The thickness of an ADC depends on the type of material being used and the rgulations set by environmental agencies. Traditional soil covers must be about six inches thick, but ADCs are designed to achieve the same level of protection with much less material. Spray-on foams or emulsions might form a layer only a few millimeters thick, while flexible synthetic liners or tarps provide complete coverage without adding any measurable thickness at all.
Materials such as shredded green waste or processed debris may need to be a few inches deep to perform effectively. The key requirement is that the ADC must fully cover the waste and prevent exposure to wind, rain, animals, and odors. Regulatory agencies evaluate and approve each ADC type based on its ability to match or exceed the performance of a six-inch soil layer.
