SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT PRASHANTH N

SCHOOL OF CIVIL ENGINEERING

COURSE NAME: SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT

COURSE CODE: B22EDS715

NAME OF THE FACULTY: PRASHANTH N

Rukmini Knowledge Park, Kattigenahalli, Yelahanka, Bengaluru-560064

[Link]

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 SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT PRASHANTH N

Course Code: B22EDS715

COURSE OBJECTIVES: Student will be able to learn
1. Need for solid waste management studies scope and importance of solid waste management
2. Understand the Characterization, Classification and generation of Solid waste
3. Understand the systems of waste collection, transportation and treatment of wastes.
4. Apply different processing technologies and to study conversion of municipal solid waste to
compost or biogas
5. Study the various methods of disposal and to Evaluate landfill site
6. Estimate the technique for energy recovery from solid waste

COURSE OUTCOME: After successful completion of this course the student will be able
to:

CO# Course Outcomes POs PSOs

Understand the functional elements, needs and scope of solid waste
CO1 management 1,2 01
Identify the sources, types, composition and characteristics of solid wastes and
CO2 able to estimate solid waste generation rate 1,2,6 02
Identify the systems of collection, equipment’s used for the collection and 1,2,6 04
CO3
transportation of solid waste
CO4 Analyze the processing techniques in solid waste management 1,2,3,6 03

Understand the Different methods of municipal solid waste disposal and able to 1,2,3,4,7 01
CO5 design suitable incineration technique and sanitary landfills

CO6 Able to explore to different method of waste to energy facility 1,2 02

REFERENCE TEXT BOOKS:

1. [Link], Environmental Engineering–Vol. II.
2. [Link] & Reinhart.D; Solid Waste Engineering; Cengage Learning India Private
Limited, New Delhi.(2009)

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 SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT PRASHANTH N

Unit-IV:
Disposal Method and Recovery of Energy
Sanitary land fill-Different types, trench area, Ramp and pit method, site selection, basic steps
involved, cell design, prevention of site pollution, leachate & gas collection and control methods,
geo-synthetic fabrics in sanitary landfills. Energy recovery technique from solid waste
management.

Disposal Method and Recovery of Energy

CONTENTS OF NOTES
➢ Sanitary Land Fill-Different Types
➢ Trench Area,
➢ Ramp And Pit Method
➢ Site Selection
➢ Basic Steps Involved
➢ Cell Design
➢ Prevention Of Site Pollution
➢ Leachate & Gas Collection And Control Methods
➢ Geo-Synthetic Fabrics In Sanitary Landfills
➢ Energy Recovery Technique From Solid Waste Management

Sanitary Landfill

The term “landfill” is used herein to describe a unit operation for final disposal of Municipal
Solid Waste on land, designed and constructed with the objective of minimum impact to the
environment by incorporating eight essential components described. This term encompasses
other terms such as secured landfill and engineered landfills which are also sometimes applied
to municipal solid waste (MSW) disposal units. The term landfill can be treated as synonymous
to sanitary landfill of Municipal Solid Waste, only if the latter is designed on the principle of
waste containment and is characterised by the presence of a liner and leachate collection system
to prevent ground water contamination. The term sanitary landfill has been extensively used in
the past to describe MSW disposal units constructed on the basis of dump and cover but with
no protection against ground water pollution. Such landfills do not fall under the term
municipal solid waste landfills as used in this chapter.

Land filling involves the controlled disposal of solid waste on or in the upper layer of the
earth’s mantle.

Landfilling Methods and Operations The principal methods used for landfilling dry area may
be classified as (1) Area (2) Trench (3) Depression.

The Area Method

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The Area Method is used when the terrain is unsuitable for the excavation of trenches in which
to place the solid wastes. The filling operation usually is started by building an earthen against
which wastes are placed in thin layers and compacted as the fill progresses untill the thickness
of the compacted wastes reaches a height of 2 to 3 m at the end of day’s operation a 150 mm
to 300 mm layer of cover material is placed over the compacted fill. The cover material must
be hauled in by truck or earth-moving equipment from adjacent land or from borrow-pit areas.
A final layer of cover material is used when the fill reaches the final design height.

The Trench Method

The trench method is suited to areas where an adequate depth of cover material is available at
the site and where the water table is well below the surface. To start the process, a portion of
the trench is dug with a bulldozer and the dirt is stockpiled to form an embankment behind the
first trench. Wastes are then placed in the trench, spread into thin layers and compacted. The
operation continues untill the desired height is reached. Cover material is obtained by
excavating an adjacent trench or continuing the trench that is being filled.

