2025
SERMONDE, VILA NOVA DE GAIA, PORTUGAL
SULDOURO
DRI
FUTURE PROMAN, S.A.
CLOSING OF THE SERMONDE LANDFILL: GEOSYNTHETIC SOLUTIONS
Challenge
The Sermonde landfill site in Vila Nova de Gaia began operating in 1999 as a facility for receiving municipal solid waste. During its 22 years of operation, it served the combined population of Vila Nova de Gaia and Santa Maria da Feira, receiving a total of 2,472,880 m³ of waste.
In 2021, after reaching its maximum capacity, waste disposal was halted and technical closure works began. The interventions included topographical surveys, characterisation studies and adaptation measures to ensure safe sealing. In the future, there are plans to transform the landfill into a public park with recreational, sports and children’s areas. The project also envisages landscape integration through the planting of native vegetation and the reconfiguration of the land to restore and enhance the space for the benefit of the community.
Solution
The landfill was sealed using geosynthetic materials, providing an effective waterproofing and environmental control solution. Once the geomembrane installation was complete, Maccaferri supplied MacTex geotextile, MacDrain drainage geocomposite and MacGrid geogrid.
The MacDrain drainage geocomposite, placed above the waterproofing layer and designed to collect and channel water infiltrating the surface of the slopes, as well as any gases, played a key role in the closure. The MacGrid geogrid acted as reinforcement, providing additional resistance to stresses caused by the cover soil. In addition, gabion walls were constructed at the foot of the slopes in certain areas to provide greater stability. The gabions used in the project were manufactured from 8×10-16 double-twisted hexagonal steel wire mesh and filled on site with stones to create flexible, permeable and monolithic structures.
All products installed during the landfill closure are CE marked and have an Environmental Product Declaration (EPD), reflecting Maccaferri’s commitment to environmental sustainability.
