Alternative Cover System Adopted for V.I. Landfills

Promoters of a landfill management system won approval from the Waste Management Authority board on Tuesday. Based on reports given by agency staffers to board members at the meeting, the system has shown promise in a trial run on St. Croix.

Deciding whether to adopt the use of the Rusmar Foam Alternative Daily Cover was one of six action items presented to the board as they met in Waste Management’s Kingshill office on St. Croix. The system uses a truck-mounted foam applicator to cover daily trash deposits at the landfill.

The system was first deployed on a temporary basis in November. Waste Management Executive Director Roger Merritt said the alternative cover serves the same purpose as covering trash with dirt, but at a lower cost. He added that because the foam covering is biodegradable, it does not contribute to the waste stream.

Merritt said continued use of the foam alternative could save the authority $150,000 a year that it would otherwise spend to cover the daily trash haul with dirt.