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Depression Landfills : At locations where natural or artificial depression exist, it is often

possible to use them effectively for landfilling operations. Canyons, ravines, fry borrow pits
and quarries have all used for this purpose. The technique to place and compact solid waste in
depression landfills vary with the geometry of the site, the characteristics of the cover material,
the hydrology and geology of the site, and the access to the site

Site selection criteria for a sanitary landfill:

- Land area and volume must be sufficient enough so that the landfill can serve for the
projected number of years.
- The slope of the region should not be very steep.
- Irrigation pipelines and water supply wells should not be situated close to the boundary of
the landfill.
- Residential development should be planned away from the landfill site.
- Unstable areas posing seismic risks should be avoided.
- The depth to groundwater and proximity to water wells must be thoroughly analyzed.
- The visual impact of the landfill must be minimized (landscaping, aesthetic development of
landfill).
- Agricultural land should not be used for landfill development.
- The landfill must not cause flood hazard in the event of heavy rainfall.

Cell design

Operating requirements for a solid waste landfill

• Detection and exclusion of hazardous waste from the facility

• Use of appropriate cover material for the landfill
• Disease vector control

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• Control of gas production (especially those which can combust readily)

• Monitoring of air and groundwater quality
• Access to facility
• Run on and run off control systems
• Restricting liquids entering the landfill
• Record keeping requirements

Leachate

Leachate is a liquid generated as a result of percolation of water or other liquid through

landfilled waste, and compression of the waste as the weight of overlying materials increases.
Leachate is considered to be a contaminated liquid, since it contains many dissolved and
suspended materials. Good management techniques that can limit adverse impact of leachate
on ground and surface waters include control of leachate production and discharge from a
landfill, and collection of the leachate with final treatment and/or disposal.

The minimization and containment of leachate within a landfill ultimately depends on the
design of the landfill. Providing an impervious cover, minimizing the working face of the
landfill, and limiting liquids to household containers and normal moisture found in refuse, are
all methods that will minimize leachate production.

Definitions

• Geotextile: A permeable fabric made of plastic threads that separates the base of the
landfill from the underlying soil. It allows water to pass through it but prevents soil
from coming into the base.
• Geo-membrane: A synthetic membrane with very low permeability that controls the
movement of fluid in any engineering structure or system.
• Landfill cover: A daily cover of compacted soil or earth is applied on top of the waste
deposited in a landfill. This cover minimizes the interaction between waste and the
surrounding environment. It also reduces odours.

Parts of Landfill

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• Bottom liner

The bottom liner separates and prevents the buried waste from coming in contact with
underlying natural soils and groundwater. In Municipal Solid Waste landfills, the bottom liners
are generally constructed using some type of durable, puncture-resistant synthetic plastic
HDPE (High Density Polyethylene) ranging from 30 to 100 mm thick. The plastic liners may
also be designed with a combination of compacted clay soils, along with synthetic plastic.

• Cells (old and new)

This is the area in a landfill that has been constructed and approved for disposal of waste. These
cells range in size (depending upon total tons of waste received each day at the landfill) from
a few acres to as large as 20+ acres. Inside these larger cells are smaller cells known as the
daily workface, or sometimes referred to as cells. This is where the waste coming into the
landfill for disposal that day is prepared by placing the material in layers or lifts where the
waste is then compacted and shredded by heavy landfill compaction machinery.

• Leachate collection system

The bottom of each landfill is typically designed so that the bottom surface of the landfill is
sloped to a low point, called a sump. This is where any liquids that are trapped inside the landfill
— known in the waste industry as leachate — are collected and removed from the landfill. The
leachate collection system typically consists of a series of perforated pipes, gravel packs and a
layer of sand or gravel placed in the bottom of the landfill. Once the leachate is removed from
the sump, it is typically pumped or gravity-flowed to a holding tank or pond, where it is either
treated on site or hauled off site to a public or private wastewater treatment facility.

• Storm water drainage

This is an engineered system designed to control water runoff during rain or storm events. This
is done by directing the runoff through a series of berms or ditches to holding areas known as
sed ponds. In these ponds the runoff water flow is slowed down or held long enough to allow
the suspended soil particles to settle out before the water is discharged offsite.

