Title: Comparison of landfill leachate generation and pollution potentials in humid and semi-arid climates

Authors: Taher Abunama; Faridah Othman; Tengku Ibrahim Tengku Nilam

Addresses: Department of Civil Engineering, University of Malaya, 50603, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia ' Department of Civil Engineering, University of Malaya, 50603, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia ' Faculty of Science, University of Malaya, 50603, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Abstract: Climate conditions e.g., rainfall water are highly affecting landfill leachate generation and characteristics. This article aims to assess leachate generation and pollution potentials from landfills in different climate conditions, e.g., humid and semi-arid regions. Leachate volumes have been estimated by hydrologic evaluation of landfill performance (HELP) model, and the main water quality parameters and heavy metals were in-situ and laboratory analysed. Results of annual leachate generation rates per one ton of waste in humid and semi-arid landfill were 0.148 and 0.079 m³ respectively. However, leachate pollutants from humid landfill showed lower concentrations comparing with semi-arid landfill. This was reflected in LPI results of 25.1 and 29.5 for both landfills, respectively. These results concluded that semi-arid leachate gave lower generation rates and higher pollution potential than humid leachate, which can be revealed to the dilution effect of high rainfall levels in humid climates.

Keywords: landfill leachate; humid and semi-arid climates; HELP mode; leachate pollution index; LPI.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEWM.2021.111906

International Journal of Environment and Waste Management, 2021 Vol.27 No.1, pp.79 - 92

Received: 17 Sep 2018
Accepted: 04 Jun 2019
Published online: 21 Dec 2020 *

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