Site Selection & Environmental Aspects of

Hazardous Waste Disposal Site

Arjesh SharmaSenior Manager

Pollution Control Research InstituteBHEL, Haridwar

arjesh@bhelhwr.co.in

What is Waste ?

By : Chem. Manuf. Asso., USA Any gas, liquid or solid residual material at a factory,

whether hazardous or non hazardous,

that is not used further in the production of a commercial product or provision of a service and which itself is not a commercial product.

Other Def. : Waste is a resource at a wrong place.

Hazardous Waste

Any waste

which by reason of any of its Physical, Chemical, Reactive, Toxic, Flammable, Explosive or Corrosive characteristics

causes danger or is likely to cause danger to health or environment,

whether alone or when in contact with other waste or substances.

Basel Convention/ Declaration

The Basel Convention (Article 4) requires each party to

minimise waste generation and to ensure, to the extent

possible, the availability of disposal facilities within its own

territory.

With the objective of environmentally sound management

(ESM) of hazardous wastes, the Convention aimed at

protecting human health and the environment by minimizing

hazardous waste production to the extent possible.

Basel Convention/ Declaration

1989 Adoption - After a public outcry against the indiscriminate

dumping of hazardous wastes in developing countries by developed-

world industries, a diplomatic conference held in Basel, Switzerland,

adopted the Convention.

1992 Basel Convention enters into force.

1995 Ban Amendment - The Amendment calls for prohibiting exports

of hazardous wastes (for any purpose)

1999 Ministerial Declaration - The Basel Declaration -special

emphasis on minimizing hazardous waste.

1998 Classification and Characterizations of Wastes

Gaps & Recommendations

Survey and Inventorisation of hazardous wastes

Setting up of Hazardous wastes and treatment facility

Identification of sites for disposal

Insufficient information on the quantity and risks associated

Inadequate monitoring and enforcement of regulations

Lack of awareness of the risk to health, safety and

environment

Lack of proper infrastructure for safe containment/disposal.

Waste Management

Method Advantages Disadvantages

Open Dumping

- Inexpensive - Health Hazard, Insects, Rodents

- Air Pollution

- Water Pollution

- Aesthetics Problem

Secure

Land fill

Large volume can be disposed Cost effective Filled land can be reused

Settlement require maintenance. Requires proper planning, design &

operation

Incineration Volume reduction Minimum land requirement Safer than land fill Detoxification of waste Converts waste to solid Heat can be recovered

Can cause air pollution Proper operation/management

/maintenanceCan’t destroy non organic and metallic

toxicity

Waste Management

Method Advantages Disadvantages

Composting

( Vermi composting)/

Land application

- Easy

- Get manure

- Needs segregation

- Can be done only non hazardous organic wastes

- Hazardous waste may creep in not properly segregated, Water pollution, Hazards

Deep well injection

No land required No treatment

required

May polluted ground water May cause underground explosions etc . Unpredictable

Reuse Waste reduction Resource

conservation Saving Lesser cost of

treatment & disposal

Time taking May need investment Unavailability of appropriate tech.May be costlier than products made by using

virgin raw material

Human

Ground water

Leachate

Organics, Heavy metal, Toxicity

Surface water

Runoff

Food chain & drinking water

Contamination of Soil & Water

Plants

Open dump

Gaseous emissions

Animals

Food chain

Air pollution

Bacteria, Pests

Infection

Pathways of Exposure to Health Hazards

Impacts Associated with Disposal Sites

Environmental Impacts Health Impacts Aesthetic Impacts

Chemical Entities Biological Entities

Social ImpactsAir Environment

Water Environment

Land Environment

• Gaseous

emissions • SPM• Fire

• Intermediate

decomposition

products

• Toxic

constituents

• Animals

• Birds

• Pathogens

• Activities of adjoining population

• Odour• Litter• Vision

• Changes in

Soil Properties • Land

Contamination

• Surface & Ground Water Pollution

Basic Approach In Hazardous Waste Management

Identification of Hazardous waste generation.

Inventorization of hazardous waste

Waste characteristics

Quantification of hazardous waste

Identification of sites for disposal- Their ranking

Conducting EIA

Implementing/ Operation of disposal sites

Site Selection Criteria

Mapping of constraint

Identification of potential sites

Preliminary survey(walk over survey)

Site investigation on preferred sites

Ranking of sites

Final decision

Depending on• Transport• Natural conditions• Land use pattern• Safety

Depending on• Target land area required• Land ownership• Current use

Preliminary assessment of physical and environmental conditions of the site and surrounding area

• Geology• Hydrogeology• Climatological• Land• Social etc.