• Methane collection system

Bacteria in the landfill break down the trash in the absence of oxygen. This process produces
landfill gas, which is approximately 50 percent methane. Since methane gas has the potential
to burn or explode, it has to be removed from the landfill. To do this, a series of pipes are
embedded within the landfill to collect the methane gas. This gas, once collected, can be either
naturally vented or control-burned.

• Cover (or cap)

Waste that is placed in a cell is required to be covered daily with either six inches of compacted
soil or an alternative daily cover. Some examples of alternative daily covers are the application
of spray-on cover material, such as foam or a flame-retardant fiber material. Another type of
alternative daily cover is large panels of tarpaulin-type material that is laid over the waste at
the end of each day and removed the next day before waste is placed. Other areas within the

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cells that are not to final grade and will not receive placement of additional waste for a period
of time may require additional cover. This is known as intermediate cover — generally 12 to
18 inches of soil. Covering (or capping) is performed in order to isolate the waste from
exposure to the air, pests (such as birds, rats and mice) and to control odors. When a section of
the landfill is finished or filled to capacity, it is permanently covered with a combination of a
layer of polyethylene plastic, compacted soil and a layer of topsoil that will support growth of
vegetation to prevent erosion.

• Groundwater monitoring stations

These stations are set up to directly access and test the groundwater around the landfill for
presence of leachate chemicals. Typically a groundwater monitoring system will have a series
of wells that are located up-gradient of the landfill disposal area and a series of wells down-
gradient. The up-gradient wells test the water quality before it moves under the disposal area
in order to get a background analysis of the water. The down-gradient wells then allow testing
of the water after it has passed under the disposal area so it can be compared to the quality of
the up-gradient wells to make sure there has been no impact or contamination of the
groundwater.

Liner systems

Landfill liners are designed to create a barrier between the waste and the environment, and to
drain the leachate to collection and treatment facilities. Liners may be single, composite, or
double. Selection of liner is based on chemical compatibility, stress-strain characteristics,
survivability and permeability.

Single liner

Single liners consist of a clay liner, a geosynthetic clay liner or a geomembrane. Single liners
are sometimes used in landfills containing construction debris. Clay liner is easily available
and is durable. Synthetic geomembranes are composed of polymers such as: Thermoplastics
(PVC); crystalline thermoplastics (HDPE, LDPE); thermoplastic elastomers (chlorinated
polyethylene, chlorylsulphonated polyethylene); elastomers (neoprene, ethylene propene
diene monomer)

Composite liner

A composite liner consists of a geomembrane in combination with a clay liner. These are more
effective at limiting leachate migration into the subsoil

Double liner

A double liner consists of either two single liners, two composite liners, or a single and a
composite liner. The upper (primary) liner collects the leachate, while the lower (secondary)
liner acts as a leak detection system. Double liners are to be used in MSW landfills, and
especially in hazardous waste landfills. A double liner is more resistant to stress cracking and
increased strain due to tensile yield.

Leachate and gas collection & control

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Leachate and landfill gas comprise the major hazards associated with a landfill. While leachate
may contaminate the surrounding land and water, landfill gas can be toxic and lead to global
warming and explosion leading to human catastrophe (Phelps, 1995). (Note that global
warming, also known as greenhouse effect, refers to the warming of the earth’s atmosphere by
the accumulation of gases (e.g., methane, carbon dioxide and chlorofluorocarbons) that absorbs
reflected solar radiation.)
The factors which affect the production of leachate and landfill gas, are the following:
• Nature of waste: The deposition of waste containing biodegradable matter invariably
leads to the production of gas and leachate, and the amount depends on the content of
biodegradable material in the waste.

• Moisture content: Most micro-organisms require a minimum of approximately 12%

(by weight) moisture for growth, and thus the moisture content of landfill waste is an
important factor in determining the amount and extent of leachate and gas production.

• pH: The methanogenic bacteria within a landfill produce methane gas, which will grow
only at low pH range around neutrality.

• Particle size and density: The size of waste particle affects the density that can be
achieved upon compaction and affects the surface area and hence volume. Both affect
moisture absorption and therefore are potential for biological degradation.

• Temperature: An increase in temperature tends to increase gas production. The

temperature affects the microbial activity to the extent that it is possible to segregate
bacteria, according to their optimum temperature operating conditions.

Landfill gas emission

Landfill gas contains a high percentage of methane due to the anaerobic decomposition of
organic matter, which can be utilised as a source of energy.
A typical landfill gas contains a number of components such as the following, which tend to
occur within a characteristic range:
• Methane: This is a colourless, odourless and flammable gas with a density lighter than
air, typically making up 50 – 60% of the landfill gas.

