80
E. C. Latocheski and J. C. P. Lofhagen
The total area of the Curitiba’s Sanitary Landfill is 1,015,000 m
2 , being 439,540 m
2
designated for waste disposal. In 2010, at the time of the end of operation, the landfill
received an average of 2400 tons of MSW per day. The landfill is managed by public
administrators. Information was obtained from the website of the Curitiba Municipal Secretary of the Environment (Curitiba Municipal Secretary of the Environment
2019) and also during interviews. After the deactivation in 2010, the Curitiba’s Sanitary Landfill became an area for environmental conservation. However, even if no
more MSW is received, the landfill still needs to be maintained for at least 30 years
after deactivation. The leachate treatment system remains operational and a team of
operators constantly monitors it.
During the first phase, a study was initially made to choose the best area for the
landfill, followed by a hydrogeological study, cleaning and preparation of the site,
installation of waterproof layers and drainage system. The manager responsible for
the landfill reported that this initial stage of construction posed a major management
challenge, as several studies were necessary and, being one of the first landfills in
Brazil, the technology involved was not yet well known at the time. As the landfill
was being built, according to the manager, new technologies were tested, such as the
use of new waterproofing materials to replace the previously installed clay layer. The
interviewed manager also reported that as the amount of MSW sent to the landfill
increased, a larger volume of leachate was generated. This fact required frequent
modifications in the treatment system for this wastewater. Initially, the leachate was
treated only in a facultative pond. However, due to variability in leachate composition,
volume increase and process conditions, this method alone was no longer satisfactory.
Thus, new complementary options were necessary, such as aerated ponds, activated
sludge, physical and chemical treatment and wetlands.
Even if the landfill no longer receives MSW, it still requires monitoring and maintenance. The landfill still produces leachate, which needs to be properly collected
and treated. Due to this, the landfill manager stated that the treatment of leachate,
both during the landfill operation and after its deactivation, is one of the most challenging stages for the management of this type of disposal unit. Particularly for this
landfill, the interviewed manager also reported that the geotechnical monitoring is
an onerous step, necessary to ensure the geological stability of the massif on which
the deactivated landfill is located. Therefore, geological studies are also important,
but costly, according to the manager. Finally, it was reported that currently about
20 employees are responsible for the maintenance of the landfill. Services typically involve pruning and mowing, maintenance of landfill ducts and pipelines, and
operation of the leachate treatment plant.
After the deactivation of the Curitiba’s Sanitary Landfill, the municipality of
Curitiba joined an inter-municipal consortium and started sending its MSW to a sanitary landfill operated by a private company, located in the municipality of Fazenda
Rio Grande, Paraná, Brazil. This landfill serves, aside from Curitiba, other 23 municipalities. Its total area is approximately 2,600,000 m
2 , with 620,000 m
2 intended for
receiving MSW. The landfill receives an average of 2500 tons of waste per day
(Gimenes and Hising 2017).
E. C. Latocheski and J. C. P. Lofhagen
The total area of the Curitiba’s Sanitary Landfill is 1,015,000 m
2 , being 439,540 m
2
designated for waste disposal. In 2010, at the time of the end of operation, the landfill
received an average of 2400 tons of MSW per day. The landfill is managed by public
administrators. Information was obtained from the website of the Curitiba Municipal Secretary of the Environment (Curitiba Municipal Secretary of the Environment
2019) and also during interviews. After the deactivation in 2010, the Curitiba’s Sanitary Landfill became an area for environmental conservation. However, even if no
more MSW is received, the landfill still needs to be maintained for at least 30 years
after deactivation. The leachate treatment system remains operational and a team of
operators constantly monitors it.
During the first phase, a study was initially made to choose the best area for the
landfill, followed by a hydrogeological study, cleaning and preparation of the site,
installation of waterproof layers and drainage system. The manager responsible for
the landfill reported that this initial stage of construction posed a major management
challenge, as several studies were necessary and, being one of the first landfills in
Brazil, the technology involved was not yet well known at the time. As the landfill
was being built, according to the manager, new technologies were tested, such as the
use of new waterproofing materials to replace the previously installed clay layer. The
interviewed manager also reported that as the amount of MSW sent to the landfill
increased, a larger volume of leachate was generated. This fact required frequent
modifications in the treatment system for this wastewater. Initially, the leachate was
treated only in a facultative pond. However, due to variability in leachate composition,
volume increase and process conditions, this method alone was no longer satisfactory.
Thus, new complementary options were necessary, such as aerated ponds, activated
sludge, physical and chemical treatment and wetlands.
Even if the landfill no longer receives MSW, it still requires monitoring and maintenance. The landfill still produces leachate, which needs to be properly collected
and treated. Due to this, the landfill manager stated that the treatment of leachate,
both during the landfill operation and after its deactivation, is one of the most challenging stages for the management of this type of disposal unit. Particularly for this
landfill, the interviewed manager also reported that the geotechnical monitoring is
an onerous step, necessary to ensure the geological stability of the massif on which
the deactivated landfill is located. Therefore, geological studies are also important,
but costly, according to the manager. Finally, it was reported that currently about
20 employees are responsible for the maintenance of the landfill. Services typically involve pruning and mowing, maintenance of landfill ducts and pipelines, and
operation of the leachate treatment plant.
After the deactivation of the Curitiba’s Sanitary Landfill, the municipality of
Curitiba joined an inter-municipal consortium and started sending its MSW to a sanitary landfill operated by a private company, located in the municipality of Fazenda
Rio Grande, Paraná, Brazil. This landfill serves, aside from Curitiba, other 23 municipalities. Its total area is approximately 2,600,000 m
2 , with 620,000 m
2 intended for
receiving MSW. The landfill receives an average of 2500 tons of waste per day
(Gimenes and Hising 2017).