Elevated, concrete buildings for long‐term management of hazardous wastes

Abstract

AbstractLarge, permanent buildings that are constructed of prestressed concrete, can withstand hurricane‐force wind loadings, and have extremely long lives can be used for long‐term storage of hazardous wastes. The buildings protect against seepage of leachate into soils and ground waters, emissions of volatiles, and contact of wastes with precipitation. Materials stored within the buildings would be available when technology and economics make recycling feasible. Hazardous wastes would be stored almost 10 feet (3.05 m) above land surface in a building designed for sub‐floor, walk‐through inspections for leaks. The proposed buildings can be as large as 250 feet (76.2 m) on a side and 70 feet (21.3 m) high and can support 9,000 pounds (40,000 N) of waste loading per square foot (0.305 m) of floor area. Each building, which can be constructed at virtually any location, would hold enough hazardous wastes to provide millions of dollars of return from construction of each building.