Expermental plant for the leachate treatment at Kaunas landfill, Lithuania

Abstract

Landfills make a negative impact on the environment all over the world, especially if theyare constructed and operated in nonconformity to the environment requirements. Thereare about eight hundred registered dumping sites in Lithuania, but just a few of them havebeen constructed according to the requirements and only one landfill has leachatetreatment plant. Only a few decades ago first attempts for introduction of environmentalcare instruments for landfill and leachate handling were made. Therefore, leachatetreatment methods and technologies are still under development and have not beencompletely settled. This article presents overview of leachate treatment technologyapplied in the Lapes Landfill (Lithuania, Kaunas). The overall situation in the LapesLandfill, concerning the volumes of collected waste and leachate quality has beenpresented. Lapes Landfill is second largest landfill in Lithuania and the first whereleachate treatment plant has been constructed across the country. The heart of constructedtreatment plants is aerobic reactor. The article presents review of the plants treatmentefficiency and as well the main problems. The pilot plant testing of leachate treatment atLapes Landfill has been carried out. Suggested leachate treatment technology ispresented.