Content of lecture

1. 18: Planning a landfill Content of lecture 18.1 Waste Composition 18.2 Site Selection 18.3 Groundwater 18.4 Slope/topography 18.5 Distance to settlement/ Public Involvement 18.6 Impact assessment 18.7 Legal Requirement

2. Up to 1970s waste was a non-issue on political agenda, unnoticed even by environmentalist groups. Proximity to waste producers was the most important criterion for selection of a site for a waste disposal. No consideration was given to public health or environmental issues. In the 1970s cases of adverse health effects near waste dumps occurred. Response came from authorities (Politicians, legislators, environmentalists). 18: Planning a landfill General

3. Setting up policy regarding waste management in order to protect human health and environment in the future Regulatory requirements to reduce contaminant emissions from waste disposal/treatment facilities Allocating resources to clean up abandoned (hazardous) waste dumps e.g. Superfund in USA 18: Planning a landfill Response from Authorities

4. Due to opposition from the general public, we often see that almost any site is taken if readily available! It seems that the siting process focuses exclusively on getting public consent, rather than include consideration of any other relevant aspect. 18: Planning a landfill Nowadays siting isvery much of an issue

5. 18: Planning a landfill 18.1 Waste Composition 18.1 Waste Composition Waste from industrialized countries Characteristics: high content of packaging made of paper, plastic, glass and metal Moisture Content: Low Density: Low Waste from developing countries Characteristics: large amounts of inerts such as sand, ash, dust and stones and high moisture levels because of the high usage of fresh fruit and vegetables. Moisture Content: High Density: High

6. 18: Planning a landfill 18.2 Site Selection 18.2 Site Selection • … is the most important decision in developing and implementing a waste management plan • A poorly chosen site will require high cost on: • waste transport • site development • site operations • environmental protection

7. 18: Planning a landfill 18.2 Site Selection Chronological development business as usual cases of pollution public outcry response from politics legislation technology siting procedure waste characteristics

8. Introductory stage making key decisions about area to be served type and composition of waste to be landfilled target lifetime (minimum 10 years) developing a work plan for site selection Main stage Preliminary site selection Identification of the selection criteria Decision of relative importance of the selection criteria Establishing a ranking of the sites Final selection 18: Planning a landfill 18.2 Site Selection Stages of a siting process

9. Making the key decisions Establish current situation review existing facilities calculate remaining capacity & find waste composition Define future needs estimate future waste quantities estimate future (changes of) waste composition 18: Planning a landfill 18.2 Site Selection Introductory Stage Work plan for site selection Elements of the plan are dictated by legal and administrative procedures and requirements in force within the area. These elements as well as their sequence may differ from country to country.

10. 18: Planning a landfill 18.2 Site Selection Preliminary site selection • - Define search area based on • natural and administrative constraints • hauling distances. • - Make use of maps and visit the sites. • - Apply preliminary selection criteria. • - Estimate costs involved (economies of scale play a role). • - Prepare a list of sites, along with their pros and cons • - Size of the site and access • - Safety (proximity of airport etc.) • Country planning constraints (drinking water aquifer, protected nature area etc. ) • ……

11. 18: Planning a landfill 18.2 Site Selection Final site selection criteria • Geological aspects • Hydrogeological aspects • Public health/public acceptance • -near residential area • -near places of religious, cultural or historical importance • -near agricultural sites land • -near drinking water wells, ponds, river (in criteria of country planning as well) • near airport

12. 18: Planning a landfill 18.3 Groundwater 18.3 Groundwater The groundwater contamination by landfill is determined by following factors • Depth of the water table • Permeability of Geological strata • Type of Geological strata • Toxicity of the leachate contaminants • Groundwater flow direction

13. 18: Planning a landfill 18.4 Slope/Topography 18.4 Slope/Topography (Geological aspects) Following potentially unstable geological conditions are to be avoided by Landfill developers • - extreme topography • - unstable subsoil areas • - geologically active faults • - seismic impact zones

14. 18: Planning a landfill 18.4 Slope/Topography Ranking the sites • Constraint mapping (using selection criteria) • Walkover surveys using a checklist • Conceptual design for each site • Site investigations • Feasibility report and EIA (environmental impact assessment)

15. Homogeneous geology with no fractures Geotechnically stable subsoil Base of the site naturally impermeable Thick unsaturated layer below the base Site far from an aquifer Site far from surface water bodies (sea, lake, river) Site that people accept 18: Planning a landfill 18.4 Slope/Topography What is an ideal site

16. Nuisance caused by a landfill nuisance by lorry traffic nuisance by odours, birds, littering, scavengers Economic impacts - decrease of economic value of houses near a landfill Health and environmental impacts Social impacts - diminished quality of life 18: Planning a landfill 18.5 Distance to Settlement 18.5 Distance to Settlement/Involvement of public

17. Public understands needs and proposals. Issues raised by public are heard and addressed. Authority is responsive to public. Opportunity is provided for public to participate in decision-making process. 18: Planning a landfill 18.5 Public Involvement Involvement of public: objectives

18. Public may become completely consumed by some details or issues of relatively lesser importance. Disinformation can be spread. It can cause damaging delays. Project can be misused by politicians. 18: Planning a landfill 18.5 Public Involvement Disadvantages of public involvement

19. People can express their concerns and get answers to their questions. It effectively ensures that authorities take opinions of public into account. Important information may be gathered from people, that may otherwise be missed. It usually results in increased likelihood of gaining public support for the landfill. 18: Planning a landfill 18.5 Public Involvement Advantages of Public Involvement

20. 18: Planning a landfill 18.6 Pollution risk 18.6 Impact Assessment/Pollution risk Pollution risk impact assessment is a process of estimating the likelihood of occurrence of harmful effects by landfills Example Risk analysts say: At 0.1µg/L of certain chemical in drinking water (e.g. heavy metal) risk of adverse effect on human health is 10-6.

21. 18: Planning a landfill 18.6 Pollution risk Basic concept of risk HAZARD  PATHWAY  RECEPTOR/ TARGET WASTE  MIGRATION PEOPLE AND through soil, water, air ENVIRONMENT

22. Landfills can cause pollution if waste constituents (or products of their decomposition and reactions) reach the environment. This occurs mainly by migration of liquid (leachate) into subsoil, groundwater and adjacent surface water bodies gas (landfill gas, biogas) into atmosphere. 18: Planning a landfill 18.6 Pollution risk Risk of pollution by landfills depends on site characteristics, landfill technology and waste composition.

23. Risk source release assessment What is the risk of failure of landfill control measures? Exposure assessment How can contaminant migration take place? Consequence assessment What effects might an exposed individual experience? Risk estimation How can results of previous stages be integrated? What are the uncertainties? 18: Planning a landfill 18.6 Impact Assessment Risk assessment for a landfill

24. 18: Planning a landfill 18.7 Legal Requirements- JOKO?

25. 18: Planning a landfill Conclusion Landfill planning involves the most important decision to reduce cost of waste disposal and environmental impacts The potential impact on the groundwater is one of the most important aspects Landfill planning and site selection are best carried out as a systematic stepwise process

26. 18: Planning a landfill Thank you for your kind attention!