At first glance…
A freshly shaped tip cell batter at a facility needed to be stabilised before revegetation.
The capping soil was loose, exposed and vulnerable to wind and water movement. Until the surface was bound, the batter remained at risk of dust generation, erosion and surface breakdown.
Dust Suppression Nova was applied across the trial area as a soil binder and dust control treatment. The product helped bind the loose surface particles into a stable, cohesive crust, controlling dust on the exposed face while preparing the batter for revegetation.
Here’s the story…
Landfill rehabilitation often involves shaping and capping large exposed surfaces as cells reach capacity. These areas need to be stabilised before vegetation can properly establish.
At this regional landfill facility, the trial focused on the edge of a tip cell wall: a long, freshly shaped earthen batter.
This type of surface presents several challenges:
- loose capping soil can move under wind and rainfall
- sloped surfaces can shed water before it soaks in
- exposed faces can dry quickly and generate dust
- surface erosion can delay rehabilitation work
- untreated soil may not hold long enough for revegetation to begin
The site needed the capping soil to behave less like loose fill and more like a stable, cohesive surface.
The challenge
The purpose of the trial was to test whether a single application of Dust Suppression Nova could help stabilise the freshly shaped batter.
The key requirements were to:
- bind the loose surface soil into a stable crust
- hold that bond through the curing period
- reduce dust from the exposed batter face
- prepare the surface for revegetation
For landfill operators managing progressive rehabilitation, this matters because exposed batters are not one-off problems. They are recurring surfaces that need to be stabilised efficiently, safely and consistently.
Approach: The solution
Dust Suppression Nova was sprayed across the trial section of the batter as a soil binding and dust control treatment.
Nova is a polymer-based soil binder and dust control solution designed for non-trafficked and open areas prone to dust generation. Envirofluid’s product information lists applications including soil binding and lockdown, embankments, exposed soil areas, site shutdowns, care-and-maintenance programs, stockpile dust management and open areas with minimal disturbance.
For this trial, the green variant was used.
The colour provided an immediate coverage indicator during application, helping operators see where the product had been sprayed and supporting even treatment across the batter face.
Performance observations
During the trial, Nova supported the key outcomes required for the batter.
- Surface binding
Nova helped bind the loose capping soil into a more stable surface layer, reducing the tendency for the soil to shift or break down on the slope.
- Dust suppression
The treated surface helped lock down fine particles, reducing dust generation from the exposed batter face while the surface cured.
- Visible coverage
The green variant made it easier to confirm where the product had been applied, helping support consistent treatment across the trial area.
- Revegetation readiness
With the surface bound and stabilised, the batter was better prepared for the next stage of rehabilitation.
Safety and environmental compliance
For landfill rehabilitation, dust and erosion control are not just operational concerns. They also support environmental management and site compliance.
By stabilising the exposed batter face, Nova helped address two common risks in one treatment:
- wind-blown dust from loose surface fines
- erosion or surface movement before vegetation establishes
The green application also provided a visual confirmation that the surface had been treated, which can be useful for site teams managing large exposed areas.
Operational outcome
The trial achieved its purpose: the loose capping soil was bound into a stable, cohesive surface, dust from the exposed batter face was controlled, and the area was prepared for revegetation.
For a landfill operator managing progressive rehabilitation, the value is clear. A single Nova application helped stabilise the batter and control dust on the same pass, reducing the need for separate treatments before revegetation.
Advancing landfill rehabilitation
Capping and stabilising tip cell batters is a recurring task across landfill operations.
When freshly shaped surfaces do not bind properly, operators may face erosion repair, dust complaints, rework and delays to revegetation.
Dust Suppression Nova offers a practical approach for exposed, non-trafficked surfaces that need to be stabilised during the vulnerable period before vegetation takes hold.
It can help:
- bind freshly shaped capping soil
- stabilise exposed landfill batters
- reduce dust generation from open faces
- support revegetation readiness
- provide visual coverage confirmation when using the green variant
Need to stabilise exposed landfill batters?
If you are managing landfill rehabilitation, capping batters or exposed earthworks that need to bind and stay dust-controlled, Envirofluid can help assess whether Dust Suppression Nova is suitable for your site.
Contact Envirofluid to discuss a Nova trial or site-specific soil binding strategy.
