Challenge

The City of Redlands owns and operates the California Street Landfill. As a public municipality, the City must provide solid waste solutions for a growing community that safeguard the environmental while avoiding unnecessary expenses. To accommodate a growing need, the landfill has required four phases of expansion, as well as monitoring and reporting to meet state and federal regulations.

Solutions

Over the past 25+ years, GLA has supported the City with engineering, construction quality assurance (CQA), and regulatory compliance services at the California Street Landfill. We have prepared plans and performed CQA services for four phases of expansion. For the first phase, a 21-acre expansion and the first lined area at the landfill, GLA suggested that excess soils be used to cover the 20-acre Eastside Landfill, which was not scheduled for construction for several years. Approval resulted in significant savings to the City.

During the second phase of expansion, the GLA team worked with the City to modify the design to accept power plant filter cake from a local utility company. GLA assisted with the complex regulatory approval for this modified design and then provided CQA services for the nine-acre expansion.

During the phase 3 expansion, GLA prepared plans and assisted with permitting of a 200,000 square foot warehouse in the buffer zone south of the operating expansion area. Our relationship with the regulating agencies allowed for the design modification to be approved rapidly and without any modification of the construction schedule. Again, CQA services were provided during the construction of the 6.2-acre expansion, which was constructed with a double-composite liner. GLA also assisted the City with modifications to the groundwater monitoring network (well replacements) that were needed to vacate the property for warehouse construction.

For the fourth phase of expansion, GLA prepared the design package for the 9.5-acre project. We provided CQA and assisted the City with gaining regulatory approval in the shortest timeframe possible.

GLA also developed detailed design documents for the Phase 5 expansion at the CSL, and assisted the City with the permitting and approval process. We also assisted the City throughout the bidding process by responding to requests for information and with contractor selection.

Throughout all expansion phases, GLA has also provided hydrogeological services for the landfill, including well installation, well abandonment,  semi-annual groundwater and unsaturated zone monitoring, and annual testing of the site leachate collection system.

The longevity of GLA’s work at CSL has helped the City to maintain regulatory compliance, save money, and expand facilities to meet ever-growing population demand.

Michael D. Reason, PG, CHG  | Vice President 

Results

Through innovative engineering solutions and diligent CQA and regulatory assistance, GLA has helped the City of Redlands design and construct five expansions of the California Street Landfill. These phases have included landfill cell liners and regular groundwater monitoring to protect the environment and local residents. These services have not only helped provide needed services to the community but also saved the City significant amounts of money.