Solid Waste Landfill Design

Registration Date/Time:
4/13/2026 07:45am Central Time

Event Dates/Times:

• 4/13/2026  8:00am - 5:00pm Central Time
• 4/14/2026  8:00am - 4:45pm Central Time
• 4/15/2026  8:00am - 4:15pm Central Time

• Instructors

  James Tinjum

  Associate Professor

  James M. Tinjum, PE, PhD, F.ASCE, is an Associate Professor and outgoing Director of the Geological Engineering Program at the University of Wisconsin–Madison. Dr. Tinjum has 35 years of solid waste experience, beginning in 1990. Prior to his engagement as a faculty member at UW–Madison in 2008, he worked for 15 years in industry for prominent engineer-procure-construct firms and a Fortune 50 company. He has specialized technical knowledge in geoenvironmental and remediation engineering for landfills with industrial waste (lime kiln dust, cement kiln dust, foundry residuals, paper mill sludge, coal combustion residuals), municipal solid waste (particularly landfill liner and cover systems and the monitoring, recovery, and value-added use of landfill gases), and hazardous waste. He conducts research in waste geotechnics and waste containment systems; the beneficial reuse of industrial byproducts (e.g., for subgrade improvement and cementitious stabilization of pavement layers); life cycle environmental analysis of geo systems; remediation of contaminated sites; and fate and transport of landfill gas emissions. Dr. Tinjum developed these interests not only through industry practice and applied research, but also through discussions and interactions with practitioners participating in his nationally/internationally attended engineering short course programs. In applied practice, Dr. Tinjum has participated in nearly 100 solid waste projects. 

  Craig Benson

  Dean of Engineering Emeritus

  Craig H. Benson, PhD, PE, NAE, is Wisconsin Distinguished Professor Emeritus at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and Dean of Engineering Emeritus at the University of Virginia. Benson is a geoenvironmental engineer with deep expertise in waste management, waste containment systems, recycling and beneficial reuse, and sustainability. He has been conducting research related to the protection of the environment for more than three decades, with a primary focus on environmental containment of solid, hazardous, radioactive, and mining wastes; beneficial use of industrial byproducts; and sustainable infrastructure. He is recognized as a foremost international authority on waste containment systems and is widely sought after for his expertise in design, operation, and performance assessment of waste disposal facilities. Benson’s research experience involves laboratory studies, large-scale field experiments, and computer modeling. Benson is a registered professional engineer, board-certified environmental engineer, board-certified geotechnical engineer, and member of the US National Academy of Engineering.

  C. Lee Daigle

  Client Manager

  Lee Daigle is a registered professional engineer in civil engineering with 25 years of experience in the landfill gas industry. Mr. Daigle started his career as an intern at a municipal solid waste landfill in Colonie, New York while attending Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. While interning, he was fully immersed in the operations, maintenance, and construction of landfill gas collection and control systems, which instilled him with a passion for the industry. Upon graduation, Mr. Daigle continued to focus on landfill gas, and expanded his expertise in landfill gas utilization feasibility assessment, design, regulatory compliance, construction, and operations. Mr. Daigle has worked on landfill gas collection systems in over 30 states/territories, three Canadian provinces, and several countries abroad. He has been responsible for the initial start-up and monitoring of collection and control systems and has performed data analysis and interpretation to assist in optimizing overall landfill gas system performance. He also performed construction management and construction quality assurance (CQA) services during the installation of numerous landfill gas extraction and treatment systems, giving him a strong understanding of the construction issues associated with the implementation of cost-effective landfill gas system designs. Since 2011, Mr. Daigle has expanded his practice into all areas of solid waste design including the design and permitting of municipal solid waste cells and closures. Recently, Mr. Daigle has been elected to the Solid Waste Association of North America's Board of Directors, Wisconsin Badger Chapter and currently serves as Vice President of the board.

  Betsy Powers

  Senior Project Manager/Civil Engineer

  Betsy Powers PE  is a civil and environmental engineer with more than 25 years of consulting experience. She has extensive experience in the design, permitting, and construction of municipal and industrial solid waste landfills. Her expertise includes site design, layout, and permitting; storm water management; and construction oversight and documentation. Ms. Powers has worked on solid waste projects in Wisconsin, Illinois, Iowa, Indiana, and Michigan

  John Welch

  Director

  John Welch, PE, Director of Waste and Renewables, Dane County, Madison, WI. John is an experienced Owner/Manager with a demonstrated history of achieving positive results in the solid waste industry. John is skilled in the management and operation of landfills, HHW facilities, transfer stations, C&D MRFs, and biogas facilities. John is a licensed Professional Engineer with a degree in Civil and Environmental Engineering from the University of Wisconsin–Madison.

  Roxanne Wienkes

  Roxanne Wienkes, PE, is the Deputy Director, Dane County Department of Waste & Renewables and has a Bachelors of Civil –Environmental Engineering (University of Wisconsin –Madison). Roxanne has worked for the Dane County Department of Waste & Renewables since 2019 and leads the Department’s technical engineering, ¿nance, and administrative functions. Prior to working with Dane County, Roxanne worked for TRC Companies and the Veterans Heath Administration at the VA Hospital in Madison, WI. She has spent nearly equal parts of her career in public service as the “owner/operator” and equal parts in private sector environmental consulting , which gives her a unique perspective on solid waste facility design and operation. 

  Orhun Aydin

  Assistant Professor

  ERic Oelkers

  Eric Oelkers, PG, is a hydrogeologist with more than 33 years’ experience managing hydrogeologic investigations at contaminated industrial sites, petroleum storage facilities, Superfund sites, and disposal facilities. He has designed and/or implemented soil and groundwater investigations in fill materials, glacial and alluvial sediments, and fractured bedrock aquifers. He has supervised drilling, excavation, and other remediation at a variety of industrial sites and solid waste facilities. Mr. Oelkers has directed immediate response and cleanup actions for spills of petroleum and industrial chemicals from 5 to 20,000+ gallons. Mr. Oelkers has also worked on regional aquifer characterization and modeling projects for landfill permit applications and high-capacity water wells.

  Alex Javes

  Alex Javes, PE, is a Solid Waste Engineer and Team Leader within the Geo-Environmental and Civil Engineering Department at TRC in Madison, Wisconsin. Alex has over 10 years of experience in geotechnical and environmental consulting. His experience includes investigation, permitting, operations, design, and construction at solid waste facilities for municipal, industrial, and coal combustion residuals projects, as well as permitting and construction quality/safety coordination for solar projects on landfills. Prior to working at TRC in the solid-waste industry, he worked as a geotechnical engineer at Giles Engineering Associates in Waukesha, WI. He is a licensed engineer with a degree in Geological Engineering from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

• Program Director

  James Tinjum

This course will guide you through the development process of a successful solid waste landfill, from cradle to grave. Industry experts will share critical factors and insights.  Interactive discussion and idea exchange will be emphasized. Learn more and enroll today.