Case Studies

Landfill Leachate to Be Disposed of in Zhuhai

A project was launched Friday May 5, 2010 in Zhuhai city, southern China's Guangdong Province to correctly get rid of the leachate create at a chief landfill. The Xikengwei landfill is responsible for collecting most of the urban garbage of Zhuhai but does not have the resources to deal with the leachate. The landfill was put into operation in November 2007 and the leachate has become dangerous as it contains high density of organic materials and heavy metal salts. The project is looking to treat 1,000 cubic meters of the hazardous toxin created from the decay of waste inside the landfill. It cost about 13.6 million American dollars and is expected to be completed by the end of August.


RuCo works to fix toxic leak at county landfill

A silent yet serious problem at the Rutherford County Landfill has popped up involving leachate and other dangerous landfill toxins The Solid Waste Management Division of the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation has partnered with several organizations including Rutherford County officials in an attempt to solve the problem. Several people detected waste constituent in the county landfill’s ground water monitoring system, but none of the detected constituents surpass the narrow utmost contaminate levels.

No Agreement yet On Seepage

Leachate is created from the mixture of water when it comes in contact with cement kiln dust. Cement kiln is a waste product and in this case was created underneath sections of the resort corridor from the years when a cement plant operate in the area. Petoskey’s wastewater treatment plant is considering offering a effective alternative for disposing of toxins collected in the ecological cleanup at Bay Harbor, city staff and consultants told the Petoskey City Council Wednesday. Leachate is just one of several toxins being discussed and the decision could be dire for the environment.

Videos Concerning Leachate

1. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UwoNrC_2Bvw&feature=related

A short clip displaying a leachate outbreak on some western slopes. The leachate leaked in an area of about 90 acres and the results were horrific.

2. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_UMX9RrPoRw

Video portraying the disposal of leachate

3. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8kedPvxNUbw&feature=related

A pedestrins filming of a garbage site and the leachate that has leaked out of it over a period of 5 months

4. http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=1686359098972666266#

The video discusses the hazardous materials that are smuggled into landfills. The material could prove very hazardous as the composition of leachate is dependent on the materials found in landfills.

Albert Coleman

Frequently Asked Questions

1. How dangerous is Leachate?

2. What is the chemical composition of Leachate?

3. How do modern day landfills deal with Leachate?. How often in Leachate a problem?

4. When did Leachate start becoming a conflict?

5. How has the procedure in dealing with Leachate and toxins changed over the years?

6. What are some specific cases where Leachate has leaked or caused conflicts? Is Leachate a significant global problem

7. What procedures are followed in order to properly deal with Leachate and any other toxins found in landfills.

8. Are there any positive uses of leachate?

9. How specifically is leachate disposed of?

10. Is the leachate problem increasing or decreasing? What lies in store for leachate and its effect on the environment.

Albert Coleman
Biology
Global Problems, Local Solutions

Typical Leachate is composed of of nitrogen, iron, organic carbon, manganese, chloride and phenols, yet the composition varies from site to site. The degree in severity of Leachate in dependant on the composition of the material in dump sites. Rainwater leaking into dump sites causes the mixture of several chemicals in a dumpsite and eventually the creation of Leachate. Leachate refers to landfill leachate inside the waste management industry and outside. Yet leachate is also used when referring to the liquid created when water penetrate through any permeable substance.

Several conflicts arise when dealing with Leachate. In many cases Leachate is harmless for its composition is dependent on the material in landfills. Yet in many cases Leachate becomes toxic. Leakage of Leachate in the environment can be dangerous for wildlife and it can be very hazardous to the human population. Ground water accounts for 40 percent of the world’s drinking water. 40 percent of the world depends on ground water as a drinking source. That percentage includes millions of people; millions of people who are potentially at risk. When Leachate leaks into the environment it can potentially contaminate ground water and the results are catastrophic.

