Waste Landfill Research Articles

Unlocking landfill biogas potential: a feasibility study on sustainable energy in the UAE

Abstract Landfill biogas (LFB) projects present a promising solution for sustainable energy generation, yet their feasibility in arid climates remains largely unexplored. This study investigates the feasibility of generating biogas from landfill waste in the UAE, focusing on energy generation potential, economic viability, and environmental benefits. The study evaluates landfill biogas production using internal combustion engine and gas turbine technologies across three scenarios with varying methane content (40%, 50%, and 60% by volume). The results indicate that internal combustion engine technology demonstrates greater economic feasibility compared to the gas turbine technology, yielding a net present value of up to $83 million. Additionally, implementing landfill biogas to energy projects has the potential to power between 68,412 and 136,824 households while cutting greenhouse gas emissions by up to 66% compared to existing waste management practices. However, the relatively high levelized cost of energy underscores the need for policy interventions and financial incentives to enhance project viability. By addressing this critical knowledge gap, the study provides a replicable framework for optimizing waste-to-energy (WTE) systems in arid environments and contributes actionable insights to global renewable energy efforts.

Noise-Induced Hearing Loss Among Greek Solid Waste Landfill Workers

Noise-Induced Hearing Loss Among Greek Solid Waste Landfill Workers

Multi-echelon reverse logistics network design in the context of circular economy: a Hong Kong case study

The management of construction and demolition waste (CDW) is emerging as a significant global challenge. Traditional methods such as direct landfill and incineration fail to handle the vast amount of CDW properly, resulting in serious social and environmental issues. In this context, the construction industry has increasingly recognized the importance of CDW recycling and recovery. Consequently, construction industry leaders are advocating for development of reverse logistics networks for multiple types of CDW by solving a multi-objective mixed-integer linear programming model, which aims to restore waste for new structures toward circular economy. This model reduces landfill waste and maximizes the value of CDW, while minimizing total cost and negative environmental impact by integrating with the government under uncertainties to encourage sustainable management of CDW. A real-world case study from Hong Kong is conducted to examine and validate the practicability of the proposed model. Experimental results show that transportation activities have a significant impact on the reverse logistics network design since they are costly and generate the largest share of carbon emissions. In addition, a regulatory mechanism, i.e., setting carbon emission caps, proves effective in balancing facility workload and improving the utilization of underutilized facilities. The results also indicate that the proposed reverse logistics network is capable of adapting to costly transportation scenarios by prioritizing facilities with higher operational costs but lower transportation expenses.

Carbon-negative transition by utilizing overlooked carbon in waste landfills

<p>Landfills play a crucial role in urban climate solutions, as the decomposition of their “hidden” carbon stock contributes to 8.8% of global methane emissions. While controlling landfill gas emissions is the most commonly used intervention, a systematic approach to manage the carbon cycle in landfills remains elusive. In this study, we developed a quantitative solid-water-gas coupling model to estimate the carbon stock in landfills across 346 cities in China. Our findings reveal a standing landfill carbon stock 506.3 ± 4.2Tg, which could potentially substitute for 20% of soil organic carbon in green spaces and 1 year of residential electricity consumption of cities. Our scenario analyses show that by implementing a life-cycle package of interventions (incl., input minimization, stock utilization, and leakage reduction), the total carbon stock in landfills could be reduced to 230.1 Tg with a negative annual carbon emission (-57.1 Tg CO<sub>2</sub> eq/year) reached by 2030. These interventions could cumulativly cut greenhouse gas (GHG) by 753.3 Tg, representing 62.2% of the landfill-related GHG emissions and 2.0% of China’s carbon debt towards the 1.5℃ warming targets. Landfill mining contributes 52.3% of these reductions, while in-situ aerobic restoration accounts for 14.4%, positioning landfills as a potential carbon-negative sector that can drive cities towards carbon-neutrality.</p>

Innovative multi-criteria risk assessment framework for unsanitary, closed landfills: Integrating the fuzzy analytic hierarchy process with a weighted geometric mean approach.

