section 03

Solid Waste Management, SASC-S-03

SASC-S-03

SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT Inadequate solid waste collection, storage and disposal practices are a nuisance, hazardous to health and they adversely impact the environment. This Section specifies the public health requirements, limitations and procedures pertinent to treatment, storage, collection, transportation and disposal of solid waste. Compliance with these requirements will protect the public health and welfare while preserving the quality of the air, water and land. NOTE: All sub-sections should be read in conjunction with appropriate referenced documents listed at the end of this Code Section and Saudi Aramco Engineering Standard SAES-S-007. DEFINITIONS:

Composting: Controlled microbial degradation of organic waste yielding a nuisance-free product of potential value as a soil conditioner.

Cover Material: Granular material, generally soil that is used to cover compacted solid waste in a sanitary landfill,

generally free of large objects that would hinder compaction and free of organic content that would be conducive to vector harborage, feeding and/or breeding.

Hazardous Solid Waste; Solid waste that may, by itself or in combination with other solid waste, be infectious,

explosive, poisonous, highly flammable, caustic, toxic, or otherwise dangerous or injurious to human, plant or animal life.

Incinerator: Any device used for the burning of refuse where the factors of combustion, i.e. temperature, retention

time, turbulence; and combustion air, can be controlled. Landfill Gas: A by-product of the digestion by microorganisms of putrescible matter present in the waste

deposited in landfill sites. The gas is predominantly methane (64%) together with carbon dioxide (34%) and trace concentrations of vapors and other gases.

Landfill, sanitary: (1) A method of disposing of refuse on land without creating nuisances or hazards to public

health or safety, by utilizing the principles of engineering to confine the refuse to the smallest practical area, to reduce it to the smallest practical volume, and to cover it with a layer of earth at the conclusion of each day’s operation or at such more frequent intervals as may be necessary. (ASCE definition). (2) A sanitary landfill is a system for final disposal of solid waste on land, in which the waste is spread and compacted on an inclined, minimized working face in a series of cells and a daily cover of earth is provided so that no hazard or insult to the environment results.

Leachate: The result of liquid seeping through a landfill and, by doing so extracting substances from the deposited

waste. Lower Explosive Limit (LEL): The lower percentage by volume of a mixture of explosive gases in air that will

propagate a flame at 25°C at atmospheric pressure. Modified landfill: The disposal of solid waste by compaction in or upon the land and the covering of all wastes

deposited with earth or other approved cover material at specific designated intervals, but not each operating day. Open burning: Uncontrolled burning of wastes in the open or in an open dump. Scavenging: The uncontrolled picking of materials by animals or humans. Sludge: Means any solid, semi-solid or liquid waste generated from a municipal commercial or industrial

wastewater treatment plant or air pollution control facility exclusive of the treated effluent from a wastewater treatment plant.

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Solid waste: Means any garbage, or refuse, or sludge from a wastewater treatment plant, water supply treatment plant, or air pollution control facility and other discarded material including solid, liquid, semi-solid or contained gaseous material resulting from commercial, mining and agricultural operations, and from community activities but does not include solid or dissolved materials in irrigation return flows, or regulated hazardous materials. 1 DETAILED PLANS AND SPECIFICATIONS Before a new treatment facility/disposal site is established, constructed or operated, and before an

existing site is substantially altered, expanded or modified, the proponent shall submit all data and reports required by SAES-S-007 together with a detailed operating plan and timetable for implementation to the Environmental Protection Department (EPD) for review, concurrence and approval. The operating plan shall include the proposed method and sequence of site development, utilization and operation, procedures for monitoring and reporting any environmental effects resulting there from and address the design criteria specified by SAES-S-007. The design study shall address the provision of composite liners, leachate collection and gas management systems in Class I and II landfill sites.

2 REQUIRED APPROVALS

2.1 The proponent shall receive written approval for the site study and operating plan from EPD before beginning construction, modification or operation of a treatment facility/disposal site. The proponent shall ensure that the approved plans and specifications, including any conditions or limitations attached thereto, are implemented.

