Landfill

• Landfills are engineered structure for the containment of

domestic and industrial solid wastes
• Controlled disposal option
• Landfills are generally located in the remote places to prevent
environmental risk and ensure human health safety
• A landfill is either large area of land or excavated ground
constructed in a way to receive waste. The waste disposed in the
landfills undergoes decomposition over a period of time. The
decomposing waste release greenhouse gases as well as toxic
liquid known as leachate
• Landfill size depends on rate of waste generation, density for
MSW – 325 – 700 kg/m3
 Landfill Classification

Class Name Type of waste

Class I Secure landfill Hazardous waste

Class II Monofills Designated waste

incinerator ash,
sewage sludge,
waste of uniform
characteristics
Class III Sanitary landfills MSW
 Landfilling of Municipal Solid Waste

• Comingled waste (mixed waste) not found

suitable for waste processing
• (Pre-processing and post-processing rejects
from waste processing sites;
• Non-hazardous waste not being processed or
recycled
 Essential Components of Landfill
• Liner system at the base and sides of the landfill which prevents
migration of leachate or gas to the surrounding soil
• Leachate collection and control
• A gas collection and control facility (optional for small landfills
• Final cover system at the top of the landfill which enhances
surface drainage, prevents infiltrating water and supports surface
vegetation
• Surface water drainage system which collects and removes all
surface runoff from the landfill site
• Environmental monitoring system which periodically collects and
analyses air, surface water, soil-gas and ground water samples
around the landfill site.
• Closure and post-closure plan which lists the steps that must be
taken to close and secure a landfill site once the filling operation
has been completed
 Basic Components
• A liner system – used at the bottom to
protect the soil and ground water
• Waste emplacement cells – pattern by which
waste is loaded into the landfill
• Cover or capping – It is the top most
protection layer that prevents the entry of
water or other animals into the waste pile

• Operational Phase : Cells, Daily Cover and

Lifts
 Definition of Terms
• Cell is used to describe the volume of material placed in a landfill during one
operating period, usually 1 day
• Daily cover (soil compost alternative cover)
• Lift is a complete layer of cells over the active area of the landfill. Typically, landfills
comprise a series of lifts
• Bench (or terrace) is typically used where the height of the landfill will exceed 50 to
75 ft. Benches are used to maintain the slope stability of the landfill
• Landfill liners are materials (both natural and man-made) that are used to line the
bottom area and below-grade sides of a landfill
• The final landfill cover layer is applied over the entire landfill surface after all
landfilling operations are complete
• The liquid that forms at the bottom of a landfill is known as leachate
• Landfill gas is the term applied to the mixture of gases found within a landfill
• Landfill closure is the term used to describe the steps that must be taken to close and
secure a landfill site once the filling operation has been completed
• Postclosure care refers to the activities associated with the long-term
maintenance of the completed landfill (typically 30 to 50 years).
 Difference between Sanitary landfill and
Secure landfill

• Landfilling of hazardous solid or containerized waste

is regulated more stringently than landfilling of
municipal solid waste
• Hazardous wastes must be deposited in secure
landfills, which provide at least 3 metres (10 feet) of
separation between the bottom of the landfill and the
underlying bedrock or groundwater table
• A secure hazardous-waste landfill must have two
impermeable liners and leachate collection systems
• Impermeable cap or cover is placed over a finished
landfill
 Site Selection Criteria
• Location criteria
• Identification of search area
• Drawing up a list of potential sites
• Data collection
• Selection of few best-ranked sites
• Environmental impact assessment and
• Final site selection and land acquisition
 Location criteria
• Lake or Pond: No landfill should be constructed within 200 m of
any lake or pond
• River: No landfill should be constructed within 100 m of a
navigable river (min 30m)
• Flood Plain: No landfill should be constructed within a 100 year
flood Plain
• Highway: No landfill should be constructed within 200 m of the
right of way of any state or national highway. This restriction is mainly for
aesthetic reasons.
• Habitation: A landfill site should be at least 500 m from a notified
habitated area
• Public parks: No landfill should be constructed within 300 m of a
public park
 Location criteria
• Critical Habitat Area: No landfill should be constructed within
critical habitat areas. (endangered species)
• Wetlands: No landfill should be constructed within wetlands
• Ground Water Table : A landfill should not be constructed in
areas where water table is less than 2m below ground surface. Special
design measures be adopted, if this cannot be adhered to
• Airports: No landfill should be constructed within the limits
prescribed by regulatory agencies (MOEF/ CPCB/ Aviation Authorities)
from time to time.
• Water Supply Well: No landfill should be constructed within 500
m of any water supply well. Coastal Regulation Zone: A landfill
should not be sited in a coastal regulation zone
 Data Collection
• Topographic Maps
• Soil Maps
• Land Use Plans
• Transportation Maps
• Water Use Plans
• Flood Plain
• Geologic Maps
• Aerial Photographs/Satellite Imagery
• Ground Water Maps
• Rainfall
• Wind Map
• Seismic Data
 Final Site Selection
The final selection of the site from amongst the best-
ranked alternatives should be done by comparing:

