Application of EASEWASTE model for assessing environmental impacts from solid waste landfilling

Dumping sites or landfills are considered as foremost common option of waste management worldwide. Dumping sites, often not lined, represent a potential environmental issue causing a long-term risk to the environment and health. A number of computers model-based studies have described the solid waste collection and its management, but provide little information about the relative contributions regarding environmental impacts of landfilling especially in the context of developing world. The aim of study was to estimate environmental impacts from dumping site by using EASEWASTE model. A case study was carried out at an old and closed dumping site filled with mixed waste without bottom liner, no leachate collection and gas collection. On the basis of the existing dumping site investigation, a Mahmood Booti Dumping Site Scenario was developed, and related data of waste generation & composition was collected and added to assess environmental impacts. The results show that human toxicity via soil (9.14E+09 m3 soil) had the highest potential impact, followed by global warming (8.83E+11 Kg CO2-eq), eco-toxicity in water (6.25E+11 m3 water), and eco-toxicity in soil (6.54E+10 m3 soil). This is mostly caused by leaching of heavy metals from ashes (e.g. residues from roads cleaning and vacuum cleaning bags), batteries, paper and metals. The adopted risk analysis approach uses easily accessible computer aided models, for open dumping sites, appears to be a key tool to assist decision makers in establishing priorities for remediation action.