In the past, unsanitary landfills were a common method for municipal solid waste disposal in developing countries. Although many nations have closed these landfills, the environmental pollution risks and impacts persist. This study introduces a new multi-criteria risk assessment framework specifically designed for closed, unsanitary landfills. The framework focuses on 18 key indicators categorized into three groups: landfill characteristics, waste composition, and properties of leachate and landfill gas. The Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) was employed to determine the weighting of these criteria, providing a more accurate way to account for uncertainties and subjective judgments. The study conducted a sensitivity analysis comparing the weighted arithmetic and geometric mean aggregation methods, finding that the geometric mean is superior for synthesizing the sub-indices in land risk assessment. The framework not only assesses risk but also provides specific action recommendations tailored to different risk levels, enabling local authorities to prioritize and implement risk reduction measures effectively, even in resource-constrained settings. The application of the framework on the Trung Son landfill indicated that the majority of waste at the landfill was ordinary waste, with high moisture content, varying over time and at different depths. The leachate was rich in organic matter, and the site was in the acidification phase of biodegradation, resulting in limited methane emissions. The landfill presented a very high environmental risk, and required immediate remediation. In the absence of allocated funding and resources, it is recommended to construct a temporary final cover and runoff collection system to minimize rainwater infiltration and odor dispersion in the surrounding areas.

Optimizing Sustainability in High-Speed Rail Rolling Stock through CFRP Material Substitution

This research investigates the environmental and operational advantages of replacing traditional materials in high-speed rail (HSR) rolling stock components with advanced composite materials. By substituting key parts—such as the roof, door, car body, brake control unit, braking rheostat, and bogie transom—with glass-filled epoxy, polyester, and nylon, the study achieves a significant reduction in rolling stock weight by 24.61%. This weight reduction contributes to lower energy consumption and reduced CO2 emissions. Additionally, the recyclability and recoverability rates of these composite materials show marked improvements, reaching 73.9% and 78.9%, respectively, compared to 61.4% and 73.1% in the conventional model. The findings demonstrate that integrating composite materials can enhance the sustainability and efficiency of HSR systems by minimizing landfill waste and operational emissions. This study provides a foundational approach to using lightweight, recyclable materials in rail transportation, with promising implications for future sustainable developments in the industry.

Evaluation of Municipal Solid Waste Landfill by HELP Model and Leachate Modelling by Hydrus-1d: A Review

The effective management of municipal solid waste (MSW) landfills is vital for minimizing their environmental and public health impacts. The Hydrologic Evaluation of Landfill Performance (HELP) model and HYDRUS-1D are widely used tools for modeling landfill hydrology and leachate dynamics, respectively. This review consolidates recent advances in their application for evaluating MSW landfills. The HELP model's capabilities in simulating landfill hydrological behavior and HYDRUS-1D’s precision in modeling leachate transport through porous media are explored. The paper highlights the advantages, limitations, and future directions for integrating these models in landfill studies to promote sustainable waste management practices.

Revisiting e-waste management: A review of global practices and sustainability

With rapid population growth, as well as, technological advancement, the generation of e-wastes is increasing day by day and has become a fact of emergent concern for scientific and research communities worldwide. Though the most developed territories generate the highest amount of e-wastes, little efforts has been put towards managing them. European countries, including United Kingdom, Germany, and France are managing significant amount of e-wastes responsibly. The informal and unscientific management of e-wastes led to severe health and environmental hazards. The traditional waste management methods, such as, landfilling, and incineration expels significant amount of heavy and toxic chemicals to the environment, leading to severe air, water, and soil pollution. However, proper management strategies for e-wastes not only inhibit the associated harmful effect towards the lives on earth, but also favor circular economy. The sustainability of the strategies for managing e-wastes lie in the responsibility of all stakeholders associated with it. In this review, we have discussed the statistics of global of e-wastes generation and recycling, effect of e-wastes towards lives and the environment, different methodologies of managing e-wastes, and strategies for sustainable e-waste management.