2.2 EPD, on application, may approve a variance, of any requirements of this Code Section, when

circumstances at the treatment facility/ disposal site, operating procedures or other condition indicate that the purpose and intent of this Code Section can be achieved through equally effective methods that do not adversely impact public health or the environment. Waivers to any engineering standards must be reviewed and concurred by Manager, EPD for any public health related issues.

3 SUPERVISION OF SITES Every landfill, incinerator, composting plant and other solid waste processing and disposal facility

shall be operated under the close supervision of a responsible individual who is thoroughly familiar with the established operating procedures, including a) the types of wastes that are approved for disposal in the facility; b) the individuals/agencies authorized to deposit waste in the facility; c) air, dust, flood, noise, vermin, landfill gas and water control concepts and methods; d) the flow and processing of waste from receipt to final disposition; e) keeping of records; and f) site safety and general sanitation.

4 REQUIRED RECORDS FOR SITES

4.1 EPD may require such records and reports as are considered to be reasonably necessary to ensure compliance with this Code Section.

4.2 Waste Manifests specified by GI 430.001 must be retained at the waste disposal/treatment facility

for inspection by EPD. 4.3 An operating record stating the quantity of each waste delivery must be maintained by every

incineration plant and waste treatment facility. Combustion conditions, waste analyses, monitoring and testing carried out must be logged daily.

4.4 Records must be available for inspection by EPD.

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5 STORAGE AND COLLECTION

5.1 Storage and collection of waste shall be conducted in a way that prevents a) vermin breeding and harborage; b) conditions conducive to transmission of disease to man or animals; c) hazards to workers, users and the public; d) air, noise and water pollution; e) objectionable odors, dust, unsightliness and nuisance conditions, f) corrosion or wear of storage containers, and g) accidental spillage or leakage during storage or transport.

5.2 Hazardous wastes shall be disposed of in accordance with the Materials Supply Organization

Instruction, CU 13.1’ Processing of Hazardous Material’. 6 STORAGE, COLLECTION AND TRANSFER DEVICES AND VEHICLES

6.1 The containment compartment of storage, collection and transfer devices and vehicles shall be made of durable, impervious materials and shall be designed to provide a watertight tank with smooth and easily cleanable surfaces. The containment compartment and appurtenances thereto shall be cleaned at least once weekly to prevent propagation of odors, insects, rodents or other nuisance conditions (more often if necessary).

6.2 Storage, collection and transfer devices and vehicles shall be loaded and operated so as to

prevent dropping, leaking, sifting, blowing or other escape of waste from the device or vehicle. Storage containers shall be covered when not in immediate use.

6.3 Collection and transfer devices and vehicles carrying loads that are likely to blow from the

containment compartment shall have a cover which is either an integral part of the device or vehicle, or which is a separate cover of suitable material with fasteners designed to secure all sides of the cover to the device or vehicle. The cover shall be used while in transit.

7 FACILITIES FOR CLEANING STORAGE, COLLECTION AND TRANSFER DEVICES AND VEHICLES

7.1 If storage, collection and transfer devices and vehicles are cleaned on the site after they are emptied, the following minimum facilities shall be provided: a) live steam or hot water delivered at a minimum pressure of at least 1.4 kilograms per square centimeter (20 pounds per square inch) with a minimum flow of at least 3.8 liters per minute (1 gallon per minute); and b) a floor or pavement constructed of a smooth, easily cleanable, non-absorbent material, such as sealed concrete, which is properly sloped to a holding basin or disposal system that complies with requirements outlined in SAES-A-104.

7.2 Storage, collection, transfer equipment and vehicles that are used for toxic or hazardous

waste, shall not be used for ordinary solid waste. 8 CONTROL OF DRAINAGE AND RUNOFF FROM SITES

8.1 All disposal sites, e.g. sanitary landfills, incinerators, composting plants and sludge disposal sites, shall be designed, located, sloped or protected so that rainfall, contaminated surface water run-off and other surface water drainage will be diverted around or away from the operational area of the site. Any water which, comes into contact with waste, is leachate and shall be collected and treated in the manner specified in paragraph 9 below.

