The ride on the way to the dump was always fun. We had to take back roads with lots of little hills, my friend and I would try to stand up in the truck 'surfing' on the trash, until my dad would see us- then he would alternate between driving like a maniac to make it even more exciting, and yelling at us- threatening to break our knees if we didn't sit our asses down. When we finally arrived at the dump, the real fun began. My dad would back the truck up to the pile of trash and we would jump out. While my dad pulled junk out of the truck, we would wander around looking through the piles of trash finding the treasures that other dads had thrown away. I could not believe all the good stuff that was out there! Unfortunately, the only stuff I could keep was whatever would fit in my pocket, so my dad wouldn't know. Years later, when one of my first girlfriends was looking around my bedroom, she asked where I had gotten a small statue of a bird. That's when I learned that not everyone thought the dump was as cool as I did.
Well, scavenging at the dump is a distant memory- it isn't even a 'dump' anymore. Now they call it a 'sanitary landfill.' When I was an 8 year old, we didn't know terms like 'recycling' and 'hazardous waste.' But my childhood world had to change. Now the dump has become one of the most sophisticated public works projects around.
Not even the people who work at the dump can 'scavenge'. Everything that arrives needs to be disposed of. They have a stack of stuff in the metal recycling area, some of it good- but none of it can be used. The dump is applying for a permit which would allow them to sort through and find the good stuff. Then they could sell it off like a big garage sale. This would reduce the amount of waste that is produced in our county- which is the real goal of the dump.
One of the things that really stands out in the pile of scrap metal, is exercise machines. They've got quite a few of them. I was told that Bowflex machines must be the best out there - they have never seen one come into the dump.
What is a bioreactor? Well, a bioreactor is an area set up to aid in decomposition of material - usually this is accomplished by pumping air and water into the material (garbage) to keep the moisture content at the right percentage (35-60%) . The idea is that you encourage the organisms to break down the garbage as quickly as possible, to reduce the size of your pile- and produce methane.
The Yolo County landfill produces its own electricity by burning the methane that comes from the decomposing garbage. In fact, they produce more electricity than they need - a LOT more. They produce enough electricity to power about 2,000 average homes! There is enough methane gas out there to run 4 big 600KW Caterpillar generators. The electricity is sold to PG&E.
To make the bioreactor work, and produce as much methane as possible, air and water are pumped through the trash. The water drains out, and is now a nasty swill (water that has been pumped through trash...mmmmm..). Since this stuff is pretty gross, they can't let birds get into it. To keep the birds out, they line the edge of the pond with some very small string (think 'fishing line') held by these poles. Since seagulls land in a circular pattern, they will eventually run into the string, and freak out. Bird problem solved.
Now that the dump is complicated, it has gone high-tech. They've got a shed out there loaded with computer equipment which monitors sensors all around the dump. They check to see how much methane is being created, test the water levels, look up sports scores, and read InsideWoodland.com
The Yolo County Landfill has a green waste program. Green waste like your grass clippings and christmas tree are handled differently from the rest of your trash. Unfortunately the dump is only licensed to compost a very small amount of waste. But the other green waste is still put to good use. Every single night the garbage at the landfill must be covered up completely, to avoid spread of disease by animals, insects, etc. Most landfills use dirt to do this. Well, in Yolo County, we actually don't have a lot of dirt lying around - (we're 'Dirt Poor.' ) They can't just start digging a big hole to get dirt to cover the garbage, because then what would they do with the hole? You can't put garbage in it, because that would pollute the ground water. So, they take all the green waste and let it break down a bit, just so it really starts to gel. This is what they use to cover the garbage. This also has the added benefit that it decomposes and produces methane.
The purpose of the giant 'claw' on this truck is to pull stuff out of creeks and ditches - stuff that people have dumped there. It's really sad that they have a special truck to take care of junk that was dumped into a creek by some jerk who is too lazy or cheap to come to the dump.
Special thanks to Sarah Kittle for the tour!
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