Supersacks

What are supersacks?
Supersacks are large, heavy-duty plastic bags that can be used as permanent landfill “stacking blocks”. They can also hold solid waste for barging or hauling out later. They can store recyclables. And they can be used to store waste before it is burned. These bags are reusable and can hold up to 5,000 pounds of dry or free flowing material. When empty, the bags fold down for shipping.

When they are filled they form a free standing block that is about 3 feet wide and 4.5 feet tall. There are different bag sizes and different styles -- such as: full open top, discharge spout bottom and fill spout top.

Advantages and Disadvantages

Advantages

• The risk for soil and water contamination is greatly lessened. Backhauling trash-filled sacks reduces the risk even more.
• Wastes are contained, thus eliminating windblown trash. The active landfill area is kept tidy and small. The need for landfill maintenance is smaller too.
• Using supersacks reduces trash scavenging and litter scattering by animals and birds. Keeping wildlife, pets, and people away from wastes greatly reduces health risks.
• When filled, supersacks can be placed to form snow/wind barriers.
• Materials like aluminum, glass and plastic can be stored in supersacks until recycling is feasible.

Disadvantages

• Supersacks are a temporary solution because sunlight can eventually break down the bags, making them rip and tear easily. Double-bagging is recommended for landfilling. Another solution is a layer of soil, bark chips, strong tarp, or other material over the top of the bags so that the bags are not exposed to sunlight.
• Adds some cost and effort to landfill operation.
• Cannot use sacks for scrap metal, appliances, or hazardous wastes.

Where can I purchase them?
You can purchase supersacks new or used. Make sure that you find out the size and style of the bags. They make large horizontal-fill bags that are 8 feet long. These are difficult to fill effectively and too heavy to lift when full. The large bags could be useful if they are placed at the landfill and filled in-place.

New and Used
The Bag Connection
Nick Peterson
459 9th St., Dundee, OR 97115
Phone: 1 (800) 622 2448
www.bagitsystem.com
Cost: $13 - $15 each

Helios Containers Systems
251 Covington Dr., Bloomingdale, IL 60108
Phone: 1 (800) 336 342
Cost: $19 - $22 each

Advanced Supply
1275 Graphite Dr., Corona, CA 92881
Phone: 1 (909) 520 9270
www.aesw.com

Spill Shield International
4735 Gambell Street
Anchorage, AK. 99509-3009
Phone: 561-6033
www.spillshield.com

Used
Quadrachem
Ed Robinson
Fairbanks, Alaska
Phone: 452 1555

Used bags are also available from reconditioned supply sources or from local sources such as highway/airport maintenance crews or water treatment facilities.

The vendors are listed on this web site as a directory to assist people in identifying and locating the resources they need to apply to their individual, company, or community situations. CCTHITA neither endorses nor underwrites any of the vendors listed here and is not in any financial relationship with any vendor listed here. CCTHITA does not portray this vendor list as a final or complete list. CCTHITA invites vendors whose products and/or services fit the category of Solid Waste Management to contact Ray Paddock, Environmental Technician, 1-800-344-1432 x7184, about inclusion on the vendor resource web list.

Communities in Alaska using supersacks
The Native Village of Selawik has used supersacks for their waste collection service. They found that the most convenient for trash collection is the full open top bag that is about 3 feet wide and 4 ½ feet high. With this size you can haul up to two bags side by side in an ATV-hauled open cart. Filling from the top makes it easier to get the most trash in.

Selawik is in the process of getting a new landfill that will store wastes in supersacks. At first – the Selawik design was to excavate trenches into the tundra and have a regular landfill (without sacks). But they could not get ADEC to agree with that design. ADEC does not like the idea of digging in places where permafrost is so near to the surface. They are afraid that the permafrost will melt and that the landfill will turn into “landfill soup”. So Selawik decided to place their wastes on top of the tundra in supersacks. Their landfill design is to have sacks stacked two-high in one big area, with a surrounding soil berm that contains the stacked sacks. And ADEC has already agreed with the design and said it will approve a permit when Selawik secures the funding.

TIP: When applying for supersack landfill funding, treat the supersacks as part of the capital expenditure. If you include them in the operation and maintenance costs, your community may not be able to afford it.

VILLAGE CONTACT: If you would like to contact Selawik to ask about their supersack operation, contact Raven Sheldon at 484 2006.