Former EWS Class II Landfill

The EWS – Camden Class II Landfill (IDL030000212) is located in Benton County at 200 Omar Circle, Camden, Tennessee.

Environmental Waste Solutions, LLC (EWS) held a solid waste disposal permit for this facility, but the permit was terminated on July 7, 2017. The termination process was initiated by TDEC after EWS ceased all facility operations and abandoned the site on April 14, 2017, thus failing to enact closure activities to prevent the releases of solid wastes, solid waste constituents, landfill gases and other potentially harmful materials to the environment. TDEC concluded that EWS failed to adhere to its approved operations and design plans by allowing leachate to collect in cells and overfilling waste in multiple locations. Additional information on the facility's permit history can be found on the Solid Waste Dataviewer.

TDEC assumed operations at the landfill on Monday April 17, 2017 and since then has been operating the facility, including the leachate collection systems, landfill gas management system, and the environmental monitoring systems. TDEC now plans to close both landfill cells in Spring 2018 with closure construction concluding in the spring of 2019. 

TDEC would like to provide Camden citizens information regarding these activities.  Update emails and other information have been collected below for easy reference. 

Still have questions?

Vegetation growth on industrial waste cell after approximately 2 months
Fully established vegetative growth on industrial waste cell (Note watering system used to promote growth)
Second view of industrial waste cell's newly placed grass seed, fertilizer, straw, and matting
Close up of industrial waste cell storm water control feature and newly placed grass seed, fertilizer, straw, and matting
TDEC constructed leachate storage with plastic lined containment used for aluminum processing waste cell leachate management
3 to 5 feet of compacted clay soil placed on aluminum processing waste cell to prevent odor and precipitation infiltration
Newly established vegetation on industrial waste cell
Completed view of aboveground IWC leachate piping (inspection cap on end)
Aboveground construction of dual walled industrial waste cell leachate piping
Filter press used for industrial waste cell leachate management
Placement of top soil on clay to support vegetative layer
Placement of additional clay on aluminum processing waste cell
Continuing placement of clay on the industrial waste cell
Continuing placement of clay on the industrial waste cell
Close-up of first lift of clay layer placed on the industrial waste cell
Continuing placement of clay on the industrial waste cell
Initial placement of clay on the industrial waste cell
Further progress on containment berm in industrial waste cell leachate management area
TDEC constructing containment berm in industrial waste cell leachate management area
TDEC surveying landfill to determine existing grades upon assuming operation after bankruptcy
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This Class II Landfill was permitted for the disposal of secondary aluminum smelter wastes, shredded automotive tires, construction/demolition waste, waste derived from coal combustion and/or certain special wastes approved in writing by the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC), Division of Solid Waste Management (DSWM). Operations ceased in April 2017, and the permit was formally terminated in July 2017. TDEC is preparing the landfill for closure per RCRA Subtitle D rules. This is now anticipated for spring 2018.

Delay of Closure Construction Project

Photo Presentation on TDEC Management of the Former EWS Facility given September 19, 2017

Operation and Maintenance Plan for Environmental Waste Solutions, LLC during Bankruptcy

Closure of a RCRA Subtitle D landfill, such as this one, requires the following elements (from the bottom up) to form the cap:

  • Structural fill to achieve the required closure grades
  • Low permeability clay liner
  • Geomembrane Liner
  • Drainage Geocomposite
  • Protective Soil Layer
  • Vegetative Layer

Geomembrane is a crucial element of the proposed closure. Once the clay cap construction is complete, it is important to install the geomembrane as soon as possible to minimize the time clay is exposed to weather. Dry weather and wind can dry the clay and cause cracking in the cap. Exposure to rain or other wet weather will increase the clay's moisture content, increasing its permeability and reducing its strength, while also causing a deterioration in the clay surface. Exposing the clay liner to freeze/thaw cycles will also result in cracking of the clay cap.

To ensure that the clay cap is properly protected and covered as soon as possible, TDEC will not begin cap construction until geomembrane is procured and on site.