• Carbon dioxide: This is a colourless, odourless and non-inflammable gas that is denser
than air, typically accounting for 30 – 40%.

• Oxygen: The flammability of methane depends on the percentage of oxygen. It is,

therefore, important to control oxygen levels, where gas abstraction is undertaken.

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• Nitrogen: This is essentially inert and will have little effect, except to modify the
explosive range of methane.

Gas Control
To control gas emission, it is necessary to control the following:
• Waste inputs (i.e., restrict the amount of organic waste).

• Processes within the waste (i.e., minimise moisture content to limit gas production).

• Migration process (i.e., provide physical barriers or vents to remove the gas from the
site and reduce gas pressure). Note that since gas migration cannot be easily prevented,
removal is often the preferred option. This is done by using vents (extraction wells)
within the waste or stone filled vents, which are often placed around the periphery of
the landfill site. Some of the gas collection systems include impermeable cap, granular
material, collection pipes and treatment systems.

Leachate formation
Leachate can pollute both groundwater and surface water supplies. The degree of pollution will
depend on local geology and hydrogeology, nature of waste and the proximity of susceptible
receptors. Once groundwater is contaminated, it is very costly to clean it up. Landfills,
therefore, undergo siting, design and construction procedures that control leachate migration.
• Composition and properties

• Leachate comprises soluble components of waste and its degradation products enter
water, as it percolates through the landfill. The amount of leachate generated depends
on:

• water availability;

• landfill surface condition;

• refuse state;

• condition of surrounding strata.

Leachate Control
The best way to control leachate is through prevention, which should be integral to the site
design. In most cases, it is necessary to control liquid access, collection and treatment, all of
which can be done using the following landfill liners:
• Natural liners: These refer to compacted clay or shale, bitumen or soil sealants, etc., and are
generally less permeable, resistant to chemical attack and have good sorption properties. They
generally do not act as true containment barriers, because sometimes leachate migrates through
them.
• Synthetic (geo-membrane) liners: These are typically made up of high or medium
density polyethylene and are generally less permeable, easy to install, relatively strong

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and have good deformation characteristics. They sometimes expand or shrink according
to temperature and age.

• Note that natural and geo-membrane liners are often combined to enhance the overall
efficiency of the containment system. Some of the leachate collection systems include
impermeable liner, granular material, collection piping, leachate storage tank; leachate
is trucked to a wastewater treatment facility.

Geo-synthetic fabrics in sanitary landfills

Geosynthetics are most commonly used in solid waste landβills to protect surface water and
groundwater due to their multiple functions, excellent hydraulic properties, ease of installation,
and cost saving. Geosynthetic used in landβill include non-woven geotextile, woven geotextile,
geogrid, geomembrane, geo cells, geosyntheticclay liner (GCL), geonet, geocomposite, etc,
and each geosynthetic type serves specific functions. The functions that geosynthetic system
can serve in landβill are separation, drainage, βfiltration, hydraulic barrier, gas barrier, and
protection.

While geosynthetic system provides huge economic and technical advantage over traditional
liners, it may create stability issue and even lead to landβill failure if improperly designed
and/or constructed. One of the most important problems associated with the use of
geosynthetics for landβill linings is their stability. This becomes a very important issue by the
fact that more and more landβills are designed and constructed with a small footprint and
require moderate to steep slopes to raise their capacity. There have been massive failures of
landβills related to geosynthetic systems. These landβill failures caused dramatic damage to
the environment, and resulted in litigations and line. In this respect, evaluation of geosynthetic
related stability is a critical consideration for land fill design, construction, and operation.

Energy Recovery Technique From Solid Waste Management

1. Incineration with energy recovery

• Burning waste to produce heat, which is used to generate electricity.

2. Refuse-Derived Fuel (RDF)

• Processing waste into fuel to be burned in power plants or factories.

3. Pyrolysis

• Heating waste without oxygen to produce gas, oil, and charcoal for energy use.

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4. Gasification

• Converting waste into synthetic gas using limited oxygen, which is then used for
power or fuel.

5. Landfill gas recovery

• Capturing methane gas from landfills and using it to produce energy.

6. Anaerobic digestion

• Breaking down organic waste (like food) without oxygen to create biogas for energy.

7. Composting with heat recovery

• Capturing heat produced during composting to use for heating.

8. Waste-to-Energy (WTE) plants

• Facilities that convert various types of waste into usable energy (electricity or heat).

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