Attribute ranking

Selection of potential sites

Short-listing of potential sites

Short-listing of potential sites

Step 1

Step 2

Step 3

Step 4

Step 5

Step 6

Investigation includes detail survey of

Site Selection

Haz. Waste landfill preferably be located in areas of

Low Population density

Low alternative land use value

Low ground water contamination potential &

Sites having high clay content in the subsoil

Site Selection

Guidelines

■ Earmarking a “search area” taking into account of

the waste generation units – Typically 5 to 250 KMs

■ Identification of a list potential sites on the basis of

1. Availability of land

2. Collection of preliminary data

3. Restrictions listed in the locational criteria

Site Selection

Collection of preliminary data Topographic maps Soil maps Land use plans Transportation maps Water use plans Flood plain maps Geologic maps Aerial photographs / Satellite imagery Ground water maps Rainfall data Wind map Seismic data Site visit Preliminary Boreholes & Geophysical investigation

Selection of two/three best ranked sites

Site Selection

Environmental Impact Assessment for the two/three sites for the following parameters. Ground water quality Surface water quality Air quality – gases, dust , litter, odour Land use alteration Drainage alteration Soil erosion Ecological impacts Noise Aesthetics – visual, vermin, flies Traffic alteration

Site Selection

Assessment of public perception for the sites

Selection of Final Site

The above procedure does not apply for location of

facility within industrial areas of State industrial

development agencies. However EIA requirement

will apply

Site Selection Attributes Considered

Accessibility Receptor EnvironmentalWaste Mgmt

Practice Geological

Road type Population Critical Env.WasteQuantity

SoilPermeability

CollectionDistance

DrinkingWaterDistance

Surface WaterDistance Life of Site

Erosion &Runoff

Soc EconomicResidentsUse of Site

GroundwaterDepth Climatological

RockCharacteristics

Health Landuse Contamination Precipitation Soil Depth

JobOpportunities

PropertyValue Water Quality

Air PollutionContribution Slope Pattern

Odour Public Utility Air Quality Seismicity

VisionPublicacceptability Soil Quality

Reasons for Variation of Contaminants

Solid Waste Characterisation Site Hydrology Season Climate Rainfall Site Age Moisture Wind flow/Direction/Intensity Physical, Chemical and

Biological activities

Preliminary Assessment for Selection of Candidate site

Preliminary Assessment Candidate sites to be identified based on the satellite

imageries and topographical sheets of the area. Preliminary studies with respect to their prominent

features, surrounding establishments and their proximity to drinking water sources, habitation and present usage etc. has to be done.

Rejection or knockout criteria Characteristics of land Geology, Hydro-geology Ground Water Conditions Ecological considerations

Preliminary Assessment for Rejection Criteria

Unstable geological features like – Unstable or weak soils: organic soil, soft clay or clay-sand mixtures, soils that lose strength with compaction or with wetting, clays with a shrink-swell character, sands subject to subsidence and hydraulic influence.

Subsidence owing to subsurface mines, oil or gas withdrawal; or solution-prone subsurface

Flood prone areas

Areas within 500 meter from water supply zone and within 200 meter from property line

Preliminary Assessment for Rejection Criteria

■ Natural depression and valleys where water contamination is likely

■ Areas of ground water recharge and extremely high water table zone

■ Unique habitation areas, close to national parks with scenic beauty

■ Areas with high population, unique archaeological, historical and religious interests

■ Agricultural and forest lands and existing dump sites

Preliminary Assessment for Rejection Criteria

■ Atmospheric conditions that would prevent safe

dispersal of an accidental release

■ Major natural hazards : e.g. volcanic activity, seismic

disturbance and landslides

■ Sensitive locations : e.g storing flammable or

explosive materials; airports.

Preliminary Assessment for Rejection Criteria

The identified site are excluded if the following conditions are existing :

- An unfavourable local hydro-geological situation, e.g. springs or drinking water wells within very close proximity to the chosen area- Extremely bad access, i.e. no existing access roads to the selected area which may involve- Long distance more than 5 km from main roads

Preliminary Assessment for Rejection Criteria

- Access roads passing densely populated areas - Great differences in altitude between the area of waste collection and the selected site

- Very intense agricultural use

- Inadequate available area

- Difficult geological situation, danger of mass movements, too steep slopes, strata-bound groundwater etc.

