SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT

Landfills

Municipal Solid Waste

Recyclable dry waste Organic fraction Inert debris Hazardous Waste

Combustibles

Non-Combustibles Packaging materials, paper Fuel Pellet (Process pelletisation)

Low grade construction, paving of roads Biological treatment, composting, vermicomposting, biogas Hospital waste Nuclear waste Other

Glass, metals etc

Recycling Industry

Why landfilling
It is still a major waste management strategy globally There will always be some types waste that can not be recycled at the time of production and they need to be stored somewhere

Landfills
Important aspects in the implementation of sanitary landfills include:
Site selection Landfilling methods and operation Occurrence of gases and leachate in landfills Movement and control of landfill gases and leachate

Siting Landfills
Natural Threats
Earthquakes, landslides, floods

Environmental Impacts
Wetlands, surface water, groundwater, air, endangered species

Social Issues
Odors, noise, traffic, airports, aesthetics, industrial and population growth, historical/archaeological sites

Economic Issues
Disposal costs, land development alternatives, tax base, permitting costs, construction/operation costs

Definition of terms
Landfills:
Physical facilities used for the disposal of residual solid wastes in the surface soils of the earth. Sanitary Landfills MSW Secure Landfills Hazardous wastes

Cell:
Volume of material placed in a landfill during one operating period Includes solid waste deposited and the daily cover material (6 to 12 in of native soil or compost) surrounding it

Definition of terms
Lift:
A complete layer of cells over the active area of landfill

Leachate:
Liquid that collects at the bottom of a landfill. Percolation of precipitation, uncontrolled runoff, irrigation water into the landfill Water initially contained in the waste, infiltrating GW Materials/chemical constituents derived from the solubilization of the materials deposited in the landfill and from the products of chemical and biological reactions occurring within the landfill

Landfill Gas: Landfill liners:

Compacted clay and/or geomembrane material designed to prevent migration of landfill leachate and landfill gas

Components of an Engineered Landfill

(a)

(b)

(c)

(d)

A Liner System at the base and sides of the landfill which prevents migration of leachate or gas to the surrounding soil A Leachate Collection Facility which collects and extracts leachate from within and from the base of the landfill and then treats the leachate A Gas Control Facility which collects and extracts gas from within and from the top of the landfill and then treats it, flares it or uses it for energy recovery A Final Cover System which prevents migration of gas to the atmosphere, enhances surface drainage, intercepts infiltrating water and supports surface vegetation.

(contd..) Components of an Engineered Landfill

(e)

(f)

(g)

A Surface Water Drainage System which collects and removes all surface runoff from the landfill site An Environmental Monitoring System which periodically collects and analyses air, surface water, soil-gas and groundwater samples around the landfill site A Closure and Post Closure Plan which lists the steps that must be taken to close and secure a landfill site once the filling operation has been completed and the activities for long-term monitoring and maintenance of the completed landfill (typically 30 to 50 years)

Landfilling methods
Excavated cell/trench (Disposal below the ground surface) Area (Disposal on the ground surface) Canyon

Advantages of Area Method: - Drainage of leachate by gravity - Large thickness of unsaturated zone below landfill - Poor surface drainage can be avoided - Easy inspection and maintenance Disadvantages of Area Method: - Land-use pattern altered - More surface area exposed - Erosion control measures required

Advantages of Trench Method : - More waste storage per unit area - Excavated material used as cover material - Parks, golf courses, parking lots can be developed on completed landfill - Long-term slope stability and erosion control requirements not critical Disadvantages of Trench Method : - Regular pumping for leachate collection needed - Good surface water drainage required

Reactions Occuring in Landfills

Biological Changes : - Aerobic decomposition - Anaerobic decomposition Chemical Changes : - Dissolution and suspension - Evaporation and vaporization - Sorption - Decomposition of organic compounds - Oxidation-reduction reactions Physical Changes : - Lateral movement of gases in the waste and emission of gases to the surrounding environment. - Movement of leachate within the waste and into underlying soils - Settlement caused by consolidation and decomposition of the waste - Movement of fine solid particles by wind and water

Characteristics of Solid Waste

Waste Type Municipal Industrial Energy Production (Ash) Mining Chemically active Biologically active Physically active

Impact on Environment Global warming (emissions of CH4) Ozone depletion (emissions of CFC gas) Emission of toxic gases (H2S) Odor emissions (H2S, NH3, others) Noise (trucks, compactors, birds) Vectors (rats, birds, insects) Fly waste and dust (ash, plastic, paper) Explosion and fire hazard (methane) Vegetation damage (CH4, CO2) Soil pollution (heavy metals organic chemicals) Surface and groundwater pollution (heavy metals and organic chemicals)

Types of landfills
(for diiferent wastes)
Hazardous Waste Landfills Non-Hazardous Waste Landfills
(includes MSW Landfills)

Inert Waste Monofills

(includes Construction & Demolition Waste Landfills)

Monofills for high volume waste

(includes Ash Ponds, Mine Tailing Ponds)

Special Landfills
(includes highly toxic / radioactive waste)