Afvalzorg folder Engels

T

he environmental impact from landfill sites can be reduced enormously by taking the right measures. This starts with the process of careful site selection, design and construction. Other important factors include daily operation management of leachate and landfill gas and closure of landfill sites. With the right closure and aftercare it is possible to transform landfills into valuable landscapes.

Landfill gas can be recovered and used to generate electricity and heat. Afvalzorg supports government bodies and private companies in all these phases of landfill development and management.

Afvalzorg head office: first permanent building on waste

Landfill sites: problem or opportunity?

Afvalzorg landfill site Nauerna, 80 hectares

Advice and support

Design and construction of landfill sites

Afvalzorg is the most specialised company in the Netherlands in the field of construction, management and final landscaping of landfill sites. We aim to reduce the negative effects of landfill sites and maximise the opportunities they provide. Afvalzorg is constantly looking for and implementing sustainable, environmentally sound and practical solutions. We collaborate with government bodies and private companies abroad in tackling landfill issues in their own countries. We also train local staff, providing them with the skills needed to carry out activities themselves.

In our site design procedures we comply with the current and future domestic and international regulatory framework. European countries, for example, must comply with the European Landfill Directive.

Afvalzorg advises on infrastructure, bottom liners, capping and subdivision into landfill cells. Our goal is to achieve economic and environmental benefits for both the short and long term.

Afvalzorg offers advice on: design and construction of landfill sites efficient and environmentally sustainable o peration of landfill sites leachate drainage and treatment landfill gas recovery and utilisation capping methods monitoring and aftercare measures redevelopment options implementation of sustainable landfilling

Operation Landfilling waste entails a number of risks. In the case of landfill sites without bottom liners, micro-contaminants can result in health risks.

At the same time, a landfill site can be a source of nuisance due to dust and noxious odours. A well thought-out site operation plan can avoid and reduce this nuisance. By making the right choices, efficient and safe waste processing operations can be guaranteed.

Leachate treatment Controlling the environmental impact of a landfill site is very important. Leachate (rain water that seeps through the landfill), landfill gas and dust must be managed and avoided as much as possible. A biologically-based water treatment process can ensure that leachate is treated properly to be discharged without any negative effects to the environment.

Landfill gas projects Landfill gas, a mixture of methane and carbon dioxide, is formed in the landfill body when organic material in the waste is anaerobically degraded. Uncontrolled release of landfill gas can create a number of problems including fires, explosions and odour nuisance.

Methane is also a potent greenhouse gas which is 25 times more powerful than carbon dioxide. The negative effects of landfill gas on and around landfills can be reduced by recovering landfill gas as much as possible. Recovered landfill gas can be used to generate electricity and heat. Instead of being a problem, landfill gas can be used for the production of "green energy" and thus gain revenues from waste. This way landfill gas projects form great incentives that will improve the design and operation of a landfill. When unsuitable

Services Afvalzorg can provide in landfill gas project development are: landfill gas generation and emission model calculations feasibility studies landfill gas project development design, build and operate landfill gas projects capacity building

Landfill gas recovery

for energy purposes, landfill gas is burned in a flare to prevent greenhouse gases from escaping into the atmosphere. Afvalzorg is highly experienced in landfill gas recovery and utilisation.

Capping and redevelopment Landfill sites that are full or no longer in use, can be closed and capped so that the waste is stored safely. The design of the final cap depends on the risks, the applicable regulations in the country concerned, available budget and end-use. Closed landfill sites can also be redeveloped into valuable sites. For landscape development Afvalzorg combines its knowledge of soil sanitation, waste disposal and the use of secondary materials. We have transformed landfill sites and contaminated sites into amenities that include a ski slope, recreation areas and golf courses. The ultimate example is our head office: the first permanent office ever built on waste. This way landfill sites can become a sustainable and valuable long-term solution for next generations.

Wind turbines and solar parks Landfill sites are often well-suited for the development of energy projects. Wind turbine development is a good opportunity for landfills in exploitation as well as for closed sites. With the electricity from wind turbines, a landfill site can be more than energy neutral. The surplus can be delivered to the grid. Afvalzorg also develops solar parks on its landfills after closure of the landfill and has founded an energy subsidiary for the realisation of sustainable energy projects.

Afvalzorg landfill site, redeveloped into recreational area

Innovation and sustainable landfill

International partner

Afvalzorg is constantly in search of new and innovative landfill techniques, both nationally and internationally. Afvalzorg is committed to develop even safer and more sustainable landfills. By sustainable we mean that no environmental problems are left behind for next generations. Since the 1990’s we have conducted an increasing amount of experiments to determine leachate behaviour, enabling us to better understand decomposition characteristics. Currently we are carrying out long term practical trials (10 years) at two of our sites in order to minimise emissions, thus making aftercare unnecessary.

Afvalzorg acts as an international partner in several projects. Our specialists frequently participate in waste management projects, capacity building projects, perform landfill gas feasibility studies and develop landfill gas to energy projects. In addition, Afvalzorg has developed national strategies and methodologies for the rehabilitation of old dumpsites, national guidance documents on landfill methane emission reduction, a European model strategy for aftercare management as well as local rehabilitation action plans.

International affiliations: Vice-chair of FEAD Landfill Committee International Solid Waste Association (ISWA) International Waste Working Group (IWWG) European Commission (chair of TAC working group on landfill methane emission reduction)

NV Afvalzorg Holding PO Box 2, 1566 ZG Assendelft, The Netherlands Telephone: +31 (0)88 - 801 08 01 E-mail: info@afvalzorg.com Internet: www.afvalzorg.com

SufalNet

FOL728/082016

Redeveloped Afvalzorg landfill site Schoteroog