Analysis and Design of Engineered Landfill for Solid Waste Management

This literature review focuses on the analysis and design of engineered landfill for solid waste management. It covers topics such as the primary needs for sanitary landfill, selection of landfill site, hydrological and geological conditions, landfill design, leachate management, bioreactor landfill design, landfill operations, waste acceptance at landfills, and waste filling and compaction.

Running Head: LITERATURE REVIEW
ANALYSIS AND DESIGN OF ENGINEERED LANDFILL FOR SOLID
WASTE MANAGEMENT

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1. INTRODUCTION
The present section is going to produce a literature which will describe and demonstrate
the research covered including theory, techniques and methods associated with solid waste
management and its analysis and design for engineered landfill. To achieve the earlier
stabilization of wastes for effective after the utilization of landfill site is a necessity to check that
the already progressed landfill management method is equipped with treatment facilities that are
at a higher level and with semi-aerobic structure. Keeping in mind a sustainable environment,
landfills are to be utilized based on a solid engineered landfill.
2. OBJECTIVES
The main objective of the study is to review the literature for the research topic analysis and
design of engineered landfill for solid waste management.
3. KEYWORDS
Solid waste management, waste landfill, design of landfill, engineered landfill
4. BENEFITS AND STAKEHOLDERS
The present literature is going to contribute towards the industry of waste management and all
the engineers who are associated with designing of landfill for solid waste management.
5. LITERATURE REVIEW
5.1 Primary needs for Sanitary Landfill
According to Gottinger (2018), there are four primary conditions, at a minimum basis
that should be matched with any operation and site design, only after that it'll be considered as
one of the sanitary landfills. The conditions are;
 Partial or full hydrogeological separation
 constant control
 Formal preparations of Engineering
 Schematic waste covering and installation
To reduce the contamination of surrounding soil and groundwater and leakage from the
base in a site which is not able to be situated on land that by nature consists leachate security, it

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is advised to bring more lining materials. All leachate will inevitably reach the surrounding
environment if a synthetic or liner-soil is given on the void of a pattern of leachate compilation
(De Silva et al. 2015). As a basic need, it is a must that leachate compilation and treatment is
stressed.
5.2 Sanitary Landfill
Wastes are safely isolated in sites from the ambience which are named Sanitary Landfills.
It is considered to be an option after its physical, biological and chemical degradation (Gwenzi et
al. 2016). The countries which have a high-income rate may also have a higher standard of
isolation. Technically, it is not a necessity to waste that huge amount of money in upgrading the
standard of isolation to protect the health of the public. It is better to choose the way in which it
is to be done according to the native conditions. The very forehand target is to match, to the best
range available, with the four in scripted primary conditions of a sanitary landfill, with a long
term purpose to match them at last in full (Uyguner-Demirel et al. 2017). Improvement started
its walk with smaller steps increasing its speed in operation over and landfill designs many years
are intended to attain than efforts to create alone, huge frisk in expectations of engineering. In
comparison to smaller sites, massive landfills will need further investment to higher the
standards. Gwenzi et al. (2016) opined were the size of the site is increasing, the unit expense of
those improvements will inevitably decrease. In sites which are long operating (more than ten
years), there are benefits in finance and other spheres also. If dissipation carrying costs are cheap
and not so high, huge regional sites which serve more than two towns could be beneficial in all
means.
5.3 Selection of the Landfill site
Carroll (2018) mentioned there are several issues that are to be considered while selecting
an appropriate and exact site for the landfill;
i. Surroundings (distances from waterways, distances from a living locality, water bodies,
airports) ii. Conditions of the area in terms of geology and hydrogeology,
iii. The seismic ambience within the area,
iv. The current (and upcoming) utilization of existing groundwater,
v. Risk of inundation, landslides and subsidence,

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vi. Existing infrastructures and transport distances,
vii. Ingress to final and intermediate cover material,
viii. Site's topography.
5.4 Hydrological and Geological conditions
The most crucial thing is the knowledge about the hydrogeological and geological
conditions of the site in ascertaining the possible risk of exclusions from the landfill for the
groundwater and basal soil. Construction costs will not be so high for costly base liner systems,
if the landfill is sited at its ‘should be' locations where vile hydraulic conductivity characterizes
the subsurface layers (hydraulic conductivity of not more than 1×10-8m/s) (Brennan et al.
2016). A baseliner which was made by a man could be substituted with a subsurface layer of
very low hydraulic conductivity which is considered as a best case and thereby aptly reduce the
costs of landfill construction. Guan et al. (2018) added that it is necessary to have full-fledged
knowledge about the direction of the flow of groundwater if you are to develop a controlling
system for the groundwater. Geological maps can be very helpful in providing the knowledge
about the hydrogeological and geological conditions at the site (on the perfunctory level), or one
can investigate about it while selecting the site (for example, in situ cone penetration test, soil
borings).
5.5 Design of the Landfill
On one hand, the crucial problem is the exclusion of leachate from landfill waste because
of the high organic sum of waste, and in the other hand, the high rainfall rates are becoming
some serious issue (Aleluia and Ferrão, 2016). Therefore it can be said that adequate and proper
designs of the landfill are the need of the hour. Derailing the dissipation from the environment at
a very low cost is one of the principles for landfill design, which should extend its sphere and
covers operation costs and the construction. A base lining system is capable of isolating from the
environment (at the base of the landfill).2.4. Very often in prosperous countries, the baselining
system requires a composite liner at the landfill base. A high-density polyethylene (HDPE) sheet
and a clay layer usually made up this composite liner. Developing countries which are not able to
afford high expense rate often does not choose particularly the later for landfill operations as it is
so (Uyguner-Demirel et al. 2017). Therefore, compacted clay layers which are the contained

