How To Properly Dispose Of Clean Fill

Clean fill waste refers to any material that does not go through chemical, physical, or biological transformations that may cause adverse health or environmental effects once placed in a clean fill.

Since clean fill material, which includes virgin natural materials, such as soil, clay, and rock, and other inert materials, such as brick and concrete, does not contain any potentially hazardous content, it must not be mixed with any other non-clean fill material. Such material is disposed of in a landfill that is specifically intended for clean fill material.

Landfilling Versus Clean Filling
A landfill refers to a waste disposal site intended for the controlled deposit of solid wastes into/onto land. The kind of solid waste accepted at landfills consists of any non-hazardous, solid and degradable waste from industrial, commercial, or residential sources. Putrescence waste and garden waste can also be disposed through landfilling, so careful site selection is necessary, since such waste will produce leachate and landfill gas over a period of time.

Clean fills, on the other hand, as low-cost alternatives to landfills, are specifically intended for ‘inert’ waste with zero adverse effects on the environment. The site for disposing clean fill must be carefully selected, as there will be no need for the construction of leachate collection systems, gas control systems, or even liners.

How To Prepare Clean Fill For Disposal
The waste deposited in a clean fill is typically from demolition and construction activities, which means that it generally consists of soil, rock, bricks, and concrete, among other similar inert material. Before disposal, clean fill must be free of:

Hazardous substances
Degradable, combustible, leachable, or putrescible components
Liquid waste
Products derived from hazardous waste treatment, stabilization, or disposal practices
Materials that present a risk to human/animal health, such asbestos, radioactive substances, or medical and veterinary waste.

Material that satisfies the above conditions can be disposed of in a clean fill. However, there are some other guidelines that you must follow:

Clean fill is typically not accepted right after rainfall due to the muddy conditions. Usually, you will have to wait for about one or two days without rain for the clean fill to dry out completely, after which the clean fill material can be disposed.
Residential clean fill may be deposited in a city landfill without a permit, as long as you don’t use a commercial vehicle, and the source of the material is at least 30 metres from a fuel station or dry cleaning business. Otherwise, a soil analysis will be required.
Commercial vehicles looking to dispose clean fill must obtain an approval number before arriving at the disposal site.

To find a suitable clean fill disposal bin size and landfill, it is important to work with professionals in your area. This will also ensure safe disposal within the law.