Landfill Leachate

Landfill Leachate and landfill gas are the main landfill hazards which waste disposal to land imposes the environment. Landfill leachate is the name given to waste water that has passed through solid waste and contains organic and mineral contaminants. Therefore this effluent must be treated before discharge to the environment. Landfill leachate is a major concern for landfill sites located in close proximity to agricultural land, waterways and the public domain. The leachate and runoff from the site is directed to, and stored in, on-site leachate ponds. Landfill leachate is a notoriously complex substance to deal with, primarily because of its ever-changing composition.

SCI is able to assist in the management of landfill leachate by reducing the amount of water that is allowed to penetrate the cap and enter into the solid waste containment area.  This is accomplished by enhancing the permeability coefficient of the soil within the project. Often times people will use clay for a low permeability soil solution, only to find that in dry times the clay will contract and crack. These cracks will not only allow for gas to escape but also for water to penetrate when the moisture returns to the area causing extremely high levels of landfill leachate.

SCI is able to help change this by stabilizing the available material and creating a firm impermeable layer of soil. By lowering the amount of water that is able to leach into the solid waste the amount of landfill leachate produced is lowered.  

For more information on our programs please download the following document regarding our landfill products and refer also to our section on permeability reduction.

SCI landfill leachate control information PDF

Article of interest

Geo-environmental Solutions Needed in Solving Containment Problems

Leachate Defined