boundaries, site history, operations, or
expansion plans,” Lietz said. “Zach can call
me or another solid waste engineer for
clarification, which can minimize delays in
processing the aerial data. We can also help
the geospatial department tailor products
for the client because we have an insider’s
perspective on landfill operators’ needs.”
Lietz also understands how volume
measurements drive the landfill business.
“When you’re in a landfill, you’re talking
about millions of cubic yards at some of
these sites – and it changes every day,” Lietz
said. “It’s really hard to tell how fast you’re
filling up. Until landfill operators get the
volume calculations, they really can’t grasp
how well they’re doing.”
Smashing success
But how does a landfill operation perform
well? Think compaction.
Getting as much garbage as possible into
a limited space – that in essence is the
key to profitability for a landfill. Fees are
charged based on weight. That’s why landfill
operations have scales for the incoming
waste.
“Since that waste is compactible, the more
you can put into a cubic yard, the more
money an operation will take in before
the permitted volume limit is reached,”
Cornerstone’s Peotter explained.
The compaction rate is measured in
pounds per cubic yard, and the compaction
itself is done primarily through industrial
compactors.
“A landfill