OPEN DUMPS Oldest and most common way of disposing solid waste Still in use Wherever land is available Without regard to safety, health hazards, and aesthetic degradation Refuse is spread over a large area No maintenance Problems: Breeds pests Health hazard Cause of water pollution Air pollution Odor and smoke nuisance Fire hazards Unsightly

SANITARY LANDFILL Controlled method of refuse disposal. Environmental and safety aspects are considered during the process Refuse is dumped in accordance with a preconceived plan, compacted, and covered during and at the end of each day Creating a landfill includes planning, design, implementation, operation, monitoring and controlled abandonment Provides: Prevention of groundwater pollution Leachate collection Gas venting or recovery

PLANNING AND DESIGN LEGAL REQUIREMENTS INTERMUNICIPAL COOPERATION SOCIAL AND POLITICAL FACTORS PLANNING

PLANNING Alternative sites Cost of land and site preparation Expected life of the site Distances from the source of refuse Cost of equipment Cost of operation Method of disposal Operation

SITE SELECTION EXCLUDING: Protection area of drinking water resource Open karstic areas Floodplains Areas with risk of earth movement Nature reservation areas Future drinking water resources

Open karstic areas (limestone), fractured rock

SITE SELECTION Natural environment General plans of the region Ecology Landscape Water protection General plans of the region Structure of the settlements Distance to the sources Access of roads, public utilities, etc. Ownership of the area, present landuse Types and quantity of the waste – surface area available

SITE SELECTION Topography Climate Prevailing wind Hydrogeology, geology, earth movement Classification of the area (depends on the soil characteristics and the type of waste) Politics Public acceptance

„OPTIMAL SITE” IN THE DESERT FLAT AREA LITTLE PRECIPITATION HIGH EVAPOTRANSPIRATION – NO LEAKAGE THICK UNSATURATED ZONE NO NEIGHBOURS FLAT AREA LITTLE POTENTIAL OF GROUNDWATER FLOW LEAKAGE STAYS IN THE AREA

FAVOURABLE SITES clay Organic material (peat bog) clay sand silt Unsaturated zone Hard crystalline rocks (few fractures)

UNFAVOURABLE SITES Sand and gravel High groundwater level sand „no leakage water” Penetrates to the limestone – leakage 2 km further limestone shale

PARTS OF A SANITARY LANDFILL Disposal site provided with appropriate protection Drainage system for the leachate Storage basin for leachate water Treatment facility for leachate water Buildings – office, storage facility, restrooms, garage Fence around the disposal site Weigh station Registration system Compacting machines, other vehicles Public utilities – drinking water, sewerage, electricity, telephone Washing facilities for containers, vehicles Roads Sorting facility Monitoring system

EFFECTS OF LANDFILLS Operating landfill Completed landfill Noise Gas to the atmosphere, ground Leachate (ground water pollution) Wind blown litter and dust Birds, insects Surface runoff (pollution of surface waters) Completed landfill Gas to air, ground Contaminated crops leachate

Hazardous waste pollutants can enter the environment

STAGES OF LANDFILLS 1. INITIAL STAGE 1. A Initial stage – we put the waste to the site 1. B Transition stage – when the leakage is produced 2. ACID STAGE Bacteria create complex organic acids pH decrease Heavy metals become soluble Increase of heavy metal content in the leakage 1-5 years

STAGES OF LANDFILLS 3. METHANIGENIC STAGE Bacteria produce methane gas + CO2 + H2O They use organic acid Increase of pH Decrease of heavy metal content in the leakage Can take 50 –100 years (we do not know) 4. FINAL STAGE Bacteria which need the organic acid die Oxygen comes in Organic matter has been transformed (80%) Raise of the redox-potential Decrease of pH Increase of heavy metals in the leakage

AIM Minimize the acid stage Crush the waste Combine org. and inorg. materials Raise the humidity Control temperature Different parts of a landfill can be in different stages – Problems in handling the leakage – We try to minimize the amount of the leachate Minimize Precipitation Runoff inflow Soil water inflow Groundwater inflow

MINIMIZING THE AMOUNT OF LEACHATE Daily cover – low permeability Surface slope Drain the groundwater before coming in contact with the refuse Surface-water drainage system (ditches, dikes) to prevent flooding, erosion, infiltration Barrier protection - lining Collect, store and treat leachate Monitoring

BARRIERS (LINING) AND MONITORING FACILITIES

LINERS Natural clay Soil cements Asphaltic material Polymeric membranes Combination

COMPOSITE BASAL LINING SYSTEM waste transitional layer – preventing fine-grained waste from blocking the drainage blanket drainage blanket – collection and removal of leachate protective layer – distribution of concentrated stresses geomembrane – prevention of leakage mineral sealing layers subsoil

CONTROL OF METHANE GAS MIGRATION Impermeable cutoff walls or barriers

Ventillation system – gravel filled trenches

Gravel-packed perforated pipe wells or collectors