i PAHO/CEPIS/PUB/03.108 Original: Spanish GUIDELINES FOR THE DESIGN, CONSTRUCTION AND OPERATION OF MANUAL SANITARY LANDFILLS A solution for the final disposal of municipal solid wastes in small communities Jorge Jaramillo Universidad de Antioquia, Colombia 2003 ii Guidelines for the Design, Construction and Operation of Manual Sanitary Landfills © Pan American Center for Sanitary Engineering and Environmental Sciences, 2003 All rights reserved by the Pan American Center for Sanitary Engineering and Environmental Sciences, CEPIS/PAHO. The document can be abstracted, reproduced or translated, in part or in whole, without prior permission, but not for sale or for commercial purposes. The corresponding credits to CEPIS/PAHO and notification of the use of this document will be appreciated. CEPIS/PAHO is a specialized agency of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO/WHO). Los Pinos 259, Urb. Camacho, Lima, Peru P.O. Box 4337, Lima 100, Peru Phone: (511) 437 1077 Fax: (511) 437 8289 [email protected] http://www.cepis.ops-oms.org iii CONTENTS Page FOREWORD ............................................................................................... xv 1. INTRODUCTION 1.1 The problem of municipal solid waste (MSW) ....................................... 3 1.2 Characteristics of municipal solid waste ................................................ 4 1.2.1 Production of solid waste ............................................................ 4 1.2.2 Per capita production of solid waste ............................................ 5 1.2.3 Waste production and income ..................................................... 5 1.2.4 Composition of solid waste .......................................................... 6 1.3 Effects of inadequate solid waste management ..................................... 6 1.3.1 Health risks ................................................................................ 6 1.3.1.1 Direct risks .................................................................... 7 1.3.1.2 Indirect risks .................................................................. 8 1.3.2 Impact on the environment.......................................................... 11 1.3.2.1 Water pollution ............................................................... 12 1.3.2.2 Soil pollution ................................................................... 13 1.3.2.3 Air pollution ................................................................... 13 1.3.3 Risks for social development....................................................... 13 1.3.4 Risks for urban development....................................................... 14 2. INTEGRATED MUNICIPAL SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT 2.1 Urban cleaning service ......................................................................... 19 2.1.1 Waste segregation ...................................................................... 20 2.1.2 Storage and presentation ............................................................. 21 2.1.3 Collection and transportation ....................................................... 21 2.1.4 Street sweeping and cleaning of public areas .............................. 22 2.1.5 Transfer ..................................................................................... 22 2.1.6 Use ............................................................................................ 22 2.1.6.1 Reuse ............................................................................ 23 2.1.6.2 Recycling....................................................................... 23 2.1.6.3 Energy and productive use ............................................. 24 iv Guidelines for the Design, Construction and Operation of Manual Sanitary Landfills 2.1.7 Treatment................................................................................... 24 2.1.7.1 Composting .................................................................... 24 2.1.7.2 Vermiculture (earthworm farming) ................................. 26 2.1.7.3 Incineration .................................................................... 26 2.1.8 Final disposal of MSW................................................................ 27 2.1.8.1 Inadequate final disposal practices ................................. 27 2.1.8.2 Sanitary landfill .............................................................. 29 2.1.9 Comparative costs of treatment and final disposal systems .......... 29 2.1.10 Main characteristics of the urban cleaning service ...................... 30 2.1.11 The urban cleaning service and its relationship with other basic sanitation services ...................................................................... 30 2.2 What is integrated municipal solid waste management?......................... 31 2.2.1 Political and administrative management ..................................... 31 2.2.1.1 Responsibility of the local authority................................. 31 2.2.1.2 Sustainability of the cleaning service .............................. 32 2.2.1.3 Environmental legislation and regulations ........................ 33 2.2.2 Trends in MSW management...................................................... 33 2.2.3 Process . of continuous improvement in the final disposal of solid wastes ...................................................................................... 36 2.2.4 Proposal for an integrated treatment and final disposal system .... 36 3. THE SANITARY LANDFILL 3.1 What is a garbage dump or open dump? ............................................... 41 3.2 What is a sanitary landfill? .................................................................... 42 3.2.1 Types of sanitary landfill ............................................................. 42 3.2.1.1 Mechanized sanitary landfill ........................................... 43 3.2.1.2 Semi-mechanized sanitary landfill ................................... 43 3.2.1.3 Manual sanitary landfill .................................................. 45 3.2.2 Construction methods for a sanitary landfill ................................. 45 3.2.2.1 Trench method ............................................................... 45 3.2.2.2 Area method .................................................................. 46 3.2.2.3 Combination of both methods ......................................... 48 3.2.3 Advantages and disadvantages of a sanitary landfill .................... 48 3.2.4 Future use of the sanitary landfill ................................................ 50 3.3 Reactions that take place inside a sanitary landfill ................................. 50 3.3.1 Physical, chemical and biological changes ................................... 50 3.3.2 Generation of liquids and gases ................................................... 51 3.3.3 Differential sinking and settling ................................................... 52 3.4 Basic principles of a sanitary landfill ..................................................... 52 3.4.1 Importance of the cover ............................................................. 53 Contents v 4. THE MANUAL SANITARY LANDFILL 4.1 Why a manual sanitary landfill? ............................................................ 57 4.2 Is a small town justified in having a track-type tractor for operating a sanitary landfill? .................................................................................... 58 4.3 Planning .............................................................................................. 60 4.4 Site selection ...................................................................................... 61 4.4.1 Participation of local authorities and inhabitants ........................... 61 4.4.2 Technical aspects ....................................................................... 63 4.4.3 Preliminary analysis .................................................................... 66 4.4.4 Field research ............................................................................. 66 4.5 End use of the site ................................................................................ 72 4.6 Schedule of activities ............................................................................ 72 4.7 Basic project ........................................................................................ 74 4.7.1 Topographical survey .................................................................. 74 4.7.2 Design of the sanitary landfill ...................................................... 74 4.7.3 Project details ............................................................................. 75 4.8 Graphs of the steps necessary for design, construction and operation .... 76 4.8.1 Field studies and design ............................................................... 76 4.8.2 Preparation of the site and construction of the works .................. 77 4.8.3 Operation and maintenance ........................................................ 78 5. DESIGN OF A MANUAL SANITARY LANDFILL 5.1 Basic information ................................................................................. 81 5.1.1 Demographic aspects ................................................................. 81 5.1.2 Production of MSW in small towns ............................................. 82 5.1.3 Characteristics of MSW in small towns ....................................... 84 5.1.4 Site characteristics ...................................................................... 89 5.1.5 Climate conditions ......................................................................