Second Speaker Announced for GWMS
The Global Waste Management Symposium (GWMS) has announced a second keynote speaker: Håkan Rylander, CEO of the South Scania Waste Company, Sweden (part of SYSAV). Read more about Mr. Rylander and the first keynote speaker, Dr. Michael Walsh of Chicago Climate Exchange.
Calls for Papers Update
Our bi-weekly update on calls for papers, abstracts and proposals is posted. This issue includes Cooperation for Waste Issues, a Kharkiv, Ukraine event for which geosynthetica is a media partner. Events are listed in ordered of closest deadlines.
ASDSO Awards Scholarships
The Association of State Dam Safety Officials (ASDSO) has announced the winners of its 2008-2009 scholarships. Congratulations are in order for Garrett Graybill, Brian Carlton, Rachel Ernst and Joe Tom on their deserved recognition. Read more about their work and the 2009-2010 call for nominations.
SKZ in China
The CE Mark on products allows companies to distribute those products throughout the European Union. It's vital to be competitive in Europe. Süddeutsches Kunststoff-Zentrum (SKZ) recently brought CE information to representatives in China. Read a short report in English.
GERMAN VERSION: SKZ in China
A German version of SKZ's report from China is available. SKZ visited the Geosynthetics Asia 2008 event to discuss CE Marking of products with companies. Read the German version of the report.
Landfill Remediation
An old, unlined dump in Washington County, Minnesota, will be dug out and lined and the waste reburied as part of a $27 million remediation plan. The site accepted waste in the late '60s and early '70s, including legal industrial waste containing PFBA chemicals. These chemicals are now polluting groundwater. The expensive correction is testament to the importance of modern lining systems and design techniques.
Learn more here.;
Show Offs
Representatives of Waste Management Inc. conducted an open house at a landfill site in Three Rivers, Michigan. Lining systems were explained, a new cell's preparation was discussion, and a 270,000-sq.-ft. cap served as a model for long-term containment.
Learn more here.;
Landfill Mining in Escambia
Landfilling in Escambia County, Florida is difficult for both space and cost reasons. Plans are now in place to begin "mining" a 20 to 25-year-old landfill and reuse the space created for more waste disposal. Roughly 77% of the old space is soil, they estimate. That soil will be tested and reused in future covers.
Learn more here.;
Effect of Resin Prices
Resin prices have increased dramatically this year, and since resins provide the vital characteristics of geosynthetics, the cost of geosynthetic products have risen--though not nearly by as much as resins have. But there is only so much manufactures can do before some of their increased costs must transfer into the product lines. Tensar International has released a letter about this.
Learn more here.;
Leaching through Canal Walls
The walls of the historic Erie Canal are tainted. Coal tar in the soil from an old gas-manufacturing plant is leaching through the walls of the canal. A public meeting will be held on July 15 to solicit public views on possible remediation solutions.
Learn more here.;
Thrace Acquires Yonah Plant
Lumite Inc., a geotextile-manufacturing subsidiary of Thrace Plastics, has acquired a plant from Propex. The 226,000-sq-ft facility in Alto, Georgia will increase Thrace's geotextile production capacity, a welcomed advent as the company seeks to expand within the domestic market.
Learn more here.;
Keep Current on Deadlines
We've seen a great many Calls for Papers, Abstracts and Proposals come out recently. It can be difficult to track all this during your busy work season. Keep up-to-date on the calls with our update column that may identify particular sessions of interest, such as the Geotechnical Risk portion of the 2009 DBIA Water/Wastewater event. Read more about these forthcoming deadlines.
Emergency Levee Repair
The Geosynthetic Materials Association (GMA) has announced that it is preparing to meet with members of the U.S. Congress who have an interest in levee safety. GMA seeks examples of geosynthetic products that can be employed for emergency levee repair and levee heightening to prevent overtopping. For information on the meeting and GMA, contact Andrew Aho.
Learn more here.;
Determining Separation Factors
TenCate Geosynthetics' engineers have released a document detailing the importance and use of separation factors in selecting geotextiles for roadway design. Key to selection is retention, permeability and survivability characteristics. View a copy of the document today.
