Landfills
Beat Stauffer, international seecon gmbh
Landfills
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Included in the SSWM Toolbox are materials from various organisations and sources. Those materials are open source. Following the opensource concept for capacity building and non-profit use, copying and adapting is allowed provided proper acknowledgement of the source
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The contents of the SSWM Toolbox reflect the opinions of the respective authors and not necessarily the official opinion of the funding or
supporting partner organisations.
Depending on the initial situations and respective local circumstances, there is no guarantee that single measures described in the toolbox
will make the local water and sanitation system more sustainable. The main aim of the SSWM Toolbox is to be a reference tool to provide
ideas for improving the local water and sanitation situation in a sustainable manner. Results depend largely on the respective situation
and the implementation and combination of the measures described. An in-depth analysis of respective advantages and disadvantages and
the suitability of the measure is necessary in every single case. We do not assume any responsibility for and make no warranty with
respect to the results that may be obtained from the use of the information provided.
Landfills
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Contents
1. Concept
2. How can Landfills optimise SSWM
3. Design Principles
4. Treatment Efficiency
5. Operation and Maintenance
6. Applicability
7. Pros and Cons
8. References
Landfills
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1. Concept
Sustainability of Landfills
Source: SUSANA on Flickr 2009
Source: WASTE INCINERATION (2010) and AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT BANK (2002)
Landfills
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1. Concept
Sustainability of Landfills
Source: SUSANA on Flickr 2009
Landfilling is the least
preferred method in the
hierarchy of integrated
solid waste management.
Source: WASTE INCINERATION (2010) and AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT BANK (2002)
Landfills
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1. Concept
Is a Landfill an Open Dump?
Source: SUSANA on Flickr 2009
Landfills
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1. Concept
Is a Landfill an Open Dump?
Source: SUSANA on Flickr 2009
It is not an open dump, it is an
engineered facility in order to
protect the environment and
human health!
Source: LATROBE CITY COUNCIL (2005)
Landfills
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1. Concept
Types of Landfills
• Open Dump:
• Waste is discharge open without any management
• Basic Landfill:
• Waste is discharged in a pit and covered every day
• Engineered Landfill:
• Liner, cover, leachate treatment and gas extraction (energy
production or flared)
• Bioreactor Landfill:
• Acceleration of decomposition and creation of a conditions for
microbiological activities -> produced gas is used for energy
production.
Landfills
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2. How it can optimise SSWM
Engineered Landfills in Contrast to Open Dumps
Cover layer avoids spreading of
waste, pathogens, odour
Gas extraction well  control and
reuse of biogas (mainly CO2 and
CH4) for energy production
Liner system  avoids a
contamination of ground water
Leachate system  collection and
treatment of fluid effluent
Groundwater monitoring  ongoing information about the
groundwater quality
Source: LATROBE CITY COUNCIL (2005)
Landfills
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3. Design Principles
Basic Landfill (Emergency Landfill) (HARVEY et al. 2002)
• Pit should be backfilled with
excavated soil every day.
• Site should be agreed with
local population and
authorities.
• Site should be fenced.
• At least 1 km downwind from
the nearest dwellings.
Source: HARVEY et al. (2002)
Landfills
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3. Design Principles
Engineered Landfill (UNEP 2002)
• The capacity is planned and the site is chosen based on an
environmental risk assessment study.
• Gas is flared or used for energy production.
Source: UNEP (2002)
Landfills
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3. Design Principles
Bioreactor Landfill (WM 2004)
• Acceleration of biologic decomposition (organic fraction).
• Promoting conditions necessary for the microorganisms (moisture
content).
• Liquids must be added (leachate, stormwater, sewerage sludge).
• Gas is collected to produce
electrical energy.
• Design includes liner, cover,
leachate system, groundwater
monitoring.
• Systems: aerobic, anaerobic,
aerobic-anaerobic, facultative
(to control high ammonia
concentration).
Landfills
Source: WM (2004)
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3. Design Principles
Treatment of Leachate (SA’AT 2006)
Without proper cleaning, leachate will cause environmental problems.
