Composition and Characteristics of Excavated Materials from a New Jersey Landfill

The composition of material excavated from the Burlington County landfill in New Jersey was determined, and the major reclaimed fractions characterized. Based on a waste age map, 98 samples (80  kg each) collected from 13 gas extraction well borings were handsorted into 14 fractions and fines (<2.54  cm) that fell through the screen were collected. At least 50%, by weight, of the material was fines. The most abundant oversize materials (overs) fractions, by weight, were miscellaneous items, wood, other plastics [not polyethylene terephthalate or high density polyethylene containers], and paper. Less paper was found in the oldest (7.5-11.5  years) section of the landfill (P<0.10), most likely due to microbial degradation. Several of the characteristics of the materials excavated from the landfill, such as temperature, particle size, bulk density, volatile solids, and contamination were correlated with the age of the deposits made. High levels of adherent soil will likely prove to be an insurmountable obstacle to recycling most excavated waste fractions other than fines unless further processing is pursued.