1. WASTE DISPOSAL By
Heidi Rowlands
November 2003

2. WASTE DISPOSAL What is waste?
Who monitors and controls the disposal of waste?
How is it disposed of?
Disposal of waste to landfill

3. WHAT IS WASTE?
Waste is rubbish people at home and work discard because they no longer need it.
England and Wales produce 400 million tonnes of waste every year.
Careful management is needed so its effect on the environment and human health is minimal.

4. TYPES OF WASTE Controlled Waste Non-controlled Waste
Household, industrial and commercial waste
May be classified further as:
Inert
Non-Hazardous
Hazardous
Non-controlled Waste
Agricultural, mining and quarry waste

5. TYPES OF WASTE (Cont.)

6. Around 70% of controlled waste is sent to landfill.

7. WHO MONITORS & CONTROLS THE DISPOSAL OF WASTE?

8. WHO MONITORS & CONTROLS THE DISPOSAL OF WASTE?
Independent Consultants

9. THE ENVIRONMENT AGENCY’S ROLE
The EA regulates waste management through a system of licences (PPC Permits).
The EA waste team is responsible for ensuring that waste produced in England and Wales is correctly disposed of, in a manner that minimises its impact on people and the environment.

10. THE ENVIRONMENT AGENCY’S ROLE (Cont.)
They do this by:
advising on waste management methods including waste minimisation;
issuing Permits to waste operators providing satisfactory controls are in place;
site inspections and enforcement;
registering and monitoring people who transport waste;
working closely with other organisations to tackle specific issues such as fly-tipping (dumping waste illegally).

11. THE ENVIRONMENT AGENCY’S ROLE (Cont.)
The EA carries out site inspections periodically to make sure that waste is recovered or disposed of in ways that do not harm the environment or cause damage to human health.
If the Agency finds evidence that the environment or public health is placed at risk, they can take the action needed to prevent or reduce the risk.

12. HOW DO WE DISPOSE OF WASTE?
Around 70% of controlled waste in the UK is sent to landfill.
The dots on the map indicate the location of active landfill sites in the UK.

13. HOW DO WE DISPOSE OF WASTE?
New legislation has recently been introduced in the UK.
The EU Landfill Directive introduces some new requirements that will fundamentally change the way we manage waste in the UK & Europe.
It aims to classify landfill sites across the whole of Europe and to regulate them in a more coherent and consistent manner.

14. HOW DO WE DISPOSE OF WASTE? (Cont.)
Some new requirements
introduced by the Directive include:
reducing the quantities of biodegradable municipal solid waste (MSW) sent to landfill;
banning the disposal of certain types of waste (clinical, liquid, explosive, corrosive, oxidising, flammable, highly flammable waste and tyres);
treating most wastes before landfilling;
more prescriptive engineering standards.

15. HOW DO WE DISPOSE OF WASTE? (Cont.)
Some other ways of disposing of or minimising waste include:
Recycling
Composting
Incineration

16. DISPOSAL OF WASTE TO LANDFILL
An understanding of Geology is fundamental to the management of waste because:
Wastes and contaminants occur in and travel through the geologic environment so we need to understand:
the nature of this environment
the transport processes
most waste management schemes involve the use of geologic reservoirs for containment or the use of geologic process for dilution and dispersal of the waste

17. WHAT IS A LANDFILL SITE?

18. WHAT IS A LANDFILL SITE?
A landfill site is a licensed facility where waste is deposited for permanent disposal.

19. WHAT DOES A LANDFILL SITE LOOK LIKE?

20. WHAT DOES A LANDFILL SITE LOOK LIKE?

21. WHAT DOES A LANDFILL SITE LOOK LIKE?

22. WHAT DOES A LANDFILL SITE LOOK LIKE?

23. WHAT DOES A LANDFILL SITE LOOK LIKE?

24. WHAT DOES A LANDFILL SITE LOOK LIKE?
Modern landfills are designed to confine the waste to prevent it from causing environmental or health problems.
Daily cover is placed over the compacted waste each day to minimise infiltration of rainwater.

25. WHAT PROBLEMS DO LANDFILL SITES POSE?
Groundwater Contamination
Production of Landfill Gas
Landfill fires
Offensive odours
Litter
Pests (Vermin, seagulls, flies)
Increased traffic for duration of infilling
Long term settlement after completion

26. GROUNDWATER CONTAMINATION
Groundwater contamination can occur if leachate leaks into the soils and rock surrounding a landfill site, eventually making its way to the water table and contaminating the groundwater.
Leachate is formed when water percolates through solid waste.
Leachate can be highly toxic.

27. PRODUCTION OF LANDFILL GAS
Landfill gas is produced during the natural breakdown of biodegradable waste.
The composition of landfill gas changes over time.
The gas from a typical landfill site consists mostly of methane and carbon dioxide.

28. LANDFILL FIRES
As waste decomposes it generates heat and underground fires may start.
These are difficult to extinguish, may last for long periods, and may spread throughout the landfill.

29. LANDFILL DESIGN
Modern landfills are designed to minimise these problems:
Location
Landfill Liner
Compaction of waste
Daily Cover
Landfill Cap
Leachate Management System
Landfill Gas management System

31. LANDFILL LOCATION
In order to obtain a permit a landfill operator must first carry out a detailed investigation and prove to the satisfaction of the planning authority and the EA that the site:
is located in a geologically stable area
is not located on a major aquifer;
Is not located in a vulnerable area;
is designed to reduce the risk of damage to the environment and human health;
will be monitored regularly for the duration of operations and aftercare period.

32. Installation of monitoring/site investigation borehole

33. LANDFILL LINERS
Landfill Liners are constructed on the base and sides of a landfill site to prevent leachate from leaking into the surrounding soils.
Landfill Liners may be constructed from:
Compacted Clay
Bentonite Enhanced Sand
Geomembrane
Geotextile Protector
Dense Asphaltic Concrete (DAC)
Combination of the above

34. LANDFILL LINERS
Construction of compacted clay liner

35. LANDFILL LINERS

36. LANDFILL LINERS
Installation of Geomembrane Basal Liner

37. LANDFILL LINERS Construction of Dense Asphaltic Concrete Liner
This is a new method of lining landfills.
The first landfill to be constructed with this type of lining system in the UK is North of London and was completed this summer.

38. LANDFILL LINERS

39. CONSTRUCTION QUALITY ASSURANCE
All construction carried out on landfill sites is supervised and recorded by an independent consultant.
Following construction, certification reports are produced by the consultant and issued to the Environment Agency for approval.

40. LANDFILL OPERATIONS
Waste is placed in layers approximately 3 m thick and compacted.
At the end of each working day approximately 0.3 m of clay or sand material is placed on top of the waste to:
minimise the infiltration of rainwater
isolate the waste from birds and vermin
reduce odours

41. LANDFILL OPERATIONS
To prevent wastage and the formation of layers of weakness within the waste mass the daily cover is scraped off and re-used each day.
Leachate that collects at the base of the waste mass is collected and re-circulated into the waste. This:
increases the rate of decomposition of the waste and therefore, rate of settlement;
decreases disposal costs.

42. LANDFILL CAP
Landfill caps placed above the waste after completion of infilling prevent the infiltration of rainwater, minimising the production of leachate.
Landfill Caps are usually constructed from:
Recompacted clay
Geomembrane

43. LANDFILL CAP
Construction of geomembrane cap

44. LANDFILL CAP

45. LEACHATE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM
Leachate management systems are installed to:
prevent the accumulation of leachate in the base of the landfill
collect, re-circulate and dispose of leachate during operations and after closure
They comprise of:
leachate drainage blanket at base of landfill
pipes along base and sidewalls of landfill
wells to monitor and extract the leachate

46. LANDFILL GAS MANAGEMENT SYSTEM
Landfill gas management systems are installed to prevent the build up of gases within the landfill and to prevent migration of landfill gas through the underlying strata.
There are 2 ways landfill gas can be managed:
passive
active

47. LANDFILL GAS MANAGEMENT SYSTEM
Passive management systems comprise of wells with perforated tops to allow the gas to vent into the atmosphere
Active management systems involve the active extraction of the gas.
The extracted gas can be used to generate electricity.

48. LANDFILL GAS MANAGEMENT SYSTEM

49. LANDFILL GAS MANAGEMENT SYSTEM

50. LANDFILL GAS MANAGEMENT SYSTEM
Electricity generating system

51. MONITORING
Monitoring is carried out before, during, and after the placement of waste.
Numerous monitoring wells are constructed around a landfill site (both upstream and downstream) to check for contamination.
Chemical testing is carried out regularly on:
Groundwater
Leachate
Landfill Gas

52. SUMMARY Landfill sites are not very pleasant! BUT
The negative effects can be minimised if:
they are designed carefully with due consideration of the geological and hydrogeological conditions;
construction works are supervised & controlled by a qualified engineer;
they are carefully managed throughout their operational life and aftercare period.