Potential methods for treatment:
•Recirculation of leachate through the landfill
•Disposal off-site to sewer for treatment as an admixture with domestic
sewage
•Physical-chemical treatment
•Membrane filtration
•Reverse osmosis
•Anaerobic biological treatment
•Aerobic biological treatment
•Constructed wetlands
Design of a vertical flow constructed wetland. Source: MOREL &
DIENER (2006)
Landfills
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4. Treatment Efficiency
Treatment and Health Aspect
Basic Landfill
Engineered Landfill
Bioreactor Landfill
Landfills
health and environmental protection
Open Dump
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4. Treatment Efficiency
Treatment and Health Aspect
Landfills
Open Dump
slow decomposition; spreading of waste,
pathogens and odour; no liner, no cover
Basic Landfill
better decomposition; cover avoids
spreading of waste and breeding of insects;
leaching may occur
Engineered Landfill
advanced decomposition; cover; liner;
leachate, stormwater and gas management
Bioreactor Landfill
acceleration of decomposition; cover;
liner; leachate and stormwater
management; energy production
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5. Operation and Maintenance
(UNEP 2002; GROSS n.y.; ITRC 2006)
• Requires dedicated operators.
• Waste has to be covered each day.
• Proper leachate management.
• Cover must be resistant to erosion.
• Once capacity is reached, the bottom (cover layer) has to be
controlled regularly to avoid toxic effluents/emissions.
• Bioreactor landfills require a more complex set of O&M.
Landfills
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6. Applicability
Landfilling is one of the most widely employed methods for the
disposal of municipal solid waste. (SA’AT 2006)
• Depending on the community/city (financial, knowledge, interests)
• Enough land must be available.
• Compared to other discharge possibilities costs are lower.
• Landfill should always be lined, correctly covered and maintained to
avoid a contamination of the environment and to minimise health
risks for locals.
Don’t forget:
The best discharge possibility is to produce less waste and to
reuse/recycle as much as possible!
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7. Pros and Cons
Advantages:
• An effective disposal method
if well-managed.
• A sanitary disposal method if
managed effectively.
• Energy production and fast
degradation if designed as a
bioreactor landfill.
Disadvantages:
• Fills up quickly if waste is not
reduced and reusable waste is not
collected separately and recycled.
• A reasonable large area required.
• Risk of groundwater contamination if
not sealed correctly or the liner
system is damaged.
• High costs for high-tech landfills.
• If the management is bad, there is a
risk that the landfill degenerates
into an open dump.
• After the end of disposal the landfill
needs still O&M and monitoring for
the next 50 to 100 years.
Landfills
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8. References
AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT BANK (Editor) (2002): Study on Solid Waste Management Options for Africa. Abidjan: African Development
Bank. URL: http://www.bscw.ihe.nl/pub/bscw.cgi/d1354356/SOLID%2520WASTE%2520MANAGEMENT%2520STUDY.pdf
[13.03.2012]
GROSS, B.A. (n.y.): Landfill Cover, Design and Operation. Pdf Presentation. U.S.A.: GeoSyntec Consultants. URL:
http://www.epa.gov/osw/nonhaz/municipal/landfill/bio-work/gross.pdf [Accessed: 16.11.2011]
HARVEY, P.; BAGHRI, S.; REED, B. (2002): Emergency Sanitation: Assessment and Programme Design. Loughborough: Water,
Engineering and Development Centre (WEDC). URL: http://www.who.or.id/eng/contents/aceh/wsh/books/es/es.htm [Accessed:
21.02.2011]
ITRC (Editor) (2006): Characterisation, Design, Construction, and Monitoring of Bioreactor Landfills. Technical/Regulatory
Guideline. Washington, DC: Interstate Technology & Regulatory Council. URL: http://www.itrcweb.org/Documents/ALT-3.pdf
[Accessed: 16.11.2011]
LATROBE CITY COUNCIL (Editor) (2005): Latrobe City Landfill. Morwell: Latrobe City Council. URL:
http://www.latrobe.vic.gov.au/Services/Waste/Landfill/ [Accessed: 27.03.2012]
UNEP (Editor) (2002): A Directory of Environmentally Sound Technologies for the Integrated Management of Solid, Liquid and
Hazardous Waste for Small Island Developing States (SIDS) in the Pacific Region. The Hague: United Nations Environment
Programme (UNEP). URL: http://iwlearn.net/iw-projects/3181/reports/a-directory-of-environmentally-sound-technologies-forthe-integrated-management-of-solid-liquid-and-hazardous-waste-for-small-island-developing-states-sids-in-the-pacificregion/view [Accessed: 28.03.2012]
WASTEWATER SYSTEM (n.y): Wastewater Sludge Incineration Technologies. WasteWater System. URL:
http://www.wastewatersystem.net/2011/02/wastewater-sludge-incineration.html [Accessed: 14.03.2012]
WM (Editor) (2004): The Bioreactor Landfill. Cincinnati: Waste Management (WM) Bioreactor Programm. URL:
http://www.wm.com/sustainability/pdfs/bioreactorbrochure.pdf [Accessed: 16.11.2011]
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“Linking up Sustainable Sanitation,
Water Management & Agriculture”
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supported by:
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by:
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