Microplastics in Landfill Environments: Distribution, Characteristics, and Risks from Gampong Jawa, Indonesia

Landfills are generally considered the ultimate solution for waste management. However, the degradation process of plastic waste in landfills causes the release of microplastic particles into the surrounding environment and threatens human health. The distribution and properties of microplastics in four environment matrices, soil, leachate, river water, and well water surrounding the landfill, are examined in this study. Sampling was conducted at the inflow and outflow areas of the leachate ponds., The soil at the top (0–5 cm) and bottom (5–20 cm), upstream and downstream surface water adjacent to the landfill, and community wells within a radius of fewer than 700 meters from the landfill. Microplastic analysis used a gradual extraction method with saturated NaCl for density separation, 30% hydrogen peroxide for organic matter degradation, and 0.05 M FeSO4 as a catalyst. Physical character identification of microplastics using a microscope showed microplastic contamination at all study sites. The results showed an abundance of microplastics was found in well water samples (808 to 979 items/L), leachate (209 to 757 items/L), surface water (6.29 to 7.2 items/L), and soil (23,340 to 23,420 items/kg). Types of microplastics found consist of fragments, fibers, films, pellets, foam, and rods. The size of microplastics found ranged from 1.897 µm to 1,642.79 µm. Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy examination identified polyethylene terephthalate (PET) plastic compounds in soil and leachate materials. The high concentration of microplastics in well water indicates potential groundwater contamination from landfill activities that may impact the surrounding community. This study provides preliminary insights into how landfills may contribute to environmental microplastic contamination. It paves the way for further research to develop mitigation strategies.

Intention to use reusable shopping bags in an emerging economy: a Bayesian Mindsponge framework analysis

Single-use plastic (SUP) bags at supermarkets have detrimentally exacerbated the plastic waste and dump in landfills. Reusable shopping bags are a feasible solution to alleviate plastic production and consumption, particularly in an emerging economy. The study examined the intention to use reusable shopping bags instead of SUP bags, driven by personal norms and planning behavior. Bayesian Mindsponge framework (BMF) analysis was employed on a dataset of 536 Vietnamese consumers. The study found that instead of obligation, voluntary contribution to reduce plastic bag pollutant is predominant. Findings also indicate that enhancing public awareness and knowledge regarding environmental protection is significantly important. Some demographic characteristics, such as age, education, members in household, and incomes also moderate the relationship between driving factors and intentions. Finally, this study prescribes some policy implications and practical solutions to reduce and gradually restrict SUP in Vietnam.

Predictive simulation of groundwater contamination due to landfill leachate: A case study on the Robinson Deep Landfill, Johannesburg, South Africa

Groundwater contamination from municipal solid waste landfills is a global issue, including South Africa. The Robinson Deep landfill (RDL) in Johannesburg lacks necessary leachate collection and handling facilities, has a shallow groundwater table, and no groundwater quality forecast tool. This situation poses a risk of groundwater contamination. This study aimed to construct groundwater flow and contaminant transport models to predict contamination from leachate migration at RDL. Visual MODFLOW Flex software was used for model construction and verification. Heavy metal concentration observations (Al, Cd, Mn, and Pb) from boreholes BH-1, BH-2, BH-3, and BH-H near the RDL were used to calibrate and validate the contaminant transport model (CTM). The result of the CTM predictive simulations for 2030 show Mn and Pb concentrations in the BH-H groundwater could reach 4.28 mg/L and 6.85 mg/L, respectively, exceeding permissible limits of 0.01 mg/L for Pb and 0.4 mg/L for Mn. The simulations indicate that the RDL threatens groundwater quality, especially in the northern areas of the landfill. Based on these findings, a recommendation is made for future studies on assessment and modelling of groundwater quality to focus on areas where increased concentrations of Pb and Mn are predicted. Further, it is recommended that precautionary preventive measures be implemented to mitigate possible contamination of groundwater in the northern areas of the landfill.

Complete genome sequence of Pseudomonas brenneri strain JD2-26, a potential pollutant-reducing bacterium isolated from a municipal solid waste landfill facility.

We report here the complete genome sequence of Pseudomonas brenneri strain JD2-26 isolated from a municipal solid waste landfill facility. The genome consists of a 6.32-Mbp chromosome and a plasmid having a total of 6,100 genes, including 5,914 coding sequences.