8.2 The surface contours of the site shall be maintained such that surface water runoff will not flow

into or through the site. 8.3 Sanitary landfills, sludge disposal sites and composting plants that may be subject to

flooding shall, be protected by dikes that are impervious to the passage of water and are designed to prevent erosion and washout of operational and disposal areas of the site.

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9 CONTROL OF LEACHATE

Leachate production shall be minimized. If there is any likelihood or evidence to indicate that leachate will pollute groundwater or the environment, then leachate shall be collected, treated or otherwise controlled in a manner approved by EPD

10 RESTRICTIONS ASSOCIATED WITH GROUNDWATER

10.1 The vertical distance between the bottom of a sanitary landfill, composting site or sludge disposal site and the maximum water table elevation shall be restricted to a distance that prevents leachate from entering the groundwater.

10.2 Wastes that will decompose shall not be deposited in areas of the disposal site that are directly

or indirectly connected with the restricted groundwater zone. Uncontaminated rock, dirt, brick, concrete rubble and similar materials that will not decompose may be placed in the restricted groundwater zone.

11 MONITORING WELLS

11.1 To properly assess compliance with approved plans and conditions of operation, EPD may require monitoring wells to be installed at the boundaries of waste disposal sites, including sanitary landfills, composting plants and sludge disposal sites, to monitor the effect of the disposal process on usable groundwater resources and detect gas migration from landfill sites. Monitoring wells shall be designed and operated to detect the movement of groundwater and gas migration. If not equipped with continuous monitoring equipment, monitoring wells must be constructed in a manner to facilitate the ready collection of samples.

11.2 EPD may require monitoring for explosive gases at least quarterly. Records must be

maintained of all gas measurements.

11.3 If the gas level exceeds 25% of the lower explosive limit (LEL) the operator must immediately notify EPD.

12 ACCESS ROADS All-weather roads shall be provided from the highway to the disposal sites, as well as within the disposal

site. Roads shall be designed and maintained to prevent traffic congestion, traffic hazards, dust and noise pollution.

13 FENCING

13.1 Access to a sanitary landfill that is not attended on a twenty-four hour per day basis shall be controlled by means of lockable gates. The site shall be completely enclosed by a perimeter fence, unless, access is adequately controlled by the natural terrain features of the site.

13.2 Access to an incinerator, composting plant, and sludge disposal site shall be controlled by

means of a complete perimeter fence and lockable gates. 14 SCREENING As far as is practicable, the active waste disposal site shall be screened or blocked from public view. 15 FIRE PROTECTION AND CONTROL

15.1 Fire protection shall be provided in accordance with design and operating plans approved by the Chief Fire Prevention Engineer.

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15.2 All reasonable precautions, such as segregation of combustible wastes and early removal of “hot spots", shall be taken to prevent accidental ignition or spontaneous combustion of waste at a sanitary landfill. Hot or burning materials, or any materials likely to cause a fire, shall be deposited temporarily at a safe distance from the fill area and shall not be included in the landfill operation until the fire hazard is eliminated.

15.3 Where necessary and practicable, a pressurized fire water system and appropriate fire fighting equipment shall be provided at the site. If not practicable, a supply of water provided in fire water drums equipped with appropriate buckets, a stockpile of earth or other means recommended by the Chief Fire Prevention Engineer shall be available to extinguish such fires as may occur. The use of mechanical equipment such as a bulldozer may be utilized for such purposes, providing that machinery is operated in a safe manner by person(s) qualified and trained in the use of such equipment.

15.4 Open burning of waste at a sanitary landfill site is prohibited.

15.5 Immediate action shall be taken to extinguish and control the spread of fire occurring at or in the

vicinity of any waste disposal site or waste treatment facility. The Fire Master at the nearest Saudi Aramco facility must be notified immediately a fire is out of control.

