A tracked, self-propelled machine for laying a film and depositing ballast on it to cover a landfill or other ground area. The machine (20) has a ballast box (28) with a reciprocating slat floor (38) and an end gate (34) for holding the ballast (50). A ballast distribution module (58) at the back of the ballast box has a pair of conveyors (68, 70) separated by a gap (72). A roll of film (96) is held by a film roll support mechanism (94) at the back of the machine for unwinding onto the ground surface as the machine moves forward. Ballast is moved to the back of the box by the reciprocating slat floor and is released from an opening (52) under the end gate onto the conveyors and into the gap for deposition onto the laid film.