Modern day landfills are equipped to deal with the leachate problem as they have been built with the proper systems in order to collect and dispose of Leachate. They are designed with a slope, usually at about 3 percent, so that liquids leak into collection sumps. These collection sumps include a riser called HDPE and pump. Leachate drains to the leachate collection system, and then drained to an onsite leachate storage tank. The leachate is transported to an standard wastewater treatment plant for discarding. The systems vary from landfill to landfill, yet the basics are same and usually there is not much conflict when dealing with Leachate. Yet conflict does arise when the disposal process is neglected. There have been several cases where landfills have been disregarded standard procedure when dealing with toxins and the margin of error increases significantly. In many cases leachate has leaked after being unattended to while in storage. A prime example of that would be that of A Mr. Monroe Branstad who was charged with putting the health of the environment at risk. Leachate was just one of several toxics that Bandstand neglected to manage and dispose of and as a result the biological waste leaked into the environment. The outcome of his negligence were dreadful and the pollution maybe long term. His tardiness is said to be a direct cause of the death of thousands of fish in the Winnebago River along a 16 mile stretch. Mr. Monroe Branstad has been ordered to pay 17,000 by a court for his action. This is just one of several cases concerning leachate and in each case the environment was put at risk. So the ultimate responsibility falls upon landfill owners and those who manage Leachate. The responsibility of properly dealing with the hazardous toxins falls upon humanity and only humanity. Increase awareness about the potential effects of leachate would be a positive step in dealing with it and so I create a write up discussing Leachate and its effects and sent it to nearby landfills and dumpsite workers in my community. I also took a trip to the Waste Management in Columbus, New Jersey and interviewed workers on toxins and Leachate specifically. The information went in my write up and allowed me to create a concise, informative text to send to the dumpsites

Closed landfill may tempt owners

By BRIAN MOSELY

Sunday, May 16, 2010

Times-Gazette, Shelbyville, Tennessee

http://www.t-g.com/story/1635069.html

Summary: Quail Hollow Landfill was closed down on Dec. 12, 2003 when about 20,000 gallons spilled from one of its tanks and into the environment. The result of the spill is still being recorded today and there have been several drastic changes as a result of the spill. Several conflict have arisen from the landfill, yet Leachate leakage is one of the most significant.

Court orders Monroe Branstad to pay $17,000 penalty for environmental violations
Wednesday May 12, 2010
Global Gazette

http://www.globegazette.com/news/local/article_784fb140-5df3-11df-902c-001cc4c002e0.html
A Mr. Monroe Branstad has been accused of endangering the environment and has been ordered to pay 17,000 by a court for his action. Leachate was just one of several toxics that Bandstand failed to properly manage and dispose of and as a result the biological waste leaked into the environment. The result if his tardiness were horrific and the pollution maybe long term. It is said that the pollution caused of the death of thousand of fish in the Winnebago River along a 16 mile stretch.

No Agreement yet On Seepage
By Ryan Bentley News-Review Staff Writer
Thursday, April 29, 2010
Petoskey News

http://www.petoskeynews.com/news/article_0942c6f2-5394-11df-8de7-001cc4c002e0.html

Leachate is created from the mixture of water when it comes in contact with cement kiln dust. Cement kiln is a waste product and in this case was created underneath sections of the resort corridor from the years when a cement plant operate in the area. Petoskey’s wastewater treatment plant is considering offering a effective alternative for disposing of toxins collected in the ecological cleanup at Bay Harbor, city staff and consultants told the Petoskey City Council Wednesday. Leachate is just one of several toxins being discussed and the decision could be dire for the environment.

Major U-turn on dumping of liquid waste

By Kevin Doyle, POLITICAL REPORTER
Friday May 21 2010
http://www.herald.ie/national-news/city-news/major-uturn-on-dumping-of-liquid-waste-2189076.html

Contractors were regularly dumping hazardous liquids, in many cases, leachate, across the city into the public sewer from where it flowed to a treatment plant in Ringsend.

Council workers have been prohibited from dumping toxic waste into a Phoenix Park sewer after the issue was brought into the light by the Herald.

1. Information on the composition of Leachate and how Leachate is formed

1. http://www.leachate.co.uk/html/high_strength_leachate.html

2. The effect of contaminated water on wildlife and specifically trees

2. http://www.springerlink.com/content/w45v1336352ju814/

3. How dump sites work and how dangerous liquids are disposed of in tank waste.

3. http://science.howstuffworks.com/landfill6.htm

4. Specific details on what landfill Leachate is and what it’s effect on the enviormnet can be if not properly managed.

4. http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-landfill-leachate.htm

5. 5. Sanitary landfill leachate: generation, control, and treatment By Syed R. Qasim, Walter Chiang

Altern3ative types of landfills and their beneficial uses.

