Potential Landfill Research Articles

Assessment of Potential Landfill Sites and Route Optimization in Kendal Regency, Indonesia Utilizing Geographic Information Systems

Assessment of Potential Landfill Sites and Route Optimization in Kendal Regency, Indonesia Utilizing Geographic Information Systems

Selecting the Suitable Landfill Location for Efficient Waste Management in Udham Singh Nagar District, Uttarakhand: A Geospatial and Multi-Criteria Approach

The effective management process of solid waste is a pressing concern in Udham Singh Nagar district, where approximately 245 metric tons of waste is generated daily. To address this issue, it is essential to identify suitable landfill sites. This research aims to identify optimal sites for waste disposal in the district by combining the capabilities of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and Multi-Criteria Decision-Making (MCDM) techniques. A total of ten key factors were evaluated and prioritized according to their respective significance. A comprehensive analysis was conducted using theses parameters, including distance from road networks, rivers, railroads, sensitive area, geology, slope, elevation, population density, soil and land use/land cover (LULC). The study area was categorized into four suitability zones: high, moderate, low, and very low, representing 43.22%, 16.09%, 28.16%, and 12.53% of the area, respectively. The locations were selected based on the optimal distances considered for efficient waste management. The final results were validated using a receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve, which utilized a randomly selected set of 50 potential landfill site locations. The analysis demonstrated good accuracy, with the area under the curve (AUC) indicating that 84% of the results effectively validated the spatial analysis. To achieve sustainable solid waste management, planners should consider implementing alternative strategies such as source reduction, composting, sanitary landfills, and public awareness programs. The resulting map provides potential sites for landfilling waste, which can aid urban planners and authorities in implementing effective urban waste management strategies.

Megacity solid waste disposal suitability mapping in Dhaka, Bangladesh: an integrated approach using remote sensing, GIS and statistics.

Selecting suitable Megacity Solid Waste Disposal (MSWD) sites is a challenging task in densely populated deltas of developing countries, exacerbated by limited public awareness about waste management. One of the major environmental concerns in Dhaka City, the world's densest megacity, is the presence of dumps close to surface water bodies resources. This study employed the Geographic Information System (GIS)-Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) framework to integrate geomorphological (slope and flow accumulation), geological (lithological and lineament), hydrogeological (depth to groundwater table and surface waterbody), socioeconomic (Land use land cover, distance to settlement, road, and airport), and climatological (wind direction) determinants, coupled by land-use and hydro-environmental analyses, to map optimal dumps (MSWDO) sites. The resulting preliminary (MSWDP) map revealed 15 potential landfill areas, covering approximately 5237 hectares (ha). Combining statistical analysis of restricted areas (settlements, water bodies, land use) with AHP-based ratings, the MSWDO map revealed two optimal locations (2285ha). Additionally, the hydro-environmental analysis confirmed the unsuitability of northern sites due to shallow groundwater (< 5.43m) and thin clay, leaving 11 options excluded. Sites 12 (Zone A, 2255ha) and 15 (Zone B, 30ha), with deeper groundwater tables and thicker clay layers, emerged as optimal choices for minimizing environmental risks and ensuring effective long-term waste disposal. This study successfully integrates remote sensing, geospatial data, and GIS-AHP modeling to facilitate the development of sustainable landfill strategies in similar South Asian delta megacities. Such an approach provides valuable insights for policymakers to implement cost-effective and sustainable waste management plans, potentially minimizing the environmental risks to achieve Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 6, 11, 13, and 15.

Data-driven landfill suitability mapping in Lagos State using GIS-based multi-criteria decision making