• The environmental impact;

• Social acceptance; and
• Transportation and landfilling costs
Cutaway views of a sanitary landfill: (a) after
geomembrane liner has been installed over
compacted clay layer and before drainage and
soil protective layers have been installed; (b)
after two lifts of solid waste have been
completed; and (c) completed landfill with final
cover installed
 Landfilling Methods
• Excavated Cell/Trench Method
• The cell/trench method of landfilling is ideally suited to
areas where an adequate depth of cover material is available
at the site and where the water table is not near the surface.
 Landfilling Methods
• Area Method. The area method is used when the terrain is unsuitable
for the excavation of cells or trenches in which to place the solid
wastes. High groundwater conditions
• Site preparation includes the installation of a liner and leachate
management system
• Cover material must be hauled in by truck or earthmoving
equipment from adjacent land or from borrow-pit areas
 Landfilling Methods
• Canyon/Depression Method
• Canyons, ravines, dry borrow pits, and quarries have been
used for landfills
• The techniques to place and compact solid wastes in
canyon/depression landfills vary with the geometry of the site, the
characteristics of the available cover material, the hydrology and
geology of the site, the type of leachate and gas control facilities
to be used, and the access to the site
 Landfilling Methods
• Landfill Bioreactor - A bioreactor landfill is constructed and
operated in a manner that will enhance the decomposition rate
of the organic material within municipal solid waste
• Operating procedures are adjusted from those used at
conventional landfills to quickly initiate the decomposition of the
waste
• Gas collection facilities are installed immediately upon the
construction of the landfill cell so that methane gas can be
recovered
• To accelerate the decomposition rate, the leachate withdrawn
from the base of the landfill is recycled and, in addition, other
sources of moisture, such as sewage sludge, may be added to the
waste profile
 Landfill Bioreactor
• The system promotes enhanced microbiological activity through
moisture maintenance and leachate recirculation
• The waste stabilization occurs within 5 to 10 years of
implementation
• Moisture is considered as single most component to fasten up
the rate of degradation. A minimum of 35 – 40% moisture is
required for increased rate of waste degradation
• When leachate is not sufficient enough to maintain the required
moisture. In those cases, other liquids such as water, storm water
runoff and wastewater treatment sludges are used
• The efficiency of the landfill bioreactor is also increased through
other factors such as shredding of the incoming waste, nutrient
addition, pH adjustment, waste pre-disposal and post-disposal
conditioning and temperature control
 Types of landfill bioreactor
• Aerobic landfill bioreactor
• Anaerobic landfill bioreactor - The gas generation is twice that of
normal landfill
• Hybrid landfill bioreactor - The upper portion of the bioreactor
is operated under aerobic condition where air is injected into the
waste. Aerobic conditions facilitate faster decomposition. The bottom
layer of the bioreactor is maintained in the absence of oxygen.
The purpose is to attain faster degradation with simultaneous recovery of
energy at the lower portion of the bioreactor
• Facultative landfill bioreactors - Facultative bioreactors are
developed to control high ammonia within the landfill bioreactors.
High ammonia concentration develops due to the leachate recirculation
within the landfill bioreactor. The leachate containing ammonia is treated
by biological nitrification process
Aerobic landfill bioreactor
Hybrid landfill bioreactor
Facultative landfill bioreactors
 Decomposition in Landfills
• Aerobic Phase/Initial Adjustment -biological
decomposition occurs under aerobic conditions
because a certain amount of air is trapped within the
landfill
• Transition Phase – aerobic to anaerobic, reduction of
nitrate and sulfate
• Acid Phase – hydrolysis, acetogenesis, H2 production
(leachate pH low, CO2)
• Methanogenesis Phase (Unsteady) (organic acid to
methane and CO2)
• Methanogenesis Phase (Steady)/Maturation Phase
Phases in the generation of landfill gases
 Landfill Gas Management
• Landfill gas is the product of methanogenesis and mainly consists of
methane and carbon dioxide with minor concentration of nitrogen,
carbon monoxide, oxygen, ammonia, sulfides, hydrogen, and non-methane
organic compounds (NMOCs) like trichloroethylene, benzene, and vinyl
chloride
• Landfill gas is produced chiefly by three processes
– Microbial decomposition
– Volatilization - releases non-methane organic compounds
– Chemical reactions: Chemicals present in the landfills react
and generates gases. For example, ammonia and chlorine
react to generate a harmful gas
 Conditions affecting landfill gas
production
• Waste composition: As the amount of organic waste increases,
the quantity of landfill gas also increases
• Age of refuse: The waste that are more than 10 years old produce
less amount of landfill gas compared to those which are more
newly buried. Maximum amount of landfill gas is generated
between 5 to 7 years
• Presence of oxygen in the landfill: Oxygen inhibits the methane
production
• Moisture content: The presence of moisture promotes certain
chemical reactions which help in gas production
• Temperature: Microbial activity is accelerated with the increase
in the temperature of the landfill
 Landfill gas migration
• The gas produced in the landfill does not remain idle, it keeps
migrating and fills the void and pore space within the refuse and
soil covering the landfill. Methane is lighter than air and hence
travels vertically upwards and reaches the surface of the landfill
(obstructed by filling)
• Carbon dioxide generally is collected in the subsurface due to
density difference
• Migration of gas (i.e) direction, speed, and distance of movement
is governed by various factors Diffusion, Pressure, Temperature,
Landfill cover type and Permeability, Natural or cultural
pathways, Moisture, Groundwater levels etc.
 Landfill gas collection
• Passive Gas Collection Systems: Passive gas collection systems are
generally established either during active operation or after the closure
of a landfill. Collection wells or extraction wells are used in passive
system for the gas collection (vertical 50 – 90% depth), Horizontal wells
are more suitable for landfills. The efficiency of a passive gas collection
system depends on the way the gas is controlled and on the
environmental conditions