Strategic Resource Extraction and Recycling from Waste: A Pathway to Sustainable Resource Conservation

This study examines calcium extraction from Bottom Ash (BA) and the use of Solid Residue (SR) as a substitute for White Lump Clay (WLC) in brick production. Experimental analyses identified calcium and silicon as the main elements in BA, with 50% of calcium carbonate recovered through leaching. SR was a viable alternative to WLC in ceramic bricks, as SEM-EDS and FTIR analyses revealed changes in composition and microstructure. This approach promotes circular economy principles by recovering resources and reducing waste. Calcium extraction from BA can produce 29,000 tons of CaCO3 annually for industrial use, while substituting SR for WLC in brick production could replace 30% of clay, saving 1500 tons of clay and producing millions of bricks annually. Less than 50% of incinerated Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) would require landfilling. The process supports sustainable construction by conserving natural resources, reducing landfill waste, and lowering CO2 emissions. It offers annual cost savings of 2,639,250 USD and preserves 74,812.5 tons of resources through waste and clay reduction. By demonstrating a scalable model for waste valorization, this research aligns with global goals for sustainable development, resource efficiency, and ecological balance.

Potential of Refuse Derived Fuel (RDF) in Medan City's Waste Management Strategy

Medan City faces significant waste management challenges, with increasing waste volumes and limited landfill capacity creating an urgent need for sustainable solutions. This study evaluates the potential of Refuse Derived Fuel (RDF) technology as an alternative waste management strategy. Using a qualitative descriptive approach and SWOT analysis, the research explores the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats associated with RDF implementation in Medan City. The findings highlight that RDF technology can reduce landfill waste by up to 86%, decrease carbon emissions, and create economic opportunities, such as new jobs and cost efficiencies in waste management. However, significant challenges remain, including high initial investment costs, limited infrastructure, and low public awareness of waste segregation. Government support, private sector partnerships, and community participation are identified as critical factors for successful RDF implementation. Quantitative analysis of RDF production data from the Terjun Final Disposal Site (FDS) reveals that from October 2022 to December 2023, a cumulative 146,727 kg of RDF was produced, achieving daily waste reduction of over 1 ton. This aligns with global circular economy goals by transforming waste into energy while mitigating environmental degradation. This research provides a framework for cities seeking to adopt RDF technology, emphasizing the integration of environmental, economic, and social strategies. By leveraging strengths and opportunities, Medan City can position RDF as a model for sustainable waste management and energy transition.

Оценка воздействия стока некоторых рек Сочинского Причерноморья на прибрежную морскую среду в зонах их плюмов

The paper assesses the impact of water quality of some rivers located within the Black Sea coastal zone in the Sochi area on the ecological security and status of the Black Sea coastal line. The relevance of the study is determined by the lack of a unified methodological approach to establishing parameters for assessing the ecological condition of water bodies within the Black Sea coastal area. The study is the first to consider a unified river-sea system in the context of integrated monitoring of natural water quality. The research is based on biological methods (biotesting, bioindication) to evaluate the state of biological communities and processes in combination with the analysis of geological aspects. This allows a detailed study of the influence of various factors on the marine environment ecological safety. It was revealed that the marine environment has the highest levels of toxicity in the inflow zones of small rivers, which are subject to significant complex impacts from municipal solid waste landfills and industrial enterprises located in their catchment areas. In the marine plumes of rivers classified as medium, which are important for water management, recreation and fisheries in the region, seawater has a lower toxic effect as a result of significant dilution. Thus, small rivers inflows can cause similar negative impacts on the quality of the marine environment and the status of coastal biocenoses as runoff from larger watercourses. The study results can contribute to the development of new approaches for the assessment and monitoring of the environmental security of the coastal marine environment, based on the concept of the ecological system integrity in the context of interdependencies associated with the pollutants and nutrients transfer between qualitatively different environments and associated with them river and cjastal marine hydrobiocenoses.

Environmental impact of solid waste landfilling in Balochistan-A risk assessment for SDG 3 (good health and well-being), SDG 6 (clean water and sanitation), SDG 11 (sustainable cities and communities), SDG 12 (responsible consumption and production), SDG 13 (climate action), SDG 14 (life below water) and SDG 15 (life on land)

Municipal solid waste (MSW) is one of the most common wastes that need disposal. However, landfilling is still the most commonly practiced method of waste disposal, but it poses great threats to the environment. This article will look at the major environmental effects of landfilling with a focus on Pakistan and Balochistan province in particular. Emerging projects related to improvement of waste management systems in these areas will also be discussed together with the existing solid waste management challenges. Groundwater pollution, emission of landfill gases to air and adverse effects of poor waste handling on human health and other living organisms are some of the issues that shall be covered in this review. Additionally, advancements in waste-to-energy technologies, recycling initiatives, and community-based waste management efforts aimed at mitigating these impacts shall also be considered as possible solutions in order to achieve the sustainability development goals including SDG 3 (good health and well-being), SDG 6 (clean water and sanitation), SDG 11 (sustainable cities and communities), SDG 12 (responsible consumption and production), SDG 13 (climate action), SDG 14 (life below water) and SDG 15 (life on land).