AbstractCareful selection of landfill sites is essential because improper dumping of wastes can negatively impact health and degrade the environment. Therefore, this research presents a Geographic Information System based—Fuzzy Analytic Hierarchy Process multicriteria decision-making approach for landfill zonation in Lagos State, Nigeria. Due to the rapid urbanisation leading to urban expansion and conversion of the landfills to built-up areas in Lagos State, the functioning landfills have been reduced. After a comprehensive literature review, this study considers nine factors: slope, elevation, land use and land cover, lithology, soil type, Normalised Difference Vegetation Index, the distances to roads, distance to settlements, and distance to water bodies. From the decision matrix, the distance to water bodies, distance to roads, distance to settlements, and land use and land (LULC) cover were ranked with percentage weights of 22%, 19%, 17% and 11%, respectively. Afterwards, potential landfill sites were mapped and classified into five classes: very low (626.48 km2, 16.66%), low (1277.56 km2, 33.97%), moderate (1227.97 km2, 32.65%), high (500.52 km2, 13.31%), and very high (128.13 km2, 3.41%). The low and moderate suitability classes have the highest areal coverage due to the state's increased population and urbanisation. A large percentage of the high to very high suitability classes are located in Epe, Ikorodu, and Ibeju-Lekki local government areas (LGAs) which have lower urbanisation levels compared to most of the other LGAs. Therefore, governments and stakeholders should explore these areas for siting of landfills.

Identification of potential landfill site suitability for urban solid waste disposal of Balurghat Municipality of Dakshin Dinajpur District using GIS and multi-criteria decision-making approach

The production of urban solid waste is one of the most dangerous environmental health risks on the planet. By selecting suitable landfill sites, it is possible to resolve the issue of health risks and environmental pollution driven by the unscientific disposal of solid waste. The current research is centered on determining suitable landfill locations for solid waste disposal within the Balurghat municipality through the integration of Geographic Information System (GIS) and Multi-Criteria Decision-Making (MCDM) approach. Ten factors were taken into consideration according to their weightage including elevation (0.022), Lithology (0.027), Slope (0.032), Land use and land cover LULC (0.040), Depth of water (0.057), Population density (0.075), Distance from sensitive places (0.107), Distance from road (0.154), Distance from river (0.205) and Land value (0.282). After conducting thorough field visits, an analytical hierarchy process (AHP) under the MCDM approach using GIS reveals acceptable sites that were noted and referenced. Final results are validated through a receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve using randomly selected 80 potential landfill-suitable site location points with higher accuracy, and a total of 93% of the area under the curve (AUC) has been found worthy to validate the spatial result. The present investigation revealed that only 0.65% of land is very highly suitable, 31.06% of land is highly suitable, 52.54% of land is moderately suitable and 14.74% of land is not suitable for landfilling in Balurghat Municipal area and surroundings respectively. The highly suitable site belongs to the Mamna, Katna, Kuaran, Amtali, Noksha, Bannapara, and Malancha villages of the study area which is a very negligible area. So, the planners should adopt alternative strategies like source minimization, composting, sanitary landfills and awareness programmes for sustainable solid waste management. Hence, the Balurghat Municipality administration, urban planners, and administrative authorities stand to gain valuable insights from the findings of this study as they endeavour to enhance the management of urban solid waste in the area.

Geo-spatial technology based on a multi-criteria evaluation technique used to find potential landfill sites in the town of Bule Hora in southern Ethiopia

