Legacy Waste Characterization: Bio-mining Solution for Landfills and Resource Recovery Towards Circularity

Abstract

Bio-mining or Landfill mining is an effective and eco-friendly process which involves the stabilisation of old legacy waste in landfill through recovery of valuable resources. In accordance with circularity, it involves reuse, recycle and recovery aiming to build up a sustainable resource in order to give protection through the elimination of waste which also enable the society to become more autonomous and pollution free. The objective of this paper is to deal with the plausible characterization and recovery of mined legacy waste through average compositional analysis of past 25 years data and their possible recycling and processing options. Plastics assumed to be remain by an amount 80% in landfill, metal and glass remained by an amount 75% and for inert it is assumed that the inert turned into soil like material under the action of weathering by an amount 5%. A possible material balance flowchart and composition analysis is prepared. Expected soil: waste ratio is found to be 40:60. Under co-processing, around 7.3% of combustible material will be send as RDF to Cement Industry/Power Plants. Recyclables will be transferred to authorized recycling plants. The residual amount came as approximately 7% (5–10% as per CPCB) which suggested a maximum recovery option. Recovered non-combustible, C&D waste, inert (30.3%) will further be transferred to low lying areas such as filling of basement/plinth structures, in bedding of road construction etc. Revenue generation from compost product, anaerobic digester, power generation through WTE and recycling products will enhance the economy to meet the sustainable circularity solution.