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thing in "single' baseliner method is highly recommended to use. In order to smaller the
transportation costs and traffic, the clay component should preferably and arguably be accessible
in the presence of the site of landfill. Therefore it can be said that selecting a site is the most
crucial thing for the overall costs of landfilling. International regulations on landfill construction
allow the derivation of necessities for the compaction of the clay and the necessary hydraulic
conductivity, so it can be obtained from there. Sometimes there is a chance that it might be
adequate to slightly alleviate the vile permeability of the subsisting soil, simply by slipping the
upper 20 to 30 centimetre of the soil and therefore subsequently compaction of this stratum with
heavy ingredients. The expenses in the forming of a baselining system can inevitably be lowered
to less than 1 US-$ per m^2 (Bolyard and Reinhart, 2016). If there is a comparison between
European Union and the US informing costs for baselining system, US will be cheaper for 20 to
30 US -$/m^2 and European Union will be costly for up to 70 US-$ /m^2. At least with 2%, the
very rear of the liner should be sloped.
5.6 Leachate management
RCRA regulations have put a restriction on the liner with leachate head for 30 cm for
landfills of subtitle D. Leachate heads that are above 30 cm is to be removed from any landfills
(Cossu et al. 2016). The removal of leachate can be done with the help of pumping or gravity
flow. The leachate that is extracted from landfills can be kept aside to be later be transported or
treated and safely dispossessed somewhere. Typical storage methods for leachate includes tanks
and surface impoundments. Among the different options with dealing with leachate, transporting
leachate to a safe place and along with treating and disposing of it, is the cheapest way (Aleluia
and Ferrão, 2016). This makes it possible for the operator or owner to focus and work on the
landfill whereas, a wastewater treatment expert works with the leachate. It also relieves the
owner of the work of testing, reporting, monitoring the leachate.
Treating leachate is complex and possess challenges due to its inconsistent composition
and rates of production. To achieve the desired goal, two or more methods are required. Al Turi
Landfill located in New York provides a good example of leachate treatment by using multiple
methods (Carroll 2018). In the process, they use flocculation, polymer coagulation, aerobic and
anaerobic biological treatment, filtration and sedimentation.

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5.7 Bioreactor landfill design
According to Cossu et al. (2016), a bioreactor landfill has a component design that is
mostly similar to a landfill that is traditional. The key exceptions of a bioreactor landfill are
discussed in the following lines. The liner of this landfill has a clay layer upon which is placed a
geomembrane. The clay layers are of 1.2-1.5 m thick and the geo-membranes has a minimum
thickness of 1.5 mm (Uyguner-Demirel et al. 2017). Certain states in the USA have requirements
for bioreactor landfill that are even more stringent specifying multiple layers. It is recommended
to make use of gravel for drainage and above it, geotextile is placed.
Traditional landfills that are dry, have the moisture of 12-15% whereas, bioreactor
landfills at least 40% moisture is expected which is achieved by recirculation of leachate
(Brennan et al. 2016). Recirculation can be done by many techniques that include spraying,
surface wetting, vertical and horizontal injections. Operations of recirculation should be shifted
from one place to a different place accompanied by intensified pumping rates to give better
results. Offsite or onsite treatment of leachate might not be needed for landfills of bioreactors as
the leachate is recirculated. However, on the contrary, Gottinger (2018) mentioned nations that
are developing have a high content of organic waste, as a result, excess leachate is produced
where offsite or onsite leachate treatment may be needed. One of the disadvantages of this
recirculation of leachate is that it is not completely an alternative to leachate treatment. When
leachate is produced in surplus the facility should be ready to address. Additionally, when the
there amount of leachate for recirculation falls short, an already prepared contingency plan
should exist.
As a result of an increase in MSW's unit weight due to leachate recirculation along with
large deformation from various settlements, the structural integrity of the collection system of
leachate should be kept in check. It is also recommended for the collection system of leachate to
increase diameters. The increased moisture content of MSW poses within bioreactor landfills,
stability issues. It was suggested by Aleluia and Ferrão (2016), to conduct analysis for stability
by a 10% increase along with a 30-40% increase in the content with moisture and regular checks
for stability. Stability along the geo-membranes on the sides and internal stability should be
checked. Potential mounting of leachate should be also kept in account while making these
checks.