ABSTRACT Solid waste has surfaced as an eminent and critical concern of environmental and social significance on a global scale, and Ethiopia, a developing country with limited income, has also encountered unfavorable outcomes due to substandard waste management practices. When pinpointing a fitting landfill location in the town of Bule Hora, various ecological, economic, and societal aspects must be considered; these may result in discord and exacerbate a multifaceted and lengthy process. Hence, this research aims to identify prospective landfill sites within the town and utilize geospatial methods, such as Multi-Criteria Evaluation and Analytic Hierarchy Process, to accomplish its objectives. The utilization of geospatial technology and multi-criteria evaluation provides an efficient manner to simultaneously address all bottlenecks involved in the selection of an appropriate landfill location. Geospatial technology evaluates and manages environmental constraints, whereas multi-criteria assessment categorizes choices based on their desirability. Furthermore, by employing a restriction map adhering to established standards, seven landfill sites have successfully been identified within the town. The Land Suitability Index assesses site suitability based on ecological factors, while the Total Hauling Distance evaluates sites within an economic framework. AHP determines weightings through 25.4 pairwise comparisons, resulting in a consistency ratio of 1.95%. The cartographic analysis is conducted using ESRI ArcGIS version 10.8 software. The findings of this study reveal that 98.69% of the area under study is subject to restrictions. The study recommends the implementation of geospatial methods for identifying suitable landfill sites, which would aid in the decision-making process and prevent hasty decisions from triggering environmental degradation. Proper waste disposal would augment the quality of life for residents by diminishing health hazards. The study endeavors to serve as a reference for other developing countries in selecting appropriate landfill sites. Implications: The town of Bule Hora also faces the problem of waste disposal; there is no scientifically selected suitable landfill. Residents of the town of Bule Hora practice waste disposal in open fields, near settlements, water bodies, roads, agricultural land, and other places. The main sources of solid waste in the town are homes, shops, hotels, restaurants, open markets, hospitals, educational institutions, private clinics, etc. Water pollution can potentially lead to the spread of waterborne diseases. According to reports from the Bule Horas Health Department, many people are affected by water-related diseases every year. These open landfill systems with no regard for settlement, topography, geology, surface, or groundwater conditions are the consequences of these unsuitable habitats and health problems. To reduce these problems, this study plays an important role in determining the suitability of landfills for the town and proposing alternative measures that can minimize negative environmental impacts from waste. This study aims to apply geospatial-based technology to a multi-criteria assessment technique to select perfectly suitable landfill sites that are environmentally friendly, economically cost-effective, and socially responsible; examine the town’s current waste management system; calculate the selected parameter weights for feature ranking; and delineate solid waste landfills.

Geographic analysis of landfill suitability in Fez, Morocco: a multi-criteria approach

Solid waste management poses a significant challenge to sustainable development. Locating suitable landfill sites is a key difficulty. This study utilizes the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) with a Geographic Information System (GIS) to identify potential landfill locations in Fez province, Morocco. Nine criteria were evaluated for the study area's suitability, including distance from surface water, distance from buildings, distance from roads, distance from protected areas, distance from forests, distance from farmland, elevation, slope, and slope direction. AHP determined criteria weights, and the Consistency Ratio (CR) ensured judgment reliability. Results highlight proximity to residential areas as the most critical factor, followed by distance from surface water and roads. The suitability map indicates the south and southeast of the province as more suitable for landfill placement than the urban areas, parks, and gardens in the north and northwest. These findings aid decision-makers in improving solid waste management practices in Fez province, Morocco.

The Use of GIS for Identifying Optimum Landfill Sites in Osogbo, Southwestern, Nigeria

The amount of waste disposed off globally has significantly increased due to increase in population and change in consumer habits. Million tons of organic waste are disposed of globally through incineration, land applications, landfill, and other methods. Selecting appropriate places for waste landfills is a challenging task for planners, especially in states with dense populations such as Osogbo due to land scarcity, land prices, and increased solid waste generation. Therefore, this study aimed to identify the optimal suitable areas for the solid waste landfill for proper waste management in the study area. In this work, a multi-criteria decision-making approach combining GIS and the Fuzzy Logic technique for landfill suitability site evaluation was used. Six factors are involved in the selection process namely soil, drainage, land use/land cover, built-up areas, road network, and slope. Using the weighted overlay analysis tool in the GIS environment, the results of the MCDM assigned to each criterion show that five potential sites in this study were suitable for the construction of a potential landfill, of which two are located in the most suitable zone and three are located in the unsuitable zone. It was concluded that the results presented on the final aggregation maps demonstrate the significance of selecting the appropriate criteria weights for the environmental and economic set of standards.

Assessment of landfill site suitability using GIS, remote sensing, and the multi-criteria decision-making (AHP) approach, Ethiopia

ABSTRACT Solid waste management (SWM) in Ethiopian cities is a significant public health, economic, and environmental issue, with access to suitable disposal locations becoming challenging due to social, environmental, economic, and technical factors. This study aims to propose suitable landfill sites for Debrebirhan Town's solid waste disposal using an integrated survey mechanism, including geographical information system, remote sensing, and analytical hierarchy process (AHP), to address limiting factors. Economic, social, and environmental data were used for the suitable site selection. Satellite images were processed by ERDAS IMAGINE Software, and ArcGIS software was used to identify and map the potential landfill sites. The suitability map was produced by the combined effect of the weights of the criteria and the suitability of the factor maps. The result is summarized with four suitability levels labeled as highly suitable (23%), moderately suitable (51.75%), less suitable (0.25%), and unsuitable (25%). The most suitable landfill sites were found in three locations in the west, north-west, and north directions of Debrebirhan Town that fulfill the economic feasibility, environmental safety, and social acceptability requirements for solid waste disposal. The findings are relevant for governmental decision-making and policy framework implementation.