6. Avoiding failure of leachate collection and cap drainage systems By Jeffrey Bass

Includes information on the appropriate ways to deal with the Leachate problem

7. http://www.leachate.co.uk/

Provides information on how to properly treat Leachate so that it does not become a biological problem.

8. http://www.wm.com/wm/environmental/documents/Leachate_Collection_System.pdf

Provides details on a Leachate recovery system and images on how leachate is gathered in a dump site.

9. http://www.haase-energietechnik.de/en/Products_and_Services/Water_Treatment/?gclid=CLz0h4jT2aECFdI65QodlzUwrw

Web site for a disposal company called Haase Engineering. Company offers their services for several types of hazardous chemical including Leachate.

10. http://www.veenterprises.com/liquid-storage-applications.php?gclid=CJO53NXT2aECFYNd5QodOkoZIg#environmental

Information on a company that provides storage tanks for biological waste and other liquids. Leachate is one of many liquids that they offer storage for

11. http://www.epgco.com/sump-drainers.html

Information on the different tools used to properly dispose of Leachate.

12. http://www.google.com/search?q=leachate&hl=en&prmd=b&start=10&sa=N

Information on the several ways that Leachate is a threat to the environment. Includes specific occurrences on how Leachate has affected the environment.

13. http://www.leachate.eu/

Basic information on the composition of Leachate and how it is created.

14. http://www.leachate-treatment.com/

Basic information on the composition of Leachate and how it is created. Also includes information on how to treat Leachate

15. http://www.leachate.co.uk/html/leachate-recirculation.html

Information on Leachate recirculation and how leachate is recycled.

Albert Coleman

The Science behind Leachate

Typical Leachate is composed of of nitrogen, iron, organic carbon, manganese, chloride and phenols, yet the composition varies from site to site. The degree in severity of Leachate in dependant on the composition of the material in dump sites. Rainwater leaking into dump sites causes the mixture of several chemicals in a dumpsite and eventually the creation of Leachate

Newer dumpsites are more equip to dealing with Leachate as they have been installed with equipment to deal with Leachate. Newer dump sites also are more specific in the material they dispose of. They include filters called Leachate collection system that collects water that has infiltrated in landfill and contains leachate. Older dump sites on the other hand are less equip to deal with Leachate as it is a more modern day problem.

Leachate is such an important topic because of its significant effect on groundwater. Groundwater accounts of 40 percent of the population’s drinking water. Contamination from Leachate can be deadly on wildlife and on the human population. Diseases like hepatitis and dysentery can be a result of contamination from festering tank waste. Poisoning can be a outcome of toxins leaching into well water supplies. Wildlife can also be harmed by contaminated groundwater.

Long term effects such as several types of different cancers can be an effect of contamination of ground water. Some minor short term effects may include vomiting, nausea, , Legionnaire's Disease ( a respiratory disease categorized by pneumonia), headache, and dry cough, eye irritation nose irritation and diarrhea and etc.

Wildlife is also greatly affected. Areas with trees that grow by contaminated water resources show a high increase in mortality rates.

The buildup of ammonia in the first stages of landfill decomposition and afterward are very high during the life of the landfill. The concentration eventually does decrease as the Leachate removal process is executed.

Leachate is such an important topic because of its significant effect on groundwater. Groundwater accounts of 40 percent of the population’s drinking water. Contamination from Leachate can be deadly on wildlife and on the human population. Diseases like hepatitis and dysentery can be a result of contamination from festering tank waste. Poisoning can be a outcome of toxins leaching into well water supplies. Wildlife can also be harmed by contaminated groundwater.

Long term effects such as several types of different cancers can be an effect of contamination of ground water. Some minor short term effects may include vomiting, nausea, , Legionnaire's Disease ( a respiratory disease categorized by pneumonia), headache, and dry cough, eye irritation nose irritation and diarrhea and etc.Wildlife is also greatly affected. Areas with trees that grow by contaminated water resources show a high increase in mortality rates.