SAFETY IN LANDFILLS:

Transcription

1 CH-6934 BIOGGIO (Switzerland) Tel: Fax: SAFETY IN LANDFILLS: PHOTOGRAPHIC DOCUMENTATION Combustion of landfill gas: the flame is invisible by daylight.. by putting some dry sticks to it, it does become visible

2 Landfill of Bogota (Columbia), Landslide of 800'000 m 3 of waste, mainly due to dysfunctional biogas and leachate abstraction ECONS SA - Doc_foto4_e$ - 31/01/03 11:28 1

3 Landfill of Ghemme (Italy), Underground migration of biogas from the closed landfill cells, causing the swelling of the PEAD lining (2.5 mm) of the new cell in preparation and constituting a hazard for the nearby industrial plant ECONS SA - Doc_foto4_e$ - 31/01/03 11:28 2

4 A. Combustion of biogas escaping from a settlement crack along the edge of the landfill (the flame has been made visible by adding another combustible to the flame. B. and C. Burning biogas is normally invisible, only the heat haze makes it noticeable: the car in c. was photographed through the flame. D. Landfill worker burned by a biogas flame. E., F. and G. The gas emitted from a hole in the ground was set alight and used as heat source by the personnel of the adjacent industrial facility. H. and I. Migration pathways of gas from the landfill towards the nearby industrial facilities. Landfill of Carate-Brianza (Italy) Top: A. Spontaneous emission of gas from cracks in the landfill cover. B., C. and D. Burning landfill gas is invisible by daylight, which constitutes an additional hazard, especially in the case of insufficiently trained personnel. Bottom (E to I): underground migration of biogas from the active portion of the landfill into the nearby industrial facility. ECONS SA - Doc_foto4_e$ - 31/01/03 11:28 3

5 B A B B A Landfill of Casate (Ticino, Switzerland), Underground migrations of gas into a home (A) and also endangering other nearby constructions (B). ECONS SA - Doc_foto4_e$ - 31/01/03 11:28 4

6 Landfill of Sarajevo (Jugoslavia), Landslide of part of the landfill (200'000 m 3 ), due to stability failure and probable ignition of the biogas (with possible presence of H 2 ): horizontal movement of the mass over about 1 km, ignition of the biogas emitted (probable hovercraft effect) and burial of a number of houses. ECONS SA - Doc_foto4_e$ - 31/01/03 11:28 5

7 B A Landfill of Santo Andre (Brazil), Landfill in operation, presenting stability problems and exerting pressure on a pipeline located some 10 m from the foot of the landfill (A); high production of biogas, probably resulting in lateral migrations and risks of infiltration into the houses located above the landfill, with ensuing safety hazards (B). ECONS SA - Doc_foto4_e$ - 31/01/03 11:28 6

8 B A Canabrava landfill (Brazil), Closure operations are in course. The landfill presents potential stability problems associated to a high gas production, resulting in the infiltration of gas in direction of the nearby stadium (A) and placing the neighbouring houses at risk (B). ECONS SA - Doc_foto4_e$ - 31/01/03 11:28 7

9 Landfill for the residues contaminated with dioxin from the Seveso incident (Italy, 1983). The gases produced by the anaerobic degradation of the organic matter present in the waste caused the PEAD membrane of the top cover to swell, with the ensuing risk of emission of hazardous substances mixed with flammable gases. Flammable gas also migrated into the leachate evacuation conduit. ECONS SA - Doc_foto4_e$ - 31/01/03 11:28 8

10 MSW landfill in S. Augustin (Germany) The biogas migrating in the subsoil infiltrated the neighbouring houses, which had to be evacuated. The creation of a cut-off trench to intercept the gas was of no avail! ECONS SA - Doc_foto4_e$ - 31/01/03 11:28 9

11 Landfill of Biella (Italy) The landfill gas migrating in the subsoil penetrated into the neighbouring houses, where an explosion resulted in the death of one person. ECONS SA - Doc_foto4_e$ - 31/01/03 11:28 10

12 A C B C A B Landfill of Cavenago (Italy) The landfill gas migrating in the subsoil penetrated into houses situated over 1 km away from the landfill (B) and caused damage to the vegetation (C) ECONS SA - Doc_foto4_e$ - 31/01/03 11:28 11

13 Landfill of Cerro (Italy) Following the rupture of the PEAD lining, the landfill gas is migrating into the surrounding terrain, which constitutes a hazard for a nearby shopping centre. The safety of the centre has now been guaranteed by the creation of a continuous monitoring system and construction of a dynamic barrier. ECONS SA - Doc_foto4_e$ - 31/01/03 11:28 12

14 One of the Los Angeles landfills (USA) Reuse of a landfill after closure. The area was reclaimed as a park (above left) and shows evidence of differential settlements. The road situated inside the limits of the waste deposit is settling towards the inside of the landfill (see the evidence of repeated repair work on the sidewalks). The houses built just off the edge of the landfill or partially on it are also subjected to settlements. Furthermore, landfill gas is emitted from the cracks that appear following the settlement of the waste mass (below right). Such land movements will continue for decades after closure of a landfill. ECONS SA - Doc_foto4_e$ - 31/01/03 11:28 13

15 Landfill of Vergiate (Italy) The landfill gas migrating in the subsoil penetrated into nearby constructions, constituting a serious hazard for people and property. It also damaged the surrounding vegetation. Operation of the landfill: MSW disposed of in the landfill: 2'800'000 t Accident: :00 explosion in a building adjacent to the landfill. In this case safety measures were disregarded. ECONS SA - Doc_foto4_e$ - 31/01/03 11:28 14

16 Landfill of Istanbul (Turkey) Severe stability problems cause very dangerous landslides for the landfill workers and lead to concentrated emissions of leachate, which then pollute the neighbouring surface waters.. ECONS SA - Doc_foto4_e$ - 31/01/03 11:28 15

17 1 CO N H 2 O 60 C 1 CH 4 2 O N 2 35'600 kj/m 3 gas air gas gas 60 C gas T amb. air gas 60 C biogas air biogas air air Landfill of Croglio (Switzerland) Unlined landfill, constructed following the specifications of the 1970s. Gas migrations were detected towards almost all the surrounding properties. The most significant occurred in a ravine bordering the landfill, where the gas encountered air diffusing through the loose soil of the ravine. This led to a heating of the subsoil up to 65, due to methane oxidation, causing the formation of spectacular hot gas plumes. ECONS SA - Doc_foto4_e$ - 31/01/03 11:28 16

18 Landfill of Mariano Comense: (Italy) Detachment of the top liner in clay and the overlying soil cover. ECONS SA - Doc_foto4_e$ - 31/01/03 11:28 17