Pollution Control Technology 197
However, it is a technology that does not aim at the recovery of materials or energy and requires difficult and long-term maintenance. The sanitary landfill remains biochemically active for decades because of organic
matter fermentations that produce toxic substances and greenhouse gases.
Leachates and VOCs (volatile organic compounds) contain dozens of toxic
substances that pose a threat of polluting underground water or the atmosphere. The generated biogas contains mainly carbon dioxide and methane,
contributing significantly to the greenhouse effect. It is estimated that rubbish burial constitutes one of the major methane sources with a contribution of 7–20% in the global anthropogenic emissions. The sanitary landfill
requires systematic monitoring and scrupulous management for several
decades after the cessation of rubbish disposal and until it becomes biochemically inert. Obviously, such a long time frame carries the significant
risk of failure of the waterproofing or the pipes due to poor initial construction, insufficient maintenance, accidents, or natural disasters such as earthquakes, floods, fires etc.
Sanitary landfill is a technology that bequeaths an environmental problem, even if partially under control, to at least the next two generations;
therefore it appears to be radically opposed to the sustainability principle
(Chapter 13). It can be characterized as an environmentally defective technology and cannot be considered an optimal available technology. Its use is
in decline in European countries. Thus it is to be expected that the siting of
a sanitary landfill presents a serious lack of social acceptance. It will be very
difficult for people to accept having such a facility in their neighbourhood
when dozens of trucks will be coming and going. It is also very difficult for
the citizens who live near an idyllic gorge to accept its conversion to a new
sanitary landfill. The difficulty of even the most ambitious programme of
sorting at source is smaller than the huge difficulties that an endeavour for
the construction of sanitary landfills entails; these endeavours often fail
due to the lack of social acceptance.
10.3.4 Composting
Composting is a biostabilization method. It has to do only with the fermentable part of USW, that is, basically the residuals of foodstuffs and
garden waste (trimming and pruning). Through partial decomposition, a
stabilized organic material is produced, i.e. compost, that is relatively inert,
does not have a disagreeable odour, is to a great extent free of pathogenic
microorganisms and has a high capacity for withholding humidity. These
qualities render it suitable for soil ameliorant in eroded or degraded ground
and in brownfields or even for organic fertilizer in agricultural cultivations. Therefore, composting can be considered as a satisfactory valorization method of USW since it produces a useful product. An alternative
possibility for composting is its small-scale implementation in the gardens
However, it is a technology that does not aim at the recovery of materials or energy and requires difficult and long-term maintenance. The sanitary landfill remains biochemically active for decades because of organic
matter fermentations that produce toxic substances and greenhouse gases.
Leachates and VOCs (volatile organic compounds) contain dozens of toxic
substances that pose a threat of polluting underground water or the atmosphere. The generated biogas contains mainly carbon dioxide and methane,
contributing significantly to the greenhouse effect. It is estimated that rubbish burial constitutes one of the major methane sources with a contribution of 7–20% in the global anthropogenic emissions. The sanitary landfill
requires systematic monitoring and scrupulous management for several
decades after the cessation of rubbish disposal and until it becomes biochemically inert. Obviously, such a long time frame carries the significant
risk of failure of the waterproofing or the pipes due to poor initial construction, insufficient maintenance, accidents, or natural disasters such as earthquakes, floods, fires etc.
Sanitary landfill is a technology that bequeaths an environmental problem, even if partially under control, to at least the next two generations;
therefore it appears to be radically opposed to the sustainability principle
(Chapter 13). It can be characterized as an environmentally defective technology and cannot be considered an optimal available technology. Its use is
in decline in European countries. Thus it is to be expected that the siting of
a sanitary landfill presents a serious lack of social acceptance. It will be very
difficult for people to accept having such a facility in their neighbourhood
when dozens of trucks will be coming and going. It is also very difficult for
the citizens who live near an idyllic gorge to accept its conversion to a new
sanitary landfill. The difficulty of even the most ambitious programme of
sorting at source is smaller than the huge difficulties that an endeavour for
the construction of sanitary landfills entails; these endeavours often fail
due to the lack of social acceptance.
10.3.4 Composting
Composting is a biostabilization method. It has to do only with the fermentable part of USW, that is, basically the residuals of foodstuffs and
garden waste (trimming and pruning). Through partial decomposition, a
stabilized organic material is produced, i.e. compost, that is relatively inert,
does not have a disagreeable odour, is to a great extent free of pathogenic
microorganisms and has a high capacity for withholding humidity. These
qualities render it suitable for soil ameliorant in eroded or degraded ground
and in brownfields or even for organic fertilizer in agricultural cultivations. Therefore, composting can be considered as a satisfactory valorization method of USW since it produces a useful product. An alternative
possibility for composting is its small-scale implementation in the gardens