LANDFILL

Landfilling

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Definition

Landfills are locations where disposable materials are sent, which are then buried underground. During this process, precautions are taken to prevent the waste from reaching and potentially contaminating any groundwater.

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landfill site

A landfill site (also known as a tip, dump, rubbish dump, garbage dump or dumping ground and, in archeology as a midden) is a site for the disposal of waste materials. Landfill is the oldest and most common form of waste disposal , although the systematic burial of the waste with daily, intermediate and final covers began in 1940s. In the past, refuse was simply left in piles or thrown into pits.

Some landfill sites are also used for waste management purposes, such as temporary storage, consolidation and transfer, or for various stages of processing waste material, such as sorting, treatment, or recycling. Unless they are stabilized, landfills may experience severe shaking or soil liquefication of the ground during a large earthquake.

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types of landfill

1. MUNICIPLE SOLID WASTE: takes in household waste and nonhazardous material. Included in this type of landfill is a Bioreacter landfill (A type of MSWLF that operates to rapidly transform and degrade organic waste)  that specifically degrades organic material.
2. INDUSTRIAL WASTE: for commercial and industrial waste. Other related landfills include Construction and Demolition Debris Landfills and Coal Combustion Residual Landfills. 
3. HAZARDOUS WASTE or PCB WASTE: Polychlorinated Biphenyl (PCB) landfills that are monitored in the United States by the TOXIC SUBSTANCES control act of 1976 (TSCA).

•  construction and demolition debris landfills - A type of industrial waste landfill designed exclusively for construction and demolition materials, which consists of the debris generated during the construction, renovation and demolition of buildings, roads and bridges. C&D materials often contain bulky, heavy materials, such as concrete, wood, metals, glass and salvaged building components.
• coal combustion residual landfill - An industrial waste landfill used to manage and dispose of coal combustion residuals (ccrs and coal ash). EPA established requirements for the disposal of CCR in landfills and published them in the Federal Register April 17, 2015.

Advantages of landfills:

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  There are many advantages of landfills. The main advantage is that burying can produce energy and can be obtained by the conversion of landfill gas.
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  The waste products of landfills can be used as direct fuel for combustion or indirectly they can be processed into another fuel.

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  Landfill is a specific location for waste deposition that can be monitored.

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  On completion of the landfill it can be reclaimed and it can be used as parks or farming land.
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  In properly designed landfills the waste can be processed and all recyclable materials can be used before closing.
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  Organic material can also be separated from a properly designed landfill which can be used for compost or production of natural gas.
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  The landfills that are properly managed can capture the natural gas or methane that is produced by the underground decomposing material.

Disadvantages of landfills:

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  Landfills that are poorly designed or operated share more problems that are faced at the uncontrolled dumping areas.

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  The areas surrounding the landfills become heavily polluted.

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  Landfill can pollute air, water and also the soil.
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  In a poorly developed landfill it is difficult to keep the dangerous chemicals from leaching out into the surrounding area.
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  Dangerous chemicals can seep into the ground water system.
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  Many insects and rodents are attracted to landfills and can result in dangerous diseases.
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  It can cause diseases and illness in the communities living around the landfill.

what is sanitary landfill?

Sanitary landfills are sites where waste is isolated from the environment until it is safe.
It is considered when it has completely degraded biologically, chemically and physically. In high-income countries, the level of isolation achieved may be high. However, such an expensive high level of isolation may not be technically necessary to protect public health. Four basic conditions should be met before a site can be regarded as a sanitary landfill .

How Sanitary Landfills Work in Layers

To put it simply, sanitary landfills operate by layering waste in a large hole. The deepest spots can be up to 500 feet into the ground, like Puente Hills, where a third of Los Angeles County’s garbage is sent.  As materials decompose, landfill gas experts continuously monitor groundwater to detect any leakage.

Let’s dig into how each layer works to keep waste from affecting the environment as it safely decomposes.

Layer 1: The Liner System

The bottom of a modern landfill is typically lined with compacted clay dense enough to prevent liquids from penetrating it. On top of the clay, landfill engineers install a liner made of high-density plastic for added protection.

Layer 2: The Drainage System

Some waste produces liquid as it decomposes. And as rain and snow filter through a landfill, it can carry other contaminants to the bottom. Perforated pipes are installed on top of the liner to collect these liquids—known as leachate—and funnel them to treatment facilities, either onsite or at wastewater treatment plants.

Layer 3: The Gas Collection System

Waste naturally produces methane as it decomposes and when methane is released into the atmosphere, it contributes to global warming. But methane is also the main component of natural gas. Modern landfills work to turn methane into power using gas extraction wells that pipe it to treatment areas and then to plants that will turn it into electricity or other forms of energy.

Layer 4: The Trash Itself

In the main area of the landfill, trash is delivered and then compacted to take up less room. Every day, the new trash is covered with a layer of dirt which helps contain odors and deter pests.

 The ways of doing this should be adapted to local conditions. The immediate goal is to meet, to the best extent possible, the four stated basic sanitary landfill conditions, with a longer term goal to meet them eventually in full.

Advantage of sanitary landfill:

• the main advantage is that burying can produce energy and can be obtained by the conversion of landfill gas.
• The waste products of landfills can be used as direct fuel for combustion or indirectly they can be processed into another fuel.

Disadvantage of sanitary landfill:

• Landfills that are poorly designed or operated share more problems that are faced at the uncontrolled duming area.
• The area surrounding the landfill became heavily polluted.