UAV-based sampling systems to analyse greenhouse gases and volatile organic compounds encompassing compound-specific stable isotope analysis

Abstract. The study herein reports on the development and testing of sampling systems (and subsequent analytical setups) that were deployed on an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) for the purpose of analysing greenhouse gases (GHGs) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in the lower atmospheric boundary layer. Two sampling devices, both of which can be mounted to an UAV with a payload capability greater than 1 kg, were tested for respective sampling and analysis of specific GHGs (carbon dioxide, CO2, and methane, CH4) and VOCs (chlorinated ethenes, CEs). The gas analyses included measurements of the molar amounts and the respective stable carbon isotope ratios. In addition to compound calibration in the laboratory, the functionality of the samplers and the UAV-based sampling was tested in the field. Atmospheric air was either flushed through sorbent tubes for VOC sampling or collected and sampled in glass vials for GHG analysis. The measurement setup for the sorbent tubes achieved analyte mass recovery rates of 63 %–100 % (more favourable for lower chlorinated ethenes), when prepared from gaseous or liquid calibration standards, and reached a precision (2σ) better than 0.7 ‰ for δ13C values in the range of 0.35–4.45 nmol. The UAV-equipped samplers were tested over two field sampling campaigns designed to (1) compare manual and UAV-collected samples taken up a vertical profile at a forest site and (2) identify potential emissions of CO2, CH4 or VOC from a former domestic waste dump. The precision of CO2 measurements from whole air samples was ≤7.3 µmol mol−1 and ≤0.3 ‰ for δ13C values and ≤0.03 µmol mol−1 and ≤0.2 ‰ for CH4 working gas standards. The results of the whole air sample analyses for CO2 and CH4 were sufficiently accurate to detect and localise potential landfill gas emissions from a secured former domestic waste dump using level flight. Vertical CO2 profiles from a forest location showed a causally comprehensive pattern in the molar ratios and stable carbon isotope ratios but also the potential falsification of the positional accuracy of a UAV-assisted air sample due to the influence of the rotor downwash. The results demonstrate that the UAV sampling systems presented here represent a viable tool for atmospheric background monitoring, as well as for evaluating and identifying emission sources. By expanding the part of the lower atmosphere that can be practicably sampled over horizontal and vertical axes, the presented UAV-capable sampling systems, which also allow for compound-specific stable isotope analysis (CSIA), may facilitate an improved understanding of surface–atmosphere fluxes of trace gas.

Site selection for landfills using GIS-based multi-criteria decision analysis – a case study of National Capital Territory of Delhi, India

Landfill site selection in an urban area like National Capital Territory (NCT) of Delhi is a challenging task due to shortage of suitable land and other environmental, economic and social parameters. This study focusses on the utilisation of geographic information system, open-source libraries and remote sensing for identification of potential landfill sites in Delhi NCT. Multi-criteria decision analysis (MCDA) and other GIS-based approaches are used for analysing various natural parameters derived using remote sensing satellite data products. Resourcesat LISS-III and Sentinel-2 multispectral satellite data is used for deriving the required parametric layers. Zones in the vicinity of monuments, transport, canals, drainages, lineaments are avoided altogether. Results reveal overall, most suitable places for landfill site in study area is around 4.05 sq. km (0.27%), moderately suitable places are 14.68 sq. km (0.98%), least suitable places are 25.46 sq. km (1.71%) and not suitable places is 1,419.11 sq. km (95.62%).

Sanitary municipal landfill site selection by integration of GIS and multi-criteria techniques for environmental sustainability in Safita area, Tartous governorate, Syria.