Secure Landfill

Compacted soil of low permeability

Monitoring Wells

Gas Water

To Leachate Treatment Plant

To Gas recovery System

Protective Clay layer

Solid Waste

Leachate collection sump

Leachate collection & removal system

Leachate detection , collection & removal system

Protective liners

Drain pipes

Surface Runoff diversion

Detailed Site Investigation

The main objective of the detailed evaluation is to assign the relative rank to the potential sites among themselves.

Before taking up detail evaluation, base line data regarding the site and it's surroundings have to be collected on Ambient air quality Water quality Ambient Noise quality Soil quality

Detailed Site Investigation

The sites have to be investigated for

Site Specific Information; proximity to the waste source, slope at site, topography, accessibility, meteorology etc.

Hydro-geology/Geology; Ground water table fluctuation, ground water direction, ground water quality, depth to bed rock, soil type, geo-technical features etc

Socio-economic Features; land use, demography, transportation impact etc.

Site Selection Through Ranking

Attribute and Site Sensitive Index Site sensitive index graded in 4 categories Receptor related attributes influencing human habitation in the

vicinity Environment related attributes covering pollution pathways Accessibility related attributes covering house distance Socio-economic related attributes influencing social

environment Waste management related attributes covering composition and

quality of the waste Geological related attributes covering hydro geological aspects

Sr. No.

Attribute 0.0-0.25 0.25-0.5 0.5-0.75 0.75-1.0

Accessibility Related

1. Type of road National highway

State highway Local road No road

2. Distance from collection area < 10 km 10-20 km 20-25 km > 25 km

Receptor Related

3. Population within 500 meters 0 to 100 100 to 250 250 to 1000 > 1000

4. Distance to nearest drinking water source

> 5000 m 2500 to 5000 m

1000 to 2500 m

< 1000 m

5. Use of site by nearby residents

Not used Occasional Moderate Regular

6. Distance to nearest building > 3000 m 1500 to 3000 m

500 to 1500 m

< 500 m

7. Land use/Zoning Completely remote (zoning not applicable)

Agricultural Commercial or industrial

Residential

8. Decrease in property value with respect to distance

> 5000 m 2500 to 5000 m

1000 to 2500 m

< 1000 m

9. Public utility facility within 2 kms

Commercial and industrial area

National heritage

Hospital Air port

Development of Site Sensitivity Index

Contd...

Sr.No.

Attribute 0.0-0.25 0.25-0.5 0.5-0.75 0.75-1.0

10. Public acceptability Fully accepted Acceptance withsuggestions

Acceptancewith majorchanges

Non acceptance

Environmental Related

11. Critical environment Not a criticalenvironment

Pristine naturalareas

Wetlands,flood plains,and preservedareas

Major habitat ofendangered orthreatened species

12. Distance to nearestsurface water

> 8000 m 1500 to8000 m

500 to1500 m

< 500 m

13. Depth to ground water > 30 m 15 to 30 m 5 to 15 m < 5 m

14. Contamina-tion No contamina-tion Soil contamina-tion only

Biota-contamina-tion

Air, water or foodcontamina-tion

15. Water quality Confirming tostandard

Potable Polluted Highly polluted

16. Air quality Confirming toresidential standards

Confirming toindustrialstandards

Polluted Highly polluted

17. Soil quality No contamina-tion Average Contami-nated Highly contami-nated

Socio-economic Related

18. Health No problem Moderate High Severe

19. Job opportunities High Moderate Low Very low

20. Odour No odour Moderate odour High odour Intensive foul odour

Contd...

Sr.No.

Attribute 0.0-0.25 0.25-0.5 0.5-0.75 0.75-1.0

21. Vision Site not seen Site partly seen(25%)

Site partly seen(75%)

Site fully seen

Waste Management Practice Related

22. Waste quantity/day < 250 tonnes 250 to 1000tonnes

1000 to 2000tonnes

> 2000 tonnes

23. Life of site > 20 years 10-20 years 2-10 years < 2 years

Climatological Related

24. Precipitation effectivenessindex*

< 31 31 to 63 63 to 127 > 127

25. Climatic featurescontributing to Air pollution

No problem Moderate High Severe

Geological Related

26. Soil permeability > 1 X 10-7 cm/sec. 1 X 10-5 to1 x 10-7

cm/sec.