16 SIGNS AND RULES Clearly visible, legible signs, written in Arabic, English and other appropriate language stating

disposal site rules shall be erected at the site entrance and wherever necessary to ensure adequate compliance with the approved operating plan. As a minimum, signs shall contain the following information: a) name of facility and owner; b) emergency phone number of attendant; c) permitted materials; and d) hours of operation during which wastes will be received for disposal. Depending of the type of waste disposal site and degree to which access is restricted, additional signs may be required, e.g. a sign warning herdsmen of the hazards to animals and human beings should animals graze on garbage.

17 CONTROL OF NUISANCES AND HEALTH HAZARDS

17.1 Blowing debris shall be controlled such that the entire disposal site is free of litter. 17.2 Dust and odors shall be controlled. 17.3 Insects, rodents and vermin shall be controlled. The control program shall be based on proper

handling and disposal of waste to prevent attraction, propagation and harborage of vectors and pests. Trapping, baiting and insecticide spraying may be required to control insects, rodents and vermin, which are inadvertently delivered to the site in waste. The services of a competent person or firm shall be retained to carry out periodic surveys and implement eradication and control measures.

17.4 Any condition that could promote the transmission of disease to man or animals shall be

controlled. 17.5 Protection and conservation of the air, water and land environment over, on, under and

around the disposal site shall be emphasized. This shall include prevention, control and treatment of discharges, emissions and other factors, which could degrade the environment or create a public health hazard/nuisance.

18 SALVAGING AND SCAVENGING Salvaging or scavenging shall be controlled so as not to interfere with optimum disposal site operation

and not to create unsightly conditions or vector harborage. All salvaged materials shall be removed from the disposal site at the end of each operating day, unless some other recycling or storage program is authorized in the operating plan approved by EPD. Food products, garbage, hazardous materials,

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containers used for hazardous materials and furniture and bedding with concealed filling shall not be salvaged from a disposal site.

19 HANDLING OF SPECIAL TYPES OF WASTE

19.1 Large dead animals or bulk animal waste, sewage sludge, septic wastewater, hospital waste and other materials which may be hazardous or difficult to manage shall not be deposited at a disposal site unless special provisions for such disposal are included in the operating plan approved by EPD

19.2 No toxic or hazardous waste shall be deposited at any disposal site without prior written approval

of EPD. A program shall be implemented for detecting and preventing the disposal of toxic or hazardous waste and other non-approved waste. The program will make provision for the random inspection of incoming loads, maintenance of records and staff training. EPD must be notified immediately if non-approved wastes are received at the site. In general, toxic or hazardous waste shall be properly contained and stored pending reclamation or final disposal, at a facility specifically designed for this purpose. Refer to GI 430.001, Waste Management and Materials Supply Organization instruction, CU 13.1 Processing of Hazardous Material, for requirements in relation to the classification, manifesting and handling of difficult and hazardous wastes.

19.3 Large quantities of waste oil, grease, oil sludge or oil-soaked waste shall not be placed in any

disposal site unless the disposal site is specifically designed and approved for the disposal of such waste, and designated as an ‘oil waste disposal site’ and special precautions are taken to prevent fires and to protect and conserve the air, water and land environment in accordance with the operating plan approved by EPD.

19.4 Whole, scrap tires shall not be disposed of in Company operated sanitary or construction

waste landfill sites. Tires that have been suitably shredded may be disposed of in landfill sites. Proponent organizations are responsible for the proper disposal of all scrap and used tires. Upon request, proponent organizations shall furnish EPD with documentation verifying proper disposal.

19.5 Containers holding liquid must not be placed in a landfill site unless the container is small in size

similar to that typically found in household waste. 19.6 Sanitary landfills incorporating large quantities of combustible materials shall be sectioned

into cells by earth dikes designed to prevent the spread of fire between cells. Equipment shall be provided of sufficient size and design to densely compact materials included in the landfill.

20 SPECIAL FACTORS PERTINENT TO THE SANITARY LANDFILL METHOD OF WASTE DISPOSAL 20.1 Approved types of landfills:

20.1.1 The sanitary landfill method of waste disposal according to the operating plan approved by EPD and other concerned agencies.