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5.8 Landfill operations
It is necessary to have a detailed operation plan to ensure the smooth day-to-day
operation of a landfill. A list of important factors has been discussed by De Silva et al. (2015)
that should be taken into account during the landfill operation. Schedule of operation, filling
plan, the requirement of equipment, record operating, information building, controlling traffic,
security and safety fall under most important priorities. A proper plan for landfills provides for a
safe environment for working, optimized utilization of space, along with minimized damage to
the environment.
5.9 Waste acceptance at landfills
During the operation, vehicles for waste collection are weighted with their wastes
incepted to check if they meet the criteria of the landfill waste acceptance. Afterwards, the
vehicles are used to unload their wastes. Following that, compactors are utilized to compact and
spread the waste on the area. Before leaving the boundaries of landfill the vehicles go through a
facility of wheel cleaning (Idowu et al. 2019). If needed, they go back to the weighbridge to get
weighed without the loads. This weighing process is helpful in calculating and recording the
daily waste tonnage. Along with trucks, some landfills make use of the railroad. The 'rail haul'
helps with locating landfills in remote areas. After each day of work, the face of the landfill is
covered ensuring public and environmental health.
5.10 Waste filling and compaction
When ready for accepting wastes the landfill is filled up in lifts. The first one is placed
directly on the liner. Every layer is compacted to optimize the space for use. Waste type,
moisture content, the thickness of lift are the main factors that influence the compaction.
Equipment selection for compaction is dependent on the slope of the landfill. Steeper slopes and
shallower slopes are respectively compacted by track-type tractors and landfill compactors
(Bagchi and Bhattacharya, 2015). Waste is first lift is checked for sharp objects so that the liner
is not damaged. The filling stage is predefined in the planning.
5.11 Bioreactor landfill operations

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As pointed out by Reddy and Sharma, bioreactor landfills should be treated by a big
biological digester whose operational process must focus on increasing biodegradation
efficiency. Daily plan for operating required due to the need for close monitoring should include
types of pre-treatment for waste. Shredding is a very common option for pre-treatment allowing
wastes to get out of plastic and become biodegradable (Abdelli et al. 2017). Separating organic
wastes from the rest is another method. Nutrients in such waste are necessary for
biodegradation. Deficient nutrients and other chemical reactors might be added to the landfill to
enhance biodegradation. Enhancement of biodegradation through leachate recirculation can also
cause a large amount of gas production even while filling so, collection system for gas must be
present during the process, which possesses challenges in the construction and maintenance of
these landfills.
CONCLUSION
Solid waste management (SWM) may also be called as a systematic interaction among
divergent incidents of waste manufacture, collection, intermediate treatment, storage, transport
and transfer, at the last final disposal (Bagchi and Bhattacharya, 2015). SWM processes had
modified them by incorporating some new concepts like volume reduction, resource recovery,
solid wastes sanitation or stabilization. The development has also reached more leading and
sophisticated interim treatment methods. The vital and final ideal disposal process is the sanitary
land lifting method. There are some other advanced technological concepts which are also to be
integrated, namely utilization after the closure, recycling philosophies and incorporation of
resource regaining (Idowu et al. 2019). The contributions from the previous researches are
explained in details utilizing the theories, concepts and techniques that are adopted in the
advanced engineering landfill.

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REFERENCES
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Aleluia, J. and Ferrão, P., 2016. Characterization of urban waste management practices in
developing Asian countries: A new analytical framework based on waste characteristics and
urban dimension. Waste management, 58, pp.415-429.
Bagchi, A. and Bhattacharya, A., 2015. Post-closure care of engineered municipal solid waste
landfills. Waste Management & Research, 33(3), pp.232-240.
Bolyard, S.C. and Reinhart, D.R., 2016. Application of landfill treatment approaches for
stabilization of municipal solid waste. Waste management, 55, pp.22-30.
Brennan, R.B., Healy, M.G., Morrison, L., Hynes, S., Norton, D. and Clifford, E., 2016.
Management of landfill leachate: The legacy of European Union Directives. Waste
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Carroll, A., 2018. Solid Waste Management: A Comparative Carbon Footprint and Cost
Analysis (Doctoral dissertation, Colorado State University).
Cossu, R., Morello, L., Raga, R. and Cerminara, G., 2016. Biogas production enhancement using
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Idowu, I.A., Atherton, W., Hashim, K., Kot, P., Alkhaddar, R., Alo, B.I. and Shaw, A., 2019. An
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