Porepunkah Transfer Station - Changes to operation

In addition to reaching compliance with the EPA requirements this will contribute to reducing the GHG emissions that result from residual organic waste that was buried when the Porepunkah Transfer Station was once a landfill site.

To support these crucial construction works there will be changed opening hours and accepted materials at the Porepunkah Transfer Station from Monday, 12 December 2022 to May 2023. From Monday, 12 December 2022, the following materials will not be accepted: Clean fill Green waste Drummuster Containers Car bodies From Tuesday, 10 January to completion of the project in May 2023 Porepunkah Transfer Station will be closed during weekdays. Opening hours – Saturday and Sunday - 10am-2pm Closed – Monday – Friday.

Council will keep residents informed of any further changes as the project progresses.

 Project information

The Porepunkah Transfer Station Landfill Rehabilitation Capping Project will see the construction of an earth cap comprising of a subgrade, geosynthetic clay liner, confined  and topsoil layers. 

Caps do not destroy or remove contaminants. Instead, they isolate them and keep them in place to avoid the spread of contamination.

Caps prevent people and wildlife from coming in contact with contaminants.

How Does It Work?

A cap isolates and prevents the spread of contamination in several ways. For example, it can:

Stop rain from seeping through the material and carrying contaminants to the groundwater. Keep storm water runoff from carrying contaminated material offsite or into lakes and streams. Prevent wind from blowing contaminated material offsite. Control releases of gas from wastes containing or producing “volatile” chemicals (those that evaporate).  Keep people and wildlife from coming into contact with the hazardous material and tracking contaminants offsite.

The subgrade is a 300mm layer and is required to provide a solid base over the waste to lay the geosynthetic clay liner (GCL). 

The GCL is a woven fabric material sandwich with sodium bentonite clay in the middle which acts like a geomembrane, sealing the landfill and preventing water from entering the landfill.

The GCL consist of panels 45m long, 4.5m wide and 8mm thick. These panels are placed over the entire waste cell.

The confining layer is 300mm clay layer and acts as barrier to protect the GCL and prevent the seepage of water into the landfill.

These works aim to prevent leachate from the landfill entering natural water sources in the area.

The Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) provide strict guidelines on the construction of landfill caps.