Illinois Sustainable Technology Center - University of Illinois
INRS State Scientific Surveys
Pekin Landfill, Tazewell County
The Pekin Landfill project provided about 10,000 tons of mud for use as final cover topsoil on this old landfill in need of proper closing. Supplemental Environmental Project funds from Dynegy Energy were used to bring mud from Lower Peoria Lake to the landfill.
October 14-18, 2007
Sediment is removed from Lower Peoria Lake at East Peoria with a Cable Arm Clamshell bucket and loaded onto deck barges. Note the mud is stiff and does not run off the end of the barge. A hydraulic clamshell bucket on an excavator arm loaded the mud into trucks for the 17 mile trip to the landfill. The mud was dumped on the top of the landfill's clay cap. It had the consistency of toothpaste and did not run. A small bulldozer was used to consolidate the piles. The last photo shows the depth of sediment over the cap.
October 19, 2007
A press conference with local officials, a representative of Attorney General Lisa Madigan and Lt. Gov. Pat Quinn was held on Oct. 19. Quinn and Madigan arranged the funding for the project. Note the lack of vegetation on the clay cap.
November, 2007
The first two photos taken on the 11th show sediment drying on the site and desiccation cracks are forming. By the 30th the top of the sediment is dry and crumbling as soil structure begins to form. Rainwater accumulates in the cracks reducing runoff and the risk of erosion prior to vegetation becoming established.
March 28, 2008
After a winter of freezing and thawing, the top six inches of sediment has developed granular soil structure. Soil is falling into the desiccation cracks.
July 23, 2008
Vegetation is well established on the topsoil formed from the sediment and makes a sharp contrast with the landfill clay cap. Most of the vegetation is from seeds blown onto the site. Cracks are still visible in some areas.
March 24, 2009
After a second winter of weathering, soil structure is well formed (first photo). The topsoil and plants are visible on top of the original (light tan colored) landfill surface.
September 15, 2010
After three years vegetation is well established on the new layer of topsoil. A variety of plants have colonized the area and wildlife is taking advantage of the lush vegetation.