9ICG Call for Papers
The 9th International Conference on Geosynthetics (9ICG) will be held 23-27 May 2010 in Guaruja, São Paulo, Brazil. A Call for Papers has been issued…as has a conference mascot. Deadline for submission of abstract is 30 October 2008. Key interests for the conference include drainage, mining, durability and long-term performance, transportation, hydraulic applications, new products and much more.
Learn more here.;
JPS Completes Sale
JPS has completed its sale of Stevens Roofing and Geomembrane to Dow Chemical Co.'s Dow Building Solutions group. The transaction does not involve JPS's other operating units, JPS Composite Materials and Stevens Urethane.
Learn more here.;
Solmax Offers CPL
Solmax now offers Concrete Protection Liners (CPL). Anchor Knob Sheet (AKS) is a robust state-of-the-art liner designed to protect concrete structures in chemically aggressive environments. This cast-in CPL is made from high-density polyethylene (HDPE), polypropylene (PP) or linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE) to suit a wide range of applications and requirements. Read more about them.
Learn more here.;
Bauters Joins Golder
Dr. Tim Bauters has joined Golder Associates as a Senior Project Engineer at the company's Mountain View, California office. Bauters specializes in solid waste projects, engineered barriers and geosynthetics, civil and geotechnical engineering, and design, permitting and construction quality assurance (CQA). He is a member of ASTM International's Committee D35 on Geosynthetics.
Learn more here.;
Demolition Geotextiles
While the primary uses of geotextiles include separation, cushioning, drainage control and filtration, another major use has grown in recent years: demolition control. The durability of geotextiles and finer apperatures have seen demolition crews go increasingly for them over more traditional site demolition wraps like chain link. The materials are used for blast, dust and debris containment.
Learn more here.;
Geomembrane Survey
CE News' Civil Connection e-newsletter has sent out a geomembrane survey. Participants are eligible for a drawing with a prize of either a $300 VISA gift card or a Callaway Hyper X Driver. Experienced geosynthetics users are encouraged to give this short survey a read. And consider signing up for Civil Connection.
Learn more here.;
Radioactive Landfill Dispute
Near St. Louis, Missouri, in the aptly named (for this dispute) Earth City, a debate continues regarding the lack of a liner for a radioactive landfill. In light of all the flooding that has stricken the Midwest, particularly along the Mississippi River, many now wonder whether the landfill's cap can withstand these flooding instances. Material buried at the site stems from World War II's Manhattan Project: the development of the atomic bomb.
Learn more here.;
Geotextiles for Healthy Waters
Another article has appeared regarding the cleaning of the Cocheco River's muddy flats in New Hampshire. Geotextile mats are being laid to help confine the polluted sediment. The geotextile capping system will be monitored by the University of New Hampshire for two years and the performance of the system will be weighed against more common approaches such as dredging and sand-only caps.
Learn more here.;
Phase II for Defiance
The Defiance, Ohio Canal Road Landfill expansion is progressing into the $1.7 million Phase II. The lining system is constructed with 60-mil high-density polyethylene (HDPE) geomembrane atop compacted clay. Cost for the 10-acre site has been reduced through taking advantage of drainage systems installed last year during Phase I.
Learn more here.;
New PE Pipe
Dow, a leading global plastics company, has launched DOWLEX PE-RT at the Middle East Plastics Pipe conference in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The polyethylene product has been developed for the elevated temperature and construction needs of the Middle East. Dow Building Solutions, a division of Dow Chemical Company, recently announced its intention to purchase Stevens, a leading geosynthetics company.
Learn more here.;
Polytex's New Line
Chilean film maker Polytex S.A. has added a large, Gloucester Engineering-manufactured line for the production of geomembranes at Polytex's new plant in Lima, Peru. The 365-in. line’s main extruder is 8 in. in diameter. The diameter of the die is 86 in. The system is expected to begin production this month.
Learn more here.;
