Co-disposal of industrial wastes with municipal solid wastes

• Published in: Resources, conservation and recycling Vol. 4; no. 1; pp. 33 - 49
• Main Author: Rushbrook, P.E.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 1990
• ISSN: 0921-3449; 1879-0658
• DOI: 10.1016/0921-3449(90)90032-Y

The disposal of solid wastes in landfill sites is often a cause for public concern. This need not be the case. It is argued that upgrading landfill disposal operations to acceptable “controlled” (“sanitary”) standards is an essential first step to improve the quality of a solid waste management service in any municipality. Landfill capacity will always be required and hence landfilling should be conducted in the best way possible, appropriate to the standards sought locally. Good solid waste landfill provides a foundation from which a municipality can develop an expanded range of waste management options. These may include mechanised waste treatment, incineration, and resource recovery. In addition, the controlled landfilling of municipal wastes can provide an opportunity for the safer disposal of many (but not necessarily all) of the industrial wastes which are generated from manufacturing operations. This paper also calls on international funding agencies to promote and encourage projects on siting and upgrading of municipal and industrial waste landfill operations. Such projects would support and supplement the existing international programmes which promote resource recovery.