• Active Gas Collection: Active gas collection systems are considered the
most effective means of landfill gas collection. It consists of both vertical
and horizontal gas collection wells analogous to passive collection
systems. Unlike passive gas collection system, the active system includes
valves to control gas flow and to provide as a sampling port. Sampling
facilitates measurement of gas generation, composition, and pressure.
Active collection system includes vacuums or pumps which help to push
gas out of the landfill. Vacuums or pumps create pressure in the gas
collection wells and draw gas from the landfill.The gas migrates in the
direction of low pressure
 Landfill gas treatment
• Combustion Technologies - Combustion technologies comprise of flares,
incinerators, boilers, gas turbines, and internal combustion engines
which thermally degrade the substances
• Non-combustion Technologies - Landfill gas is directly converted into
energy in energy recovery technologies, whereas they are converted
into commercial products, like Compressed Natural Gas (CNG),
methanol, purified carbon dioxide and methane, or Liquefied Natural
Gas (LNG) in gas to product conversion technologies
• Odor Control Technologies - Extensive covers ,Plantation of vegetation
on the landfill cover can also decrease odors, Venting of landfill gas with
the help of filter
 Leachate Management
• A leachate collection system comprises of a drainage layer, a
perforated pipe collector system, sump collection area, and a
removal system
• The leachate drainage layer is usually 30 cm thick, has a slope of
2% or higher and a permeability of greater than 0.01 cm/sec
• A system of perforated pipes and sumps are provided within the
drainage layer
• Leachate is removed from the landfill by (a) pumping in vertical
wells or chimneys, (b) pumping in side slope risers, or (c) by
gravity drains
• Management - Discharge to Lined Drains, to Waste Water
Treatment System, Recirculation, Evaporation of Leachate and
Treatment of Leachate
 Closure and Post Closure
• Landfill Active period - 10 to25 years
• Landfill Closure and Post-closure period – 25 years

• Some possible uses of closed landfill sites near urban centres

include parks, recreational areas, golf courses, vehicle parking
areas and sometimes even commercial development
• A closure and post-closure plan for landfills involves the following
components:
– Plan for vegetative stabilization of the final landfill cover
– Plan for management of surface water run-off with an effective
drainage system
– Plan for periodical inspection and maintenance of landfill cover and
facilities
 Operation after Closure

The following facilities will be operated routinely after closure:

(a) leachate management system;
(b) surface water management system;
(c) environmental monitoring system;
(d) cover rehabilitation and repair system
 Landfill Monitoring
• leachate quality within the landfill (at the base)
• leachate quality after treatment
• ground water quality (up gradient and down gradient)
• surface water quality at the exit of landfill
• gas quality within the landfill
• air quality above the landfill and at gas vents
• air quality at gas control facilities
Periodic Inspection and Maintenance
• Cover System: The final cover is inspected 2 to 4 times a
year
• Surface Water Drainage System: The surface water
drainage system is also inspected 2 to 4 times a year

• Landfill remediation - Whenever contamination is observed and

is expected to continue, detailed site investigations for remediation
will be undertaken and a feasibility study conducted for the choice
of appropriate technology. Options such as provision of vertical cut
of impermeable covers, peripheral surface water drains, waste
excavation, soil treatment, ground water treatment will be
examined