MSE BERMS

MSE Berms have been used in roadway applications for more than 40 years and in landfill applications for approximately 20 years. Significant utilization of MSE Berms has increased as many existing landfills are nearing capacity and the siting of new landfills is very difficult. Owners and environmental agencies are now exploring ways to optimize the capacity of existing landfill footprints. One way to do this is to construct properly engineered perimeter berms around a landfill facility. MSE Berms are also used for vertical expansion of existing containment pods.

One optimization technology is the use of mechanically stabilized earth (MSE) berms. MSE Berms consist of compacted earth reinforced with geosynthetic layers. MSE Berms provide more disposal capacity on the existing footprint of a landfill by building a vertical structure around the base of the landfill, and then filling the space between the berm and the existing side slope with waste. MSE Berms may also create capacity by allowing the landfill to be built higher.