Beneficial Reuse of Solid Wastes

Iowa Waste Reduction Center / University of Northern Iowa

319-273-8905 or 1-800-422-3109

IAC 567-108								              May 2009

Applicability

Beneficial reuse options apply to industrial, commercial, and
institutional generators and users of solid by-products (waste) and
sanitary landfills utilizing alternative cover material.  Reuse is
available to solid by-products that are being disposed of as solid waste
in an Iowa landfill, and that meet certain requirements as described in
this summary.  

Wastes/operations that are not eligible include: waste that has already
been landfill disposed, land application of solid waste, solid waste
processing operations or solid waste composting.    

Benefits of Solid Waste Reuse

Utilization of solid by-products as resources when such use improves, or
at a minimum does not adversely affect, human health and the environment
is economically beneficial to both the generator of the waste and the
end user.  Reuse also decreases the amount of solid waste entering
Iowa’s landfills.

Issuance of a beneficial use determination relieves the generator and
user of Iowa solid waste requirements including: rules, sanitary
disposal permits, and permit conditions.  

General Requirements

The following by-products may be utilized for the purposes listed below
without additional approval from the Department of Natural Resources
(DNR) unless used for fill material*, if the by-product is used for some
purpose other than alternative cover at a sanitary landfill and is
foundry sand or a coal combustion by-product (see applicable sections):

Alumina (including refractory brick): Raw material in the manufacture of
cement or concrete products

Asphalt Shingles (certified as not having more than 1% asbestos): Raw
material in the manufacture of asphalt products, subbase for
hard-surface road construction, or road surfacing granular material. May
also be used as alternative cover at a sanitary landfill if ground to an
average size of 3 inches or less and mixed with soil in a 50/50 volume. 


Cement Kiln Dust: Raw material in the manufacture of absorbents, cement
or concrete products, subbase for hard-surface road construction, soil
or compost amendment, stabilizer for manure and waste sludge, soil
stabilizer for construction purposes, and fill material*.

Coal Combustion By-Products:  Coal combustion fly ash and flue gas
desulfurization by-products may be used as:  Raw material in
manufactured gypsum, wallboard, plaster or similar product, or in
calcium chloride or absorbents, or fill material*.  Coal combustion fly
ash, bottom ash or boiler slag may be used as:  Raw material in the
manufacture of cement or concrete products, asphalt products or plastic
products, raw material used in mineral recovery, subbase for
hard-surface road construction, soil stabilization for construction
purposes, or fill material*.  Coal combustion bottom ash may also be
used as:  A traction agent for surfaces used by vehicles or sandblasting
abrasive.  All coal combustion by-products may also be used as
alternative cover at a sanitary landfill when mixed with soil in a 50/50
volume. 

Foundry Sand: Raw material in the manufacture of asphalt products,
cement or concrete products, leachate control drainage material at a
sanitary landfill, subbase for hard-surface road construction, emergency
flood control use for sandbags, or fill material*.  May also be used as
alternative cover at a sanitary landfill when mixed with soil in a 50/50
volume.   

Glass (uncontaminated, unleaded glass):  Raw material in the manufacture
of asphalt products, sandblasting or other abrasive, leachate control
drainage material at a sanitary landfill, filter media, subbase for
hard-surface road construction, or fill material*.  May also be used as
alternative cover at a sanitary landfill when ground to an average size
of ½-inch and mixed with soil in a 10/90 volume.

Gypsum and Gypsum Wallboard:  All gypsum and gypsum wallboard may be
used as: Raw material in the manufacture of absorbents, other gypsum
products, wallboard, plaster or similar products.  Gypsum and gypsum
wallboard that have not been treated to be water resistant or fire
retardant may be used as: Calcium additive for agricultural use, or soil
or compost amendment.  All gypsum and gypsum wallboard may be used as
alternative cover at a sanitary landfill when ground to an average size
of 3 inches and mixed with soil in a 50/50 volume. 

Lime (produced from public water supplies):  Soil amendment or raw
material in the manufacture of calcium carbonate or similar substances.

Lime Kiln Dust:  Raw material in the manufacture of absorbents, cement
or concrete products, subbase for hard-surface road construction, soil
or compost amendment, stabilizer for manure and waste sludge, soil
stabilizer for construction purposes or fill material*.

Paper Mill Sludge (uncontaminated and dewatered):  Fuel or energy
source, bulking agent or carbon source for composting, animal bedding,
or raw material in the manufacture of absorbents. May also be used as
alternative cover at a sanitary landfill when mixed with soil in a 50/50
volume.

Rubble (uncontaminated, such as concrete, brick, asphalt pavement, soil
and rock): Substitute for conventional aggregate.

Sandblasting Abrasives (not containing lead-based paint): Raw material
in the manufacture of cement or concrete products, asphalt products or
abrasive products, subbase for hard-surface road construction, or fill
material*.  May also be used as alternative cover at a sanitary landfill
when mixed with soil in a 50/50 volume.

Soil (uncontaminated):  Fill, landscaping, excavation, grading or other
suitable purpose, or alternative cover at a sanitary landfill.

Petroleum-Contaminated Soil (decontaminated to the satisfaction of the
DNR): Fill material at the original excavation site or alternative cover
material at a sanitary landfill.

Wastewater Filter Sand:  Fill material* or subbase for hard-surface road
construction.

Wood (uncontaminated or untreated): Fuel or energy source, bulking agent
for composting, mulch, animal bedding, raw material in the manufacture
of paper products, particle board, or similar materials.

Wood Ash (from the combustion of uncontaminated, untreated or raw wood):
 Soil amendment, carbon source for composting, raw material in the
manufacture of cement or concrete products, or fill material*.

By-products other than those listed above may be issued beneficial use
determination after submitting the following information to the DNR.

Contact information for the owner of the site where the project will be
located, applicant for the beneficial use determination, person
responsible for the project, Professional Engineer (PE) retained for the
project, if any, and agency/responsible official of agency to be served
by the project, if any.

A description of the by-product and its proposed use(s), as well as a
chemical and physical description of the by-product and proposed
products.

Demonstration that there is a known or reasonably probable market for
the intended use of the by-product including a contract to purchase or
utilize the by-product, a description of how it will be used, a
demonstration that the by-product complies with industry standards for a
product and/or other documentation that a market exists.

Demonstration that the by-product is not dangerous to the health of the
environmental or people, including, but not limited to TCLP and total
metals test results.

A by-product management plan.

*  Requirements for reuse as fill material

All by-products (other than rubble and soil) intended for reuse as fill
material must meet the following requirements, unless a variance is
obtained from the DNR:

Less than 10 times the maximum contaminant level for drinking water (IAC
567 Chapter 41) measured by the synthetic precipitation leaching
procedure (SPLP, EPA Method 1312).  (Foundry sand and coal combustion
by-products may limit SPLP testing to total metals for drinking water.)

Total metals testing results, including thallium, equal to statewide
standards for soil.

Specific pH range depending on the future intended use of the fill.

Fill will not be placed in a waterway, wetland, below or within five
feet of the high water table, within the 100-year flood plain, or closer
than 200 feet to a sinkhole or well that is, or could be, used for
livestock or human consumption.

The fill will not be putrescible.  

 

By-Product Management Plans

Any entity proposing a new by-product for reuse (not listed above), and
generators of foundry sand and coal combustion by-products must develop
and maintain a by-product management plan containing the following:

List of the sources of the by-product

Procedure for periodic testing of the by-product to ensure chemical and
physical composition has not changed significantly

Description of storage procedures including location(s), maximum
anticipated inventory, including dimensions of stockpiles, run-on and
run-off controls (which may include an NPDES permit), management
practices to minimize uncontrolled dispersion, and maximum storage time,
not to exceed 6 months.

Record Keeping Requirements

Any entity engaging in the beneficial use of a by-product (other than
alternative cover) who satisfies at least one of the following criteria
must meet the record keeping requirements listed:

Entity has been granted a beneficial use determination,

The by-product is not rubble or soil, and is being used as fill
material,

The by-product is foundry sand or a coal combustion by-product.

Requirements

Maintain all records related to the by-product management plan for a
minimum of five years.

A copy of the by-product management plan will be submitted to the DNR
and applicable DNR field office whenever the plan is revised, or within
60 days of the end of the calendar year, whichever is earlier.

Generators whose by-product is being reused as fill material must submit
in writing the location and tons of by-product used for each project
within 60 days of the end of the calendar year.  