SPECIAL UPDATE:

TDEC will not initiate closure activities at the former EWS landfill until the spring. The chemical companies that make the resin used to fabricate geomembranes are located in Houston, TX. Due to the impact of Hurricane Harvey, chemical companies had to halt production and shipment of this resin, so the material is not currently available. Geomembrane manufacturers have sent out letters informing their customers that they will not be able to meet their contractual obligations to provide geomembrane. The geomembrane TDEC needs for the closure of this site is not expected to be available until January or February at the earliest. A TDEC memo provides further details on the closure delay.

Email Sent
 Period Covered
07/15/2019 July 6, 2019 - July 11, 2019
07/08/2019 June 29, 2019 - July 5, 2019
07/01/2019 June 22, 2019 - June 28, 2019
06/25/2019 June 15, 2019 - June 21, 2019
06/17/2019 June 8, 2019 - June 14, 2019
06/10/2019 June 1, 2019 - June 7, 2019
06/03/2019 May 25, 2019 - May 31, 2019
05/28/2019 May 18, 2019 - May 24, 2019
05/20/2019 May 11, 2019 - May 17, 2019
05/13/2019 May 4, 2019 - May 10, 2019
05/06/2019 April 27, 2019 - May 3, 2019
04/29/2019 April 13, 2019 - April 26, 2019
04/22/2019 No Update This Week
04/15/2019 April 6, 2019 - April 12, 2019
04/08/2019 March 30, 2019 - April 5, 2019
04/01/2019 March 23, 2019 - March 29, 2019
03/25/2019 March 16, 2019 - March 22, 2019
03/18/2019 March 9, 2019 - March 15, 2019
03/11/2019 March 2, 2019 - March 8, 2019
03/04/2019 February 23, 2019 - March 1, 2019
02/25/2019 February 16, 2019 - February 22, 2019
02/19/2019 February 9, 2019 - February 15, 2019
02/11/2019 February 2, 2019 - February 8, 2019
02/04/2019 January 26, 2019 - February 1, 2019
01/29/2019 January 19, 2019 - January 25, 2019
01/22/2019 January 12, 2019 - January 18, 2019
01/14/2019 January 6, 2019 - January 11, 2019
01/07/2019 December 15, 2018 - January 5, 2019
Email Sent
 Period Covered
12/21/2018 Regular updates will resume on January 7, 2019
12/17/2018 December 8, 2018 - December 14, 2018
12/10/2018 December 1, 2018 - December 7, 2018
12/03/2018 November 24, 2018 - November 30, 2018
11/26/2018 November 17, 2018 - November 23, 2018
11/19/2018 November 10, 2018 - November 16, 2018
11/13/2018 November 3, 2018 - November 9, 2018
11/05/2018 October 27, 2018 - November 2, 2018
10/29/2018 October 20, 2018 - October 26, 2018
10/22/2018 October 13, 2018 - October 19, 2018
10/15/2018 October 6, 2018 - October 12, 2018
10/08/2018 September 29, 2018 - October 5, 2018
10/01/2018 September 22, 2018 - September 28, 2018
09/24/2018 September 15, 2018 - September 21, 2018
09/17/2018 September 8, 2018 - September 14, 2018
09/14/2018 Community Tour Schedule
09/10/2018 September 1, 2018 - September 7, 2018
09/04/2018 August 25, 2018 - August 31, 2018
08/27/2018 August 18, 2018 - August 24, 2018
08/20/2018 August 11, 2018 - August 17, 2018
08/13/2018 August 4, 2018 - August 10, 2018
08/06/2018 July 28, 2018 - August 3, 2018
07/30/2018 July 21, 2018 - July 27, 2018
07/24/2018 July 14, 2018 - July 20, 2018
07/16/2018 July 7, 2018 - July 13, 2018
07/09/2018 June 30, 2018 - July 6, 2018
07/02/2018 June 23, 2018 - June 29, 2018