20.1.2 The modified landfill method of waste disposal if it is determined by EPD and other

concerned agencies that special circumstances, such as climate, geographic area, site location, nature or quantity of waste material to be landfilled or population density justifies less than daily compaction and cover. Note that modified landfills shall be located at least 0.4 kilometers (0.25 miles) from the nearest existing residence or commercial establishment other than those used by the landfill operator.

20.1.3 Open dumps and burn-pits are prohibited.

20.2 Adequate quantities of cover material shall be available to provide for daily cover of the active

waste cells at the end of each operating day and for final cover and phased restoration of the site. The consistency of the final cover material shall be such that it can be compacted, and that the

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compacted cover material is not prone to cracking and that the compacted cover material will minimize percolation of surface water.

20.3 Sufficient equipment, including provision of auxiliary or standby equipment which is

adequate to operate a landfill site including placement, compaction and covering of waste under all anticipated weather and soil conditions shall be available at all times.

20.4 Methods of operation:

20.4.1 Unloading of waste on the site shall be confined to the smallest area practicable. The area of exposed waste material on the active landfill face shall be kept to a minimum.

20.4.2 Waste shall be spread on a slope no steeper than 3 horizontal to 1 vertical and compacted

in layers not to exceed 61 centimeters (2 feet) in depth up to maximum cell height. Each layer shall be covered with not less than 15 centimeters (6 inches) of compacted cover material.

20.4.3 A layer of not less that 61 centimeters (2 feet) of compacted cover material, in addition to

intermediate cover material, shall be placed over the completed fill following the final placement of waste. The final cover shall be graded to prevent cracking, erosion and ponding of water.

20.5 Closure of landfills:

20.5.1 Before a landfill may be closed or abandoned to further use, all waste at the disposal site shall be covered, compacted and graded according to requirements outlined in sub-section 20.4.3 of this Code Section. The site shall be restored in a manner approved in writing by EPD.

20.5.2 A maintenance program for continued control of erosion, repair and stabilization of the

compacted cover material shall be provided until the completed fill has stabilized to the point where maintenance is no longer required. Groundwater and landfill gas monitoring shall continue post closure, until the site has stabilized.

21 INCINERATION OF SOLID WASTE

21.1 All incineration equipment and air pollution control appurtenances shall comply with air

pollution control rules and regulations and emission standards of Saudi Aramco and the Meteorology and Environmental Protection Administration (MEPA).

21.2 The delivery of waste shall be coordinated with the producers and transporters to ensure that a

steady stream of waste is received for incineration. Too little or too much waste can adversely impact the handling capabilities of the facility and the efficiency of the incineration process. In general, waste shall be incinerated as it is received. Accumulation of waste shall be kept to a minimum.

21.3 All waste that is not incinerated upon delivery to the site shall be confined to a designated staging

area. Special provisions shall be made to handle and contain waste stored in the staging area. Note that hospital and other potentially hazardous waste shall be properly contained until incinerated according to the operating plan approved by EPD.

21.4 Accumulation of ashes and residues shall be kept to a minimum.

21.5 Ashes and residues in a cold state shall be disposed of in an approved landfill or handled

otherwise in accordance with a written plan approved by EPD.

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21.6 During start up and shut down waste must not be fed into the incinerator unless it is operating within its design specification for temperature and air feed rate.

21.7 Automatic cut-off devices must be installed to prevent wastes being fed into the incinerator when

the operating temperature and combustion gas conditions are outside the design specification.

21.8 Combustion temperature and waste feed rate must be monitored on a continuous basis. Carbon monoxide must be monitored on a continuous basis at a point in the incinerator downstream of the combustion zone and prior to release to atmosphere.

21.9 The incinerator and associated equipment (pumps, valves and pipes) must be subject to a

thorough visual inspection at least daily, for leaks, spills and fugitive emissions. Daily inspection logs must be maintained and made available for inspection as required by paragraph 4.3 above.