Urban waste disposal is a problem that poses a major challenge to city planners as a result of rapid population growth and urbanization. Finding suitable sites for solid waste is one of the most important solutions developed globally to manage this problem. In this regard, a set of physical, socio-economic and technological criteria must be considered to tackle the problem. Safita area (Tartous governorate) witnessed a rapid population growth during the decade of the war in Syria due to the onrush of internal refugees, which resulted in several environmental problems, including random waste dumps. After perusing the previous literature and considering expert opinions, a map of the spatial suitability of sustainable waste sites in the Safita area was developed by integrating the multi-criteria decision- making methodology (analytic hierarchy process) with the geographic information system. Thirteen criteria, including elevation, slope, permeability, distance to faults, distance to settlement, land use/land cover, distance to drainage, distance to water supplies, distance to lakes, distance to road, distance from tourist centers, distance from archaeological centers, and distance from religious centers, were used to achieve the goal of this study. The layer maps for these criteria were developed based on various data sources, including conventional and remote sensing data. Potential landfill sites were identified and divided into five categories: unsuitable (83.28%), less suitable (8.49%), moderately suitable (4.49%), highly suitable (2.57%), and very highly suitable (0.72%). The results of this study provide reliable spatial outputs that will help in suggesting new landfill sites that maintain environmental and socio-economic sustainability in the post-war phase. Moreover, the application of the methodology of this study can be generalized to the rest of the regions in Syria within the framework of the integrated management of the problem of random landfills.

Potential landfill site suitability study for environmental sustainability using GIS-based multi-criteria techniques for nashik and environs

Potential landfill site suitability study for environmental sustainability using GIS-based multi-criteria techniques for nashik and environs

A GIS-based novel approach for suitable sanitary landfill site selection using integrated fuzzy analytic hierarchy process and machine learning algorithms.

Disposal of waste without treatment is the least preferable way of sustainable solid waste management (SWM). But most cities in developing nations still use open dumps, causing negative impacts on the environment and human health. This study offered a novel approach for selecting landfill sites and sustainable SWM in Aligarh city, India. This was done through data collection, selecting models for criterion weighting, and validation. In order to prepare a landfill site suitability map, a geographic information system (GIS)-based ensemble fuzzy analytic hierarchy process-support vector machine (FAHP-SVM) and fuzzy analytic hierarchy process-random forest (FAHP-RF) models were implemented. Considering the previous studies and the study area characteristics, eighteen thematic layers were selected. The result revealed that land value; distance from residential roads, hospitals and clinics, and waste bins; and normalized difference built-up index (NDBI) have a fuzzy weight greater than 0.10, indicating significant factors. In contrast, land elevation, land slope, surface temperature, soil moisture index, normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI), and urban classification have a zero fuzzy weight, indicating these criteria have no importance. The result further revealed that FAHP-RF with an area under curve (AUC) value of 0.91 is the more accurate model than FAHP-SVM. According to the final weight-based overlay result, seven potential landfill sites were identified, out of which three were determined as most suitable by considering current land cover, public opinions, and environmental and economic concerns. This research proposed a zonal division model based on landfill sites location for sustainable SWM in Aligarh city. However, the findings may provide a guideline to the decision-makers and planners for optimal landfill site selection in other cities of developing countries.

Monitoring and Quantitative Human Risk Assessment of Municipal Solid Waste Landfill Using Integrated Satellite–UAV–Ground Survey Approach

Landfills are the dominant method of municipal solid waste (MSW) disposal in many developing countries, which are extremely susceptible to failure under circumstances of high pore water pressure and insufficient compaction. Catastrophic landfill failures have occurred worldwide, causing large numbers of fatalities. Tianziling landfill, one of the largest engineered sanitary landfills in China, has experienced massive deformation since January 2020, making early identification and monitoring of great significance for the purpose of risk management. The human risk posed by potential landfill failures also needs to be quantitatively evaluated. The interferometric synthetic aperture radar (InSAR) technique, unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) photogrammetry, and ground measurements were combined to obtain landfill deformation data in this study. The integrated satellite–UAV–ground survey (ISUGS) approach ensures a comprehensive understanding of landfill deformation and evolution. The deformation characteristics obtained using the InSAR technique and UAV photogrammetry were analyzed and compared. A close relationship between the most severe mobility events, precipitation episodes, and was observed. Based on early hazard identification using ISUGS, a quantitative risk assessment (QRA) method and F-N curves were proposed, which can be applied to landfills. The comparison showed that ISUGS allowed a better understanding of the spatial and temporal evolution of the landfill and more accurate QRA results, which could be as references for local governments to take effective precautions.

