PREPARED BY- NABANITA SHARMA M.E. 3 RD SEMESTER ROLL NO.-10/12

LANDFILL SITE…. A landfill site is a site for the disposal of waste materials by burial and is the oldest form of waste treatment. Historically, landfills have been the most common methods of organized waste disposal and remain so in many places around the world.

A landfill in PolandA section of a landfill located in Barclay, Ontario.

WHAT IS LANDFILL? Landfill is a carefully designed structure built into or on top of the ground in which trash is isolated from the surrounding environment (groundwater, air, rain). This isolation is accomplished with a bottom liner and daily covering of soil. A sanitary landfill uses a clay liner to isolate the trash from the environment. A municipal solid waste (MSW) landfill uses a synthetic (plastic) liner to isolate the trash from the environment The purpose of a landfill is to bury the trash in such a way that it will be isolated from groundwater, will be kept dry and will not be in contact with air. Under these conditions, trash will not decompose much. A landfill is not like a compost pile, where the purpose is to bury trash in such a way that it will decompose quickly.

Trash is being loaded and compacted in a landfill.

LANDFILL SITE SELECTION Proper landfill site selection is the fundamental step in sound waste disposal and the protection of the environment, public health and quality of life. The major goal of the landfill site selection process is to ensure that the disposal facility is located at the best location possible with little negative impact to the environment or to the pollution.

CRITERIA FOR SITE SELECTION 1. Location criteria 2. Environmental criteria 3. Political criteria 4. Financial and Economical criteria 5. Hydrologic criteria 6. Topographical criteria 7. Geological criteria 8. Climate, etc.

1. Location criteria

2. Environmental criteria Ecological value of flora and fauna should be evaluated carefully. A new landfill should be located within a safe distance of housing area to prevent the dust and odour emissions. A new landfill will generate more traffic. So, routing vehicle traffic through industrial, commercial or low density population areas decreases the noise impacts of landfill related vehicles. A new landfill should not be planned in a recreational area, national parks or any historical areas.

3. Political criteria The selection of a new landfill should be accepted by the local municipalities, pressure groups involved and most importantly the local people. Public ownership for the required land for the landfill is also necessary.

4. Financial and Economical criteria The potential site having lowest cost is always preferable. The transport costs and the costs for the personnel, maintenance and environmental protection are also considered.

5. Hydrologic criteria

Groundwater depth and landfill suitability (Bolton, 1995)

6. Topographical criteria Suitable for landfill -> Flat and gently rolling hills that are not subjected to flooding, stone quarries, clay pits and strip mines, sites with slow run-off. Unsuitable for landfill -> Sinkholes causing contamination of groundwater sources of drinking water, sand gravel pits, land with slopes greater than 15%. A landfill should not be located on the divides of major drainage basins.

7. Geological criteria

8. Climate

REFERENCES…. Landfill Site Selection using GIS – A thesis by Basak Sener Guidelines and Checklist for evaluation of MSW landfills - Central Pollution Control Board, in August,