Cancer incidence and mortality in the occupational cohort of a German toxic waste landfill: a retrospective cohort study

BackgroundEmployees at the Ihlenberg toxic waste landfill in northern Germany were found to have an increased risk of cancer and cancer-related deaths in previous analyses covering the time period from 1983 to 2008. The present study aimed to quantify cancer risk and all-cause mortality in the employee cohort in 2009 to 2021.MethodsIn this retrospective cohort study, cancers were identified by linkage with cancer registries, and employee deaths were obtained from population registries. Standardized incidence ratios (SIRs) for cancers and standardized mortality ratios (SMRs) were calculated to quantify cancer and mortality risk in the employee cohort. The effects of employment duration and different latency periods up to 30 years were additionally considered.ResultsThe cohort of 590 employees (432 men, 158 women) who worked at the landfill for at least 3 months between 1983 and 2018 was established from human resource management documentation and followed from January 1, 2009 until December 31, 2021. During this follow-up period, the SIR for all cancers combined was 0.69 (95% confidence interval (CI): 0.47, 0.98) and the SMR for all-cause mortality was 0.51 (95% CI: 0.35, 0.73). Longer employment at the landfill was not associated with increased cancer incidence or mortality.ConclusionsEmployment at the landfill, expected to reflect occupational exposure to toxic waste, was not associated with increased cancer incidence or mortality in the employee cohort. Preventive measures to reduce exposure and to promote a healthy lifestyle should be maintained at the landfill.

Enhanced Landfill Mining in Thailand: Policy Implications from Qualitative Case Study Analysis

Limited landfill capacity and increasing waste production present obstacles for the management of municipal solid waste (MSW) in Thailand, where 7.1 million tons of MSW were non-sanitarily managed in 2022. This provides an opportunity for the nation to recover valuable materials and energy from landfill waste through excavation by implementing the enhanced landfill mining technique, which is consistent with business sustainability goals. This study evaluates regulatory, financial, and institutional challenges to enhanced landfill mining implementation, identifying key barriers such as Thailand’s restriction on using refuse-derived fuel (RDF) in waste-to-energy (WtE) projects, despite its higher calorific value (18–24 MJ/kg compared to 13.7–16.6 MJ/kg for fresh MSW-derived RDF). Case studies, particularly from European nations, are comparatively evaluated using a combination of qualitative analysis methods. The results of this study highlight that the potential of enhanced landfill mining in Thailand is restricted by the prohibition of the use of RDF in WtE projects, as well as a lack of financial incentives to follow existing regulations. This demonstrates that the implementation of enhanced landfill mining could be facilitated by changing Thai regulations to permit the use of RDF in WtE projects and providing financial incentives such as tax credits and feed-in tariffs. Implementing such reforms can help Thailand achieve its sustainability objectives while reducing the amount of waste in landfills and generating energy.

Operation of solid municipal waste landfills in northern climates

The author considers specific features of operation of solid municipal waste landfills at the post-operation stage in northern climate conditions. It is emphasized that safe operation of landfills requires efficient management of landfill gas and leachate formation. Increased precipitation leads to increased waste moisture content and, as a consequence, to methane generation during different seasons. The author presents the results of measuring methane concentrations and calculating leachate volumes at a landfill located in the north-west of Russia. The conclusion is made about the need to control and manage leachate formation, as well as to take measures for its treatment to prevent environmental and sanitary-hygienic problems associated with evaporation and accumulation of leachate.

Correction: Patton Witt, R.; Guzman, M.I. Coal Ash Triggers an Elevated Temperature Landfill Development: Lessons from the Bristol Virginia Solid Waste Landfill Neighboring Community. Environments 2024, 11, 201

Correction: Patton Witt, R.; Guzman, M.I. Coal Ash Triggers an Elevated Temperature Landfill Development: Lessons from the Bristol Virginia Solid Waste Landfill Neighboring Community. Environments 2024, 11, 201