Identifying potential landfill sites using multicriteria evaluation modeling and GIS techniques for Kharagpur city of West Bengal, India

Cities are struggling hard to choose an appropriate landfill sites for proper management of municipal solid waste in the context of the massive influx of population in urban areas. Solid waste management emerged as a headache to municipal authority and local government due to the scarcity of suitable lands and strict enforcement laws for waste disposal. An inappropriate selection of landfill sites may have many disadvantageous impacts on the local environment and public healthand facing resistance from political opposition and local community. Multicriteria decision-making (MCDM) methods integrated with geographical information systems (GIS) can be an effective tool for the Scientific selection of alternate landfill sites. Kharagpur, one of the main industrial and transportation cities of West Bengal (India), faced a lot of challenges towards waste management due to its increasing urban population. In this study, AHP, Fuzzy AHP, SRS and RSW Weightage methods were adopted to identify identify alternative landfill sites that will be economically cost-effective, ecologically suitable, and acceptable in a public context. Based on Expert guidance, the fourteen most important criteria were carefully selected for weighting in prescribed methods, followed by the weighted linear combination (WLC) used to prepare suitability maps for alternative landfill sites. Landfill suitability maps derived from different MCDM methods are categorized into five classes, namely, highly suitable (S1), Moderately suitable(S2), Suitable(S3), Less suitable(S4), and Unsuitable(S5). Following that, five alternative landfill sites were identified and the resultant outcomes are compared with WASPAS methods; three sites are identified to be more suitable for landfilling to avoid conflicts regarding environmental risk and public health issues. The findings of the present study may be helpful for waste management authorities and urban planners of the city to develop an efficient solid waste management system.

Assessment and Suitability Study of Landfills in Jordan, Al-karak Using Geographic Information Systems (GIS)

The rate of waste generation is gradually growing due to population growth and urbanization in Jordan, and the increasing population at risk due to forced migration from neighbouring countries. By 2050, waste production will rise to 3.04 billion tons by 70% since 2016. Specially, that the most sites in Jordan do not comply with the scientific standards. That led this study to aim for creating a suitability map, based on conducting two technical methods and surveying three existing landfill sites located in the target area( Al-Karak, Jordan), in addition to suggesting new landfill sites using GIS. 15 criteria were tested socially, economically, and environmentally. Data and GIS data were collected from different local and international websites. Through a predefined scale of sub-criteria, the first suitability map was extracted by equal weight after combining buffering zones and inverse distance weighted (IDW) by applying Algebra map into Arch map. Also, overlay weight was adopted by taking various weights, according to previous studies and authors’ point of view. Two suitability maps were extracted and classified into four classes relative to DOS (degree of suitability), mapped out every existing and potential landfills. The results of the equal weight suitability map showed that 45% of the area is inadequate and 7% is fairly suitable for landfill, whereas different weight suitability map showed that only 4% is inadequate and 6% is fairly suitable for landfill. Each method showcased different areas, this indicates weight plays a major role, and the low effects of soil weight may be a result of the negative difference ratio (41%) between the two approaches in an inadequate ranking. This study is important because it provide necessary data on the viability of new dumps site based on important factors, leading to future research and new techniques. Improved landfills suitability will positively influence the economies of Jordan and the municipal economies. Finally, the authors recommend a long-term sustainability policy to counter the harmful impact of burying.

