A review of Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) landfill management and treatment of leachate

Abstract

Solid Waste Management (SWM) has become an issue of concern ever since humans began to build communities within a concentrated area. The greater the population density the more important is a proper waste management system. The main objective of the disposal system was to take care of the sanitation and health of the community. However, with the development of modern civilization, simply removing waste became an insufficient solution because waste disposal dumps became major sources of regional environmental contamination due to emissions of leachate and gas into groundwater and surface water; dumps were soon recognized as unsuitable and unsustainable disposal practices. Therefore, various strategies have been introduced to improve the concepts of waste management and sustainable landfilling is a necessary part of an efficient integrated waste management system. The degradation of the organic fraction of the wastes in combination with percolating rainwater leads to the production of a dark coloured, highly polluted liquid called “leachate”. If not treated and carefully disposed the movement of leachate into the surrounding soil, ground water, or surface water, may lead to severe pollution. This paper highlights the landfill management, landfill leachate generation and its characterization, and treatment methods available for landfill leachate.