Landfills are not just a “holes in the ground” anymore. Waste management has evolved over the decades to become highly engineered systems. The implementation of organics regulations, integrated waste networks, sophisticated processing facilities, and improved economics are all factors pushing the industry towards greater sustainability.
We spoke with Stephanie Stolz, a recent addition to GHD’s Waste Management team, about exciting new industry trends, new technologies shaping future operations, and the challenges that still remain when it comes to effectively managing our waste.
Why did you choose this particular area to work in?
I love that solid waste is a very dynamic industry, and touches so many aspects of the environment (air, water, land, energy). Thus as a solid waste engineer, you are constantly expanding your knowledge base as new technologies come into play, rules change, and the market shifts. The types of projects we work on for our clients today are much different from those we worked on early in my career, and I believe that things will continue to change as we move forward.
I’m going to date myself here a bit but, while I was in high school I got an early exposure to the “new” landfill regulations that were about to take effect. My father was a local government administrator and involved with trying to determine the effect of the new regulations. This included learning what disposal options were out there other than landfills before people really knew what they were.
This early exposure to the changing solid waste industry got me hooked and I’ve never looked back. I went to college knowing I wanted to be a civil/environmental engineer. I was lucky enough to get an internship that allowed me to work in the industry as it was getting established.
How will our clients benefit from your approach?
I started my career as a consulting engineer, and after a little over ten years I went to work for a large national waste company. During that time I was involved in the operations end of the solid waste industry and was exposed to many types of facilities. This really opened my eyes to the different challenges the industry faces.
That experience has made me a better engineer. I learned the effect decisions made during design and construction can have on the overall operations and maintenance related aspects of a facility for a long time after a project is completed. Working on the operational side shaped my approach to projects. I've learned to ask additional questions on the front end to make sure the client is getting the best solution for their particular application. Moreover, I can put myself in our clients’ shoes. Clients appreciate my unique experience and viewpoint.
What hot topics or new approaches are you seeing in the industry?
As regulations are starting to change here in the US, organics has become a trendy topic. GHD’s experience with organics processing facilities in Canada and Europe can really come into play as these regulations start to take effect here in the US. We are currently involved in several organics projects in California, and as a company are laying the groundwork and positioning ourselves to be on the forefront of these discussions as things expand across the country.
What are the most interesting innovations or technologies that you’re seeing develop?
Due to technological advances, converting landfill gas to pipeline quality Renewable Natural Gas (RNG) in now economically feasible for a lot of sites. While not something new, the change in economics is exciting. Especially as some facilities are reaching the point where they’ve continued to expand and are potentially outliving or have outgrown their aging landfill-gas-to-energy facilities. It can also be a viable option for those facilities that needed active gas collection but, were previously deemed too small to install a gas plant. RNG gives them another option.
What do you think some of the toughest challenges are for the waste industry?
While everyone generates garbage, this is still a NIMBY (not-in-my-backyard) industry that most people don’t really understand; they just want their trash to be collected and disappear. One of the biggest challenges continues to be how to maximize removal of the useful portions of the waste stream, be it through separation at the source or via technological means. There are a couple of factors that make this especially challenging: (1) the changing regulatory environment; (2) fluctuations in global recycling markets; and (3) the evolving waste stream.
What are some of the biggest changes you’ve seen in the industry?
When I was a kid I remember at the end of our summer vacation to a cabin in Northern Minnesota, we would take our trash out to the local “dump”, where we would watch the bears go through the trash. The industry has come a long way from those days, as a modern landfill is now just once piece of a larger integrated solid waste management network. Landfills themselves have evolved from those holes in the ground to highly engineered systems at regional complexes.
One of the next changes I see is bringing wireless technology and digital programming applications to collect operational data at solid waste facilities. Data that previously would take days for an employee to collect and may be reviewed on a weekly or monthly basis, can now be instantly collected, analyzed and reported to facility personnel via an app on their phone by email to alert them to potential compliance issues. This will give facility managers much more operational control, improve compliance, as well assist with routine reporting requirements.
What makes you excited to come to work each day?
The reward of doing something that I thoroughly enjoy, with a group of people I not only enjoy working with, but know have the same professional commitment to do what’s right for both the client and the environment. Moreover, I like that fact that at the end of the day, I can look at my son and honestly tell him that his mom was able to help make the world a little bit better place because of the work we do.
Meet Stephanie
Stephanie is senior design engineer and project manager with over 20 years of professional experience in the solid waste industry. She is a graduate of the University of Minnesota, and a registered professional engineer in Minnesota and Iowa. Her experience has focused on design, permitting, and environmental compliance at integrated solid waste management facilities, including diversion and recycling programs, collection facilities, composting facilities, material recovery and processing facilities, transfer stations, storage and disposal facilities, and landfill gas-to-energy plants. She has been involved in all aspects of projects, from feasibility studies, conceptual planning, development, siting, compliance, permitting, environmental impact, design, construction oversight, and facility operations. In her spare time, Stephanie enjoys cooking, spending time outdoors, and traveling with her husband and son. For more information, please contact Stephanie at stephanie.stolz@ghd.com.