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PROBLEM 5 NOMOR 8-11

8. Discuss human health risks due to composting and possible preventive measures.
9. Discuss various issues related to landfilling. Explain waste decomposition process in a
landfill.
10. Discuss landfill gas recovery and landfill reclamation.
11. Discuss various processes for thermal treatment of solid wastes. Discuss necessary
conditions for MSW incineration.
JAWAB
8. Composting risk for human health
MSW contains a number of chemical and biological agents, hence it contains a lot of
harmful substances. These contaminants may expose different populations to health hazards,
ranging from the composting plant workers to the consumers of vegetable products grown in
soils treated with compost. Health risks are due to occupational exposure to organic dusts,
bioaerosols and microorganisms in MSW composting plants. Potential health risks are due to
volatile organic compounds (VOCs) released during composting
Possible preventive measures risk for human health
8With respect to the health risks of compost, three are three main exposure routes for
thepopulation: a) ingestion of soils treated with compost, b) contamination through the food
chain by consumption of products cultivated in soils where compost has been applied, and c)
dispersion of atmospheric dust of compost that transports microorganisms and toxicants
susceptible of being inhaled.
9. WASTE DECOMPOSITION PROCESS IN LANDFILL
• MSW contains a large proportion of organic materials that naturally decompose when
landfilled.
• This decomposition process initially is aerobic where the main byproducts are carbon
dioxide, plus contaminated water. However, after the oxygen within the waste profile
is consumed, it switches over to anaerobic processes. In the anaerobic process, carbon
dioxide and methane are produced as waste decomposes. Liquid byproducts contain a
large concentration of various contaminants that naturally move toward the landfill’s
base.
• The decomposition process continues for many years. As this takes place, trace
quantities of materials that may have significant impacts upon the environment can be
contained in both the landfill gas and in the leachate. These trace materials are generated
until the landfill becomes completely stabilized. Although it isn’t known how long this
will take, some estimate between 300 and 1,000 years
10. LANDFILL GAS RECOVERY
• The waste deposited in a landfill gets subjected, over a period of time, to anaerobic
conditions and its organic fraction gets slowly volatilized and decomposed, leading to
production of landfill gas which contains a high percentage of methane (about 50%).
• Typically, production of landfill gas starts within a few months after disposal of wastes
and generally lasts for 10 years or even more depending upon mainly the composition
of wastes and availability of moisture. As the gas has a calorific value of around 4500
kcal/m3, it can be used as a source of energy either for direct heating/cooking
applications or to generate power through IC engines or turbines [6].
Advantages of Landfill Gas Recovery
• Reduced GHG emissions;
• Low cost means for waste disposal; and
• The gas can be utilized for power generation or as domestic fuel.
Disadvantages of Landfill Gas Recovery
• Inefficient gas recovery process yielding only 30-40% of the total amount of gas
actually generated. Balance gas escapes to the atmosphere (significant source of two
major green house gases, carbon-dioxide and methane);
• Utilization of methane may not be feasible for remote sites;
• Cost of pre-treatment to upgrade the gas may be high; and
• Spontaneous ignition/explosions may occur due to possible build up of methane
concentrations in atmosphere.
LANDFILL RECLAMATION
• An approach used to expand municipal solid waste (MSW) landfill capacity and avoid
the high cost of acquiring additional land.
• The equipment used for reclamation projects is adapted primarily from technologies
already in use in the mining industry, as well as in construction and other solid waste
management operations [7].
Steps in Landfill Reclamation
(i) Excavation: An excavator removes the contents of the landfill cell. A front-end loader
then organizes the excavated materials into manageable stockpiles and separates out
bulky material, such as appliances and lengths of steel cable.
(ii) Soil Separation (Screening): A trommel (i.e., a revolving cylindrical sieve) or
vibrating screens separates soil (including the cover material) from solid waste in the
excavated material. The size and type of screen used depends on the end use of the
recovered material. For example, if the reclaimed soil typically is used as landfill
cover, a 2.5-inch screen is used for separation. If, however, the reclaimed soil is sold
as construction fill, or for another end use requiring fill material with a high fraction
of soil content, a smaller mesh screen is used to remove small pieces of metal, plastic,
glass, and paper. Trommel screens are more effective than vibrating screens for basic
landfill reclamation. Vibrating screens, however, are smaller, easier to set up, and
more mobile [8].
Benefits of Landfill Reclamation
• Extending landfill capacity at the current site
• Generating revenues from the sale of recyclable materials
• Lowering operating costs or generating revenues from the sale of reclaimed soil
• Reducing landfill closure costs and reclaiming land for other uses
• Retrofitting liners and removing hazardous materials
Drawbacks of Landfill Reclamation
• Managing hazardous materials
• Controlling releases of landfill gases and odors
• Controlling subsidence or collapse
• Excavation of one landfill area can undermine the integrity of adjacent cells, which
can
sink or collapse into the excavated area.
• Increasing wear on excavation and MWC equipment
11. Necessary conditions for MSW incineration
The key requirements in the incineration of MSW are as follows:
 A minimum combustion temperature of 850oC for 2 seconds of the resulting
combustion products
 Specific emission limits for the release of SO2, NOx, HCl, volatile organic
compounds (VOCs), CO, particulate (fly ash), heavy metals, dioxins, etc. to the
atmosphere.
 Bottom ash that is produced has a total organic carbon content of less than 3%.

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