Role of landfill disposal in municipal solid-waste management. Technical report (Final)

Technical Report · Thu Jun 01 04:00:00 EDT 1989

OSTI ID:5426913

Cook, E

Despite the current shortage of landfill capacity in densely populated areas of the nation, the relatively low cost of landfill disposal and relatively high human health risk of refuse incineration indicate that landfilling will continue to be the predominant method of refuse disposal. To control ground-water contamination at municipal landfills, the EPA has proposed new Subtitle D regulations (Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, 1984). Those regulations are premised upon effective leachate control, achieved through utilization of low-permeability liners and covers. However, recent research indicates that clay and/or synthetic liners may not prevent leakage of some trace organic compounds in MSW leachate. Furthermore, low-permeability covers prevent rapid biological stabilization of refuse, prolonging the liability of landfill owners and operators in addition to delaying return of land to productive use. The report evaluates the feasibility of alternative landfill technologies including on-site and in-situ biological-treatment systems and permeable-liner systems. The least expensive and most-manageable treatment system would couple in-situ biodegradation with a permeable attenuation layer and secondary aerobic treatment.

• Research Organization: Texas A and M Univ., College Station, TX (USA). Dept. of Civil Engineering
• OSTI ID: 5426913
• Report Number(s): PB-89-212286/XAB
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATION
320604* -- Energy Conservation
Consumption
& Utilization-- Municipalities & Community Systems-- Municipal Waste Management-- (1980-)
510200 -- Environment
Terrestrial-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (-1989)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
ANAEROBIC DIGESTION
BIOCONVERSION
BIODEGRADATION
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
CONTROL
DECOMPOSITION
DIGESTION
DISSOLUTION
DOCUMENT TYPES
HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
LAND POLLUTION CONTROL
LAWS
LEACHING
LINERS
MANAGEMENT
MATERIALS
MATERIALS RECOVERY
MUNICIPAL WASTES
POLLUTION CONTROL
POLLUTION REGULATIONS
PROCESSING
PROGRESS REPORT
PUBLIC HEALTH
RECOVERY
RECYCLING
REGULATIONS
RESOURCE RECOVERY ACTS
RISK ASSESSMENT
SANITARY LANDFILLS
SEPARATION PROCESSES
WASTE DISPOSAL
WASTE MANAGEMENT
WASTE PROCESSING
WASTES
WATER POLLUTION CONTROL