1 X 10-3 to1 x 10-5

cm/sec.

< 1 X 10-3

cm/sec.

27. Depth to bedrock > 20 m 10 to 20 m 3 to 10 m < 3 m

28. Susceptibility to erosionand run-off

Not susceptible Potential Moderate Severe

29. Thickness of bedrock > 20 m 20-10 m 10-2 m < 2 m

30. Physical characteris-tics ofrock

MassiveWeathered

Highly weathered

31. Depth of soil layer > 5 m 2-5 m 1-2 m < 1 m

32. Slope pattern < 1% 1-2% 2-5% > 10%

33. Seismicity Zone I Zone II Zone III Zone IV & V

* Precipitation effectiveness index is the ratio of annual precipitation of annual evaporation

Ranking Methodology

Using Delphi Technique

Weightage allocation based on importance and

pairwise comparison

Site score calculation based on site sensitive index

and individual attribute weightage

Facilitates in the selection of the best available site

Site with least score will be less sensitive to

impact hence most acceptable

Attribute Attributemeasurement

Sensitivity index Weightage Attribute score

Accessibility Related

Type of road 25

Distance from collection point 35

Total 60

Receptor related

Population within 500 meters 50

Distance to nearest drinkingwater source

55

Use of site by nearby residents 25

Distance to nearest building 15

Land use/Zoning 35

Decrease in property value withrespect to distance

15

Public utility facility within 2 kms 25

Public acceptability 30

Total 250

Contd...

Worksheet for Ranking of Sites

Name of site :

Location :

Attribute Attributemeasurement

Sensitivity index Weightage Attribute score

Environmental Related

Critical environments 45

Distance to nearest surfacewater

55

Depth to ground water 65

Contamination 35

Water quality 40

Air quality 35

Soil quality 30

Total 305

Socio-economic Related

Health 40

Job opportunities 20

Odour 30

Vision 20

Total 110

Waste Management Practice Related

Waste quantity/day 45

Life of site 40

Total 85

Contd...

Attribute Attributemeasurement

Sensitivity index Weightage Attribute score

Climatological Related

Precipitationeffectiveness index

25

Climatic featurescontributing to Airpollution

15

Total 40

Geological Related

Soil permeability 35

Depth to bedrock 20

Susceptibility toerosion & run-off

15

Physical characteristicsof rock

15

Depth of soil layer 30

Slope pattern 10

Seismicity 20

Total 150

Grand Total 1000

Aggregating Score for Site Selection

The site suitability decreases with increase in the total score

Total Score Site Description

< 300 Less sensitive to the impacts (preferable)

300 to 750 Moderate

> 750 Highly sensitive to the impacts (undesirable)

Lining Mechanism

Waste Put on this

NEEDED A LANDFILL

WITH DOUBLE LINER

AND LEACHATE COLLECTION SYSTEM

First HDPE Layer- March 2002

Leachate Pipe & Filter Media on First HDPE layer – Sept 2002

Second HDPE Lining under progress – Oct 2002

Double Composite LinerMeets National StandardsMeets RFP RequirementsMeets RCRA Subtitle ‘C’ SpecificationsSecure Engineered LandfillPhased Approach

Secure Landfill Facility

A Safe and Sound Handling

A Safe and Sound Handling

A Safe and Sound Handling

28 TM PALFINGER CRANE

MOUNTED ON A 25 t TRUCK

Protection during rains

Protection During Rains

Capped LandfillLandfill under capping

Environment Management Plan

Air Quality Monitoring and Management

Periodic Monitoring of air quality

Maintenance of grass cover

Black top roads

Odor control by rapid stabilization

Minimizing working distances internally

Green belt development to attenuate noise

Silencers to generators and vehicles

Environment Management Plan

Water Quality – Surface and Ground

Clean water diversion

Proper leachate management

Periodic Monitoring

Double composite liner system

Effective drainage system

Appropriate capping

Spill control procedures

Environment Management Plan

Activity wise Mitigation Measures During Site Clearance Construction Operation Closure Post-closure Phase

EMP should also delineate the environmental monitoring plan for compliance of various environmental regulations

Thank You