21.10 The emergency waste feed cut-off system and associated alarms must be tested at least daily

to verify operability. A daily inspection log must be maintained and made available for inspection as required by paragraph 4.3 above.

22 COMPOSTING METHOD OF WASTE DISPOSAL

22.1 All compostable waste shall be subjected to complete processing in accordance with the equipment manufacturer's operating instructions. 22.2 Facilities and procedures shall be provided for handling, recycling or disposing of wastes that are non-biodegradable by composting.

22.3 An adequate supply of water shall be available for plant operation and cleaning purposes. There

shall be no direct connection between a potable water supply and any processing plant or equipment or cross-connection with any unsafe or questionable water supply, sewerage system or any source of pollution that might contaminate or otherwise degrade the potable water supply.

22.4 Composting operations shall not be located in odor-sensitive areas. Odors shall be maintained

at the lowest levels practicable. 22.5 Provisions shall be made to effectively collect, treat and dispose of leachate or drainage from

stored compost and the composting operation. 22.6 Compost shall be removed from the composting plant site as frequently as possible, but not later

than one year after treatment is completed. 22.7 Composted waste offered for use by the general public shall contain no pathogenic organisms,

shall be relatively odor-free and shall not endanger public health or safety. 22.8 All waste delivered to the composting plant shall be placed in the compost stream or confined

to a designated staging area prior to composting. Stored waste shall be handled according to requirements outlined in sub-section 5.1 of this Code Section. The volume of stored waste shall be kept to minimum.

22.9 Residues shall be handled according to requirements outlined in sub-sections 8 and 9 of this

Code Section. Accumulation of residues shall be kept to a minimum.

23 SLUDGE DISPOSAL METHOD 23.1 Prohibited methods of sludge disposal:

23.1.1 Septic tank waste and raw sewage sludge shall not be disposed of by land spreading unless specifically approved in writing by EPD.

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23.1.2 Except for heat-treated sewage sludge, sewage sludges, including septic tank waste

and raw sewage sludges, shall not be: a) used as fertilizer on root crops, vegetables, low growing berries or fruits that may be eaten raw; b) applied to land later than one year prior to planting where vegetables are to be grown; c) used on grass or shrubbery in public areas; or d) be given or sold to the public.

23.1.3 Sewage sludge shall normally have a minimum solids content of 30% prior to disposal in

a landfill. Sludge will be considered at 30% when it is in the form of a dry cake. Liquid sludges shall not be deposited in landfills except according to the operating plan approved by EPD.

23.2 Operation of sludge disposal sites:

23.2.1 Sludge lagoons shall be located at least 1.6 kilometers (1 mile) from the nearest existing

residence or commercial establishment other than those used by the lagoon operator or attendant.

23.2.2 Sludge shall not be spread on land where natural run-off could carry a residue into

surface or ground waters. 23.2.3 If non-digested sludge is spread on land within 1.6 kilometers (1 mile) of residence,

community or public use area, it shall be plowed under the ground, buried or otherwise incorporated into the soil within five (5) days after application.

23.2.4 Lagoons shall be designed and constructed in accordance with SAES-A-104. 23.2.5 Water or sludge shall not be pumped or otherwise removed from a lagoon, except according to a written plan approved by EPD.

REFERENCES

1. State of California, “California Solid Waste Management”, 1973. 2. USEPA 40 CFR Ch.1: Parts; 258 - “Criteria For Municipal Solid Waste Landfills, 7-1-99 Edition

264 - “ Standards for Owners and Operators of Hazardous Waste treatment, Storage and Disposal Facilities. 1987/97

3. UK, Department of the Environment, Waste Management Paper 26B “Landfill Design Construction and Operational Practice, 1995.

4. Saudi Aramco Sanitary Code, 1996. 5. GI 430.001 “Waste Management General Instruction” 6. SAES-S-007 “Solid Waste Landfill Standard”, 1998. 7. SAES-A 104 Wastewater Treatment, Reuse and Disposal 2001 8. CU 13.1 “Processing of Hazardous Material”

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section 03

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