Sanitary Landfill - Leachate and Gas Management

After participating in this course, you will be able to:

• Identify factors that impact landfill site selection, design, operation and management
• Learn the criteria used in the design, implementation and management of landfills
• Review the design implementation process for landfills
• Develop an understanding of the functions of cover and liner systems
• Reduce the risk of contaminant release

Description
The management of landfill sites is becoming an ever-challenging task. The impact of leachate from landfills on groundwater quality is a major concern from public health, environmental and regulatory perspectives. Additional concerns arise due to gas migration which can result in odours, the escape of combustible gases, and landfill stability and settlement issues. To avoid such issues, the designer and landfill manager must thoroughly understand the protection, movement, monitoring and control mechanisms of leachate and gas.

This course focuses on optimizing the performance of landfills from design to post-closure phases and deals comprehensively with topics of great concern to landfill designers and managers.

Who Should Attend
This course would be beneficial to those who are involved in the design, operation and management of sanitary landfills, including:
Solid Waste Managers • Environmental & Municipal Engineers • Landfill Managers • Consultants • Regulatory personnel • Technicians

Day I

Waste Management and Sanitary Landfills

• Waste management, concept of a landfill design, estimation of landfill volume
• Flow fundamentals, the flow of leachate from landfill
• Regulatory frameworks, landfill standards and guidelines, reasonable use criteria

Hydrology and Hydrogeology of Landfill Sites

• Site characterization and selection
• Principles of situating the Landfill
• Blowout and excavation

Leachate Management and Disposal

• Volume of leachate in a landfill
• Water balance analysis (HELP Model)
• Leachate management
• Landfill cover design
• Design of leachate collection system (LCS)
• How to minimize clogging in an LCS
• Leachate treatment
• Liner design (Geomembrane, GCLs, CCLs)

Day II

Site Assessment and Computer Modelling of Leachate Transport

• Contaminant transport modelling
• Computer simulation of groundwater environment (POLLUTE Program)
• Contaminating life span of the site
• Assessment of long-term performance
• Landfill settlement and stability

Landfill Gas Management

• Gas collection systems
• Monitoring gas movement
• Flares and treatment options

Landfill Operation

• Waste segregation
• Waste densities and compaction
• Intermediate and final landfill cover
• Nuisance, odour, litter and galls
• Average cost for landfill approval, construction and operation
• Surface water management: rainfall, run-off, erosion control

Environmental Compliance

• Groundwater and surface water monitoring
• Gas monitoring
• Contingency measures

Landfill Mining

• Why, where and when to consider landfill mining
• Issues of landfill reclamations

Questions and Answers and Feedback to Participants on Achievement of Learning Outcomes

Concluding Remarks and Final Adjournment