A capillary barrier as a capping system on the Breinermoor landfill

In the second half of 1998, at the central landfill at Breinermoor in the district of Leer, East Friesland/Germany, a capillary barrier was constructed as part of an innovative type of landfill capping on a slope with an area of about 2 hectares. The project has been running for several years and comprised design for approval, including submission of proof of suitability, material research with laboratory tests, the application for and obtaining of EU promotional funds (LIFE-Program) and planning of the works with several invitations to tender. The capillary barrier was covered by a geomembrane. The performance of the capillary barrier (without geomembrane cover) has been examined in an integrated large lysimeter (EU test field) since 1999. Additionally, a test field was constructed in which as a technical innovation a ‘capillary block mat’ (CBM test field) was placed. The project started in 1997. In 1999 construction was completed (von der Hude et al. 1997, von der Hude et al. 1999a). From 1999 measurements (in particular meteorological and discharge measurements) have been taken.

• 1 CONCEPT OF THE CAPILLARY BARRIER AT THE BREINERMOOR LANDFILL

• 2 DESIGN OF THE CAPPING SYSTEM

• 3 SELECTION OF MATERIALS

• 4 CONSTRUCTION

• 5 EXPERIENCE WITH CONSTRUCTION TECHNIQUES

• 6 QUALITY ASSURANCE

• 7 ADDITIONAL TEST FIELD WITH CAPILLARY BLOCK MAT

• 8 CONCLUSION AND OUTLOOK

• REFERENCES