The main leachate emissions of uncontrolled landfills

Dissertação para obtenção do Grau de Mestre em Engenharia do Ambiente, Perfil de Engenharia Sanitária

One of the biggest current problems is the proper management of solid waste and other waste streams. All types of waste have a potential pollutant affecting soil resources and water resources, mainly in landfills that may not have adequate protection measures and do not know the waste placed in them. Through the study on laboratory scale it is possible to check which potential emissions to the level of leachates of uncontrolled landfills. The leachates can be compared. It is possible to say which ones have more heavy metals and organic fraction emissions. This study analyzed samples of leachate from two landfill waste in North-East Italy, near Verona, two old uncontrolled landfills. The leachate samples come from the simulation of biological reactors, operated in aerobic and anaerobic condition. The leachates were characterized in terms of pH, heavy metals such as Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni Pb, Zn, As and Hg and organic fraction (TOC, TKN and NO3). The heavy metal and organic fraction concentrations were found low in order of micrograms, and in the organic fraction in order of milligrams, per litre of leachates. In general, the concentrations in the anaerobic bioreactors were higher than in the aerobic bioreactors. The study showed that pH is a very important factor regarding the mobility of the metals in the leachate. The quality of the leachates in study have little potential for water pollution since they exhibit basic pH values (around 8), even if the residues are saturated, that is, the ability of field reached.