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Landfill design: need for improvement of water and soil protection requirements in EU Landfill Directive

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Abstract

This paper deals with environmental policy issues related to a landfill design. The final product of numerous waste treatments should be placed on a landfill. Before waste disposal, the ground should be protected by a mineral layer with properties required by the related regulation. In order to prevent environment pollution, EU adopted the Landfill Directive 1999/31/EC. The most important technical requirements related to the characteristics of the layer material are water permeability and thickness. The performed comparative national regulatory analysis raised the question of the need for more uniform elaboration of the directive requirements over the whole European Union area (including EU candidates). The choice of the material for the impermeable mineral layer, which should be made during landfill design, is a very important decision. Methods for the determination of the permeability coefficient were analysed, showing that the Directive should define hydraulic gradient as a physical quantity and define its value through measurement of the permeability coefficient. The paper analyses whether some parts of the Directive, as landfill design BAT and base for national legislative acts, require further elaboration in order to provide sufficient information about proper protection of soil and water. Using integrated approach, seven amendments on the directive annex I were suggested related to (a) the meaning of the term artificially established geological barrier, (b) layer thickness, (c) water permeability coefficient determination, (d) mineral layer lifecycle, (e) the meaning of the term sealing and (f) leaching control of material joints.

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Acknowledgments

The authors are grateful to the Ministry of Education, Science and Technological Development of the Republic of Serbia (Project No. TR 34009) for its support. Special thanks to the ministries, and environmental protection agencies of European countries for their kind answers and relevant information.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Innovation Center, Faculty of Technology and Metallurgy, University of Belgrade, Karnegijeva 4, Belgrade, 11000, Serbia

    Ana Dajić, Marina Mihajlović, Milica Karanac, Dimitrije Stevanović & Jovan Jovanović

  2. Faculty of Technology and Metallurgy, University of Belgrade, Karnegijeva 4, Belgrade, 11000, Serbia

    Mića Jovanović

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  1. Ana Dajić
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  2. Marina Mihajlović
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  3. Mića Jovanović
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  4. Milica Karanac
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  5. Dimitrije Stevanović
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  6. Jovan Jovanović
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Correspondence to Mića Jovanović.

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Dajić, A., Mihajlović, M., Jovanović, M. et al. Landfill design: need for improvement of water and soil protection requirements in EU Landfill Directive. Clean Techn Environ Policy 18, 753–764 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10098-015-1046-2

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