This guide provides information which the regulator/permit officials, engineers, waste disposal operators, and others will find helpful to (1) understand and distinguish between the many choices available; (2) understand the performance feature considerations for living up to EPA regulations for landfill daily covers, and (3) understand the various requirements and differences for putting these covers into practice at landfills.

1.1 This guide is intended to assist specifiers and end users in assessing the different options available for sanitary landfill daily cover materials described as alternative (non-soil) daily covers (ADCs). Traditional daily cover consists of at least 6 in. of soil spread over the working faces of sanitary landfills. Alternative systems are attractive to landfill operations in order to conserve landfill disposal space, among other reasons.

1.2 This guide assists in understanding different performance features of broad classifications of ADCs, and determining the extent and degree to which different ADCs are able to “control disease vectors, fires, odors, blowing litter, and scavenging, without presenting a threat to human health and the environment,” as intended by United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) regulations.

1.3 This guide is not intended to provide cost information regarding the various ADCs as a standard guide, it does not dictate a protocol for the practice and testing of ADCs, but rather provides valuable information, guidance, and recommendations to interested parties concerning the many options available.