Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Scenario of Landfilling in India: Problems, Challenges, and Recommendations

  • Reference work entry
  • First Online:
Handbook of Environmental Materials Management

Abstract

Landfilling is one of the major municipal solid waste (MSW) disposal methods practiced worldwide. Though it is considered most cost-effective means of waste disposal, but poor management practices specially in developing countries like India are the major causes of environmental pollution. Recently several studies have been carried out to understand the effects of landfill pollution on human health as well on the environment. Toxic gas emissions from landfills pose a serious threat to the environment as well as on human health. Some studies have shown that toxic gases released from landfill sites are even responsible for lung and heart diseases in humans. Landfills also generate a toxic soup known as leachate, formed when waste is subjected to biological and physiochemical transformation. Leachate is highly toxic and causes land and groundwater pollution. This chapter aims to address the problems, both environmental and toxicological, associated with the landfills, the challenges faced in the current scenario, and the possible measures that can be taken to deal with the problem of municipal solