Emissions of C&D refuse in landfills: a European case.
A field study was developed in a new landfill for refuse from construction and demolition (C&D) material recovery plants of small size (4 Ha.) in Europe, with the aim of evaluating the liquid and gas emissions in this type of facility at a large scale. It included characterization of the materials, monitoring leachate and gas quantity and composition. Besides thermometers, piezometers and sampling ports were placed in several points within the waste. This paper presents the data obtained for five years of the landfill life. The materials disposed were mainly made up of wood and concrete, similar to other C&D debris sites, but the amount of gypsum drywall (below 3% of the waste) was significantly smaller than other available studies, where percentages above 20% had been reported. Leachate contained typical C&D pollutants, such as different inorganic ions and metals, some of which exceeded other values reported in the literature (conductivity, ammonium, lead and arsenic). The small net precipitation in the area and the leachate recirculation into the landfill surface help explain these higher concentrations, thus highlighting the impact of liquid to solid (L/S) ratio on leachate characteristics. In contrast to previous studies, neither odor nuisances nor significant landfill gas over the surface were detected. However, gas samples taken from the landfill inside revealed sulfate reducing and methanogenic activity.
Environmental Engineering Group, Department of Science and Techniques of Water and the Environment, University of Cantabria, Avd. Los Castros s/n, Santander 39005, Cantabria, Spain. Electronic address: lopezan@unican.es.
Ana
A
López
Environmental Engineering Group, Department of Science and Techniques of Water and the Environment, University of Cantabria, Avd. Los Castros s/n, Santander 39005, Cantabria, Spain. Electronic address: loboa@unican.es.
Amaya
A
Lobo
D064751:Ammonium Compounds / Q000032:analysis; D001151:Arsenic / Q000032:analysis; D003252:Construction Materials; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000032:analysis; D005060:Europe; D005160:Facility Design and Construction; D005735:Garbage; D005740:Gases; D007854:Lead / Q000032:analysis; D009812:Odorants; D010209:Paper; D012037:Refuse Disposal / Q000379:methods*; D013030:Spain; D064091:Waste Disposal Facilities; D014873:Water Pollutants / Q000032:analysis; D014934:Wood
D064751:Ammonium Compounds; D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D005740:Gases; D014873:Water Pollutants; D007854:Lead; D001151:Arsenic
C&D waste; Instrumentation; Landfill gas; Leachate; Recirculation