Solid-waste landfill sites can produce both landfill gas (a combustible gas nominally composed of equal parts methane and carbon dioxide) and landfill leachate (a normally toxic liquid formed by rainwater and other fluids filtering down through the solid waste).
A portion of the waste stored in landfills is organic matter, like food, paper, and yard clippings. Microorganisms present in the organic matter and in the soil of the landfill cause decomposition which produces landfill gas. Landfills can contribute a significant amount of this greenhouse gas, but the effects can be reduced by using the gas for power generation or by flaring to convert completely to carbon dioxide.
In addition to producing gas, landfills also commonly produce leachate. When rainwater and fluids in the landfill filter down through the solid waste, they can become contaminated with constituents and by-products of the waste. While the type of the contamination is dependent on the type of waste being stored in the landfill, some common contaminants include: pesticides, chlorides, and iron and other metals. Landfill leachate is typically contained within a barrier to prevent the contamination of groundwater.
Recently, landfill operators have begun removing landfill gas and landfill leachate from the solid-waste mass. The gas can be extracted and treated using landfill-gas extraction systems and enclosed flares; leachate is removed by pumping and is treated using leachate treatment systems.
MLE Equipment has an industry-leading track record in engineering, manufacturing, and supporting environmental equipment solutions for solid-waste landfill sites. Follow the links on the right-hand menu to access equipment solutions specifically for landfill applications.