Potential landfill sites selection using GIS-based multi-criteria decision analysis in Dodoma capital city, central Tanzania

Solid waste management is a global challenge, especially in developing countries due to the rapid increase in population and urbanization where the availability of sanitary landfills is inevitable. Determining suitable landfill sites is a fundamental aspect for new and rapidly growing cities. The current study is aimed at selecting potential landfill sites using GIS-based multi-criteria decision analysis in Dodoma capital city. Fifteen criteria including proximity from built-up areas, surface water, boreholes, sensitive sites including social service areas, episodic water channels, protected areas including historical sites, faults, land use/land cover, geology, soil type, elevation, slopes, airport, roads, and earthquake epicentres were integrated with the help of analytical hierarchy process (AHP). The landfill sites’ suitability map was produced based on the weighted linear combination method and assigned suitability classes as highly suitable, suitable, moderately suitable, less suitable, and unsuitable. The overall suitability results show that 41,177 ha (14.7%) of the study area is determined as highly suitable for landfills site location. The remaining 83,930 ha (30%), 84,305 ha (30.2%), and 53,508 ha (19.1%) of the area are suitable, moderately suitable, and less suitable respectively while 16,683 ha (6%) is under the unsuitable zone. From the highly suitable area, eleven candidate landfill sites were selected and prioritized using the AHP technique. The final results show landfill site 3 (10,361.94 ha), 5 (3717.85 ha), and 2 (3535.86 ha) were found to be the most highly suitable sites with eigenvector weight of 0.147, 0.122, and 0.121 respectively. Landfill sites 8, 7, and 6 were lastly considered. Field observation involving expertise from geology, hydrogeology, geophysical, and environment confirmed the suitability of selected sites. Thus, these techniques can be employed in developing countries to locate suitable landfill sites to minimize health and environmental impacts.

Macrostructural and Microstructural Properties of Residual Soils as Engineered Landfill Liner Materials

ABSTRACT This study assessed the performance of residual soils with regard to their macrostructural and microstructural properties and compatibility with leachate in pursuit of exploring alternative cost-effective and efficient landfill liner materials. A series of laboratory investigations was conducted on three residual soil samples by using tap water and leachate as permeation fluid to achieve the objectives of the study. The zeta potential measurements revealed that the presence of multivalent cations in the leachate decreased the diffuse double layer (DDL) thickness around the soil particles. The reduced DDL thickness caused a decrease in Atterberg limits of soil-leachate samples and changes in the classification of fine fractions. Additionally, the effects of pore clogging attributed to chemical precipitation and bioclogging were responsible for the reduction in measured hydraulic conductivities of soil-leachate samples. These effects can be clearly observed from the field-emission scanning electron microscopy images of soil-leachate samples with the appearance of less visible voids that led to a more compact and dense structure. The formation of new non-clay minerals and associated changes in the Al and Si ratio as reflected in the x-ray diffraction diffractograms and energy-dispersive x-ray analyses, respectively, were attributed to the effects of chemical precipitation. This study concluded that S1 and S2 residual soil samples are potential landfill liner materials because they possess adequate grading characteristics, adequate unconfined compressive strength, low hydraulic conductivity, and good compatibility with leachate. In contrast, the S3 sample requires further treatment to enhance its properties in order to comply with the requirements of landfill liner materials.

The trade-offs of foraging at landfills: Landfill use enhances hatching success but decrease the juvenile survival of their offspring on white storks (Ciconia ciconia).

During the last decades, landfills have become a valuable food source for wildlife, being in some cases determinants of large avian population increases. Superabundant food resources at landfills can increase reproductive and/or survival parameters; however, negative effects such as intoxication, plastic ingestion, skeletal deformities, unbalanced oxidative stress, and other health problems have also been reported. White stork (Ciconia ciconia) commonly benefits from landfill resources. Here, we evaluate potential landfill effects on demographic parameters (reproduction and offspring survival) at the individual level in a single population. Our results show that a more intense use of landfills by breeders has a positive effect on hatching success but a negative effect on juvenile survival probability after emancipation, at least during the first year of life. High amount of food and proximity to landfill may explain their beneficial effect on reproductive parameters. On the other hand, poor quality food, pollutants, and pathogens acquired during early development from a diet based on refuse may be responsible for reduced future survival probability. Consequently, both positive and negative effects were detected, being foraging at landfills at low to medium levels the better strategy. Although our study shows that intense foraging on rubbish can imply both costs and benefits at an individual level, the benefits of superabundant food provisioning observed at population level by other studies cannot be ignored. Management actions should be designed to improve natural food resources, reduce non-natural mortality and/or human disturbances to guarantee the species viability under current European Union regulations designed to ban open-air landfills in a near future.