From Constraints to Solutions: Designing Cell 2
The first part of this blog series described the preliminary investigations that defined the design constraints for Cell 2 at Cecil County’s Central Landfill. Those early efforts provided a clear understanding of existing conditions and established the framework for design. This second blog focuses on how the project team translated those findings into an integrated design that prioritized constructability and operational feasibility and enabled construction to stay on schedule and within budget.
The overall design intent for Cell 2 was to maximize airspace within a challenging footprint while minimizing risk during construction and future landfill operations. Achieving that goal required a coordinated approach that addressed grading, liner configuration, and site utilities as a single, integrated system.
Valley Fill Configuration and Overall Grading Concept
Cell 2 is the heart of Central Landfill’s horizontal expansion and maximization of the site’s available airspace. Creating a waste disposal cell between existing cells by overlaying a liner system onto a previously unlined landfill allowed the site to be developed to a higher final waste elevation, giving Cecil County a way to maximize available airspace within its existing available footprint.
Designing a valley-fill waste disposal cell presented several challenges. The geometry was tightly constrained by existing adjacent waste disposal areas, and the area also contained critical landfill infrastructure and utilities that needed to remain operational during construction.
The unique grading that was developed improved constructability and supported future operational efficiency while minimizing impacts to existing waste.
Liner System Design and Tie-Ins
The liner system design for Cell 2 required careful consideration of the liner systems of the adjacent existing waste cells. Cell 1 was unlined, which required an overlay liner system design for areas where Cell 2 was to overlay Cell 1, effectively serving as a cover for older waste and a baseliner for future waste placement.
Cells 4 and 5 presented a different challenge. Cell 4 is lined with an HDPE geomembrane, while Cell 5 is lined with a PVC geomembrane. This required two distinct tie-in approaches. The Cell 2 HDPE liner could be directly welded to the Cell 4 HDPE geomembrane, providing continuity at that interface. At Cell 5, the Cell 2 liner was overlapped with the existing PVC geomembrane, as permitted, to maintain liner system continuity and leachate containment while accommodating material differences.
These design decisions resulted in a robust liner system that is protective of the environment while integrating seamlessly with existing infrastructure.
An Integrated Design Approach
The successful design of Cell 2 relied on close coordination between B&L and Cecil County’s stakeholders. Grading decisions were guided by pre-design findings such as cover depths and anchor trench locations, along with existing topography and the groundwater elevations monitored as part of ongoing site compliance. These inputs were evaluated together so that key design elements, including grading, liner system configuration, and utility alignments, could be coordinated rather than developed in isolation.
This integrated approach reduced redesign, minimized construction risk, and resulted in a more efficient and resilient final design.
Conclusion
Cell 2 demonstrates how early investigation and thoughtful, integrated design can turn significant constraints into workable solutions. Part 1 of this series highlighted the importance of understanding existing conditions. Part 2 shows how those findings were translated into a design that supported constructability, protected environmental systems, and helped keep the project on schedule and within budget.
Together, these efforts positioned Cell 2 for successful construction and long-term operability, supporting Cecil County’s solid waste management needs well into the future.
A project milestone timeline is presented below:
- Pre-Design, Design, and Permitting: August 2022 – September 2023
- Bidding/Award: October 2023 – April 2024
- Construction: May 2024 – February 2025
- Certification Report: February 2025
- MDE Approval of Report: April 2025
For more information regarding our firm’s solid waste management services, contact Steve Lezinski, Vice President.