06/25/2018 June 16, 2018 - June 22, 2018
06/18/2018 June 9, 2018 - June 15, 2018
06/11/2018 June 2, 2018 - June 8, 2018
06/06/2018 Closure Construction Site Visit Rescheduled for June 13
06/04/2018 May 26, 2018 - June 1, 2018
05/29/2018 May 19, 2018 - May 25, 2018
05/24/2018 Closure Construction Site Visit Scheduled For June 1, 2018
05/21/2018 May 12, 2018 - May 18, 2018
05/14/2018 May 5, 2018 - May 11, 2018
05/07/2018 April 28, 2018 - May 4, 2018
04/30/2018 April 21, 2018 - April 27, 2018
04/23/2018 April 14, 2018 - April 20, 2018
04/16/2018 April 7, 2018 - April 13, 2018
04/09/2018 March 31, 2018 - April 6, 2018
04/02/2018 March 24, 2018 - March 30, 2018
03/26/2018 March 17, 2018 - March 23, 2018
03/19/2018 March 10, 2018 - March 16, 2018
03/12/2018 March 3, 2018 - March 9, 2018
03/05/2018 February 24, 2018 - March 2, 2018
02/26/2018 February 17, 2018 - February 23, 2018
02/20/2018 February 10, 2018 - February 16, 2018
02/12/2018 February 3, 2018 - February 9, 2018
02/05/2018 January 27, 2018 - February 2, 2018
01/29/2018 January 20, 2018 - January 26, 2018
01/22/2018 January 13, 2018 - January 19, 2018
01/16/2018 January 6, 2018 - January 12, 2018
01/08/2018 December 23, 2017 - January 5, 2018
01/03/2018 December 16, 2017 - December 22, 2017
Email Sent
 Period Covered
12/18/2017 December 9, 2017 - December 15, 2017
12/11/2017 December 2, 2017 - December 8, 2017
12/04/2017 November 25, 2017 - December 1, 2017
11/27/2017 November 18, 2017 - November 24, 2017
11/20/2017 November 11, 2017 - November 17, 2017
11/13/2017 November 4, 2017 - November 10, 2017
11/06/2017 October 28, 2017 - November 3, 2017
10/30/2017 October 21, 2017 - October 27, 2017
10/23/2017 October 14, 2017 - October 20, 2017
10/16/2017
 October 7, 2017 - October 13, 2017
10/10/2017
 September 30, 2017 - October 6, 2017
10/09/2017
 Special Update about Closure Project Delay
10/02/2017
 September 23, 2017 - September 29, 2017
09/25/2017
 September 16, 2017 - September 22, 2017
09/19/2017
 September 9, 2017 - September 15, 2017
09/11/2017
 September 2, 2017 - September 8, 2017
09/05/2017
 August 26, 2017 - September 1, 2017
08/28/2017
 August 19, 2017 - August 25, 2017
08/22/2017
 August 12, 2017 - August 18, 2017
08/14/2017
 August 5, 2017 - August 11, 2017
08/08/2017
 July 29, 2017 - August 4, 2017
07/31/2017
 July 22, 2017 - July 28, 2017
07/24/2017
 July 15, 2017 - July 21, 2017
07/18/2017
 July 8, 2017 - July 14, 2017
07/10/2017
 July 1, 2017 - July 7, 2017
07/03/2017
 June 24, 2017 - June 30, 2017
06/26/2017
 June 17, 2017 - June 23, 2017
06/19/2017
 June 10, 2017 - June 17, 2017
06/12/2017
 June 1, 2017 - June 9, 2017
06/02/2017
 May 25, 2017 - May 31, 2017
05/30/2017
 May 20, 2017 - May 24, 2017
05/22/2017
 May 9, 2017 - May 19, 2017
05/09/2017
 May 5, 2017 - May 8, 2017
05/05/2017
 May 2, 2017 - May 4, 2017
05/03/2017
 April 28, 2017 - May 1, 2017
04/28/2017
 April 24, 2017 - April 27, 2017
04/24/2017
 April 20, 2017 - April 23, 2017
04/20/2017
 April 17, 2017 - April 19, 2017
04/20/2017
 Operation and Maintenance Plan

TDEC is conducting quarterly groundwater sampling and testing. The results of this testing will be posted here. 

This Page Last Updated: April 24, 2023 at 2:22 PM