Project value: EUR 7.0 million
Funding source: private investment, funds from international organizations and international technical assistance
One of the most important environmental problems associated with the operation of municipal solid waste landfills is the release of extremely toxic liquid effluent into the environment – leachate, which contains a significant amount of organic waste biodegradation products and hazardous water-soluble substances leached from the waste.
Landfill leachate poses a serious threat to surface and groundwater resources, in many cases with long-term effects. The leachate problem is not only relevant for active landfills, but also persists for decades after their closure and reclamation, posing a potential threat to the environment, as well as public health and safety.
The sources of leachate are precipitation, which, passing through the waste layer, leaches out water-soluble substances and decomposition products of organic waste.
The landfill of Zhytomyr City Territorial Community has been in operation since 1957 and covers an area of 18.7 hectares. During this time, the landfill has accumulated more than 15.0 million m3 (about 3.4 million tons) of solid household waste and 57.9 thousand m3 of leachate (accumulated in the filtration facility and the landfill body). In addition, taking into account the average annual precipitation, about 11.5 thousand m3 of leachate is generated annually.
The city wants to reclaim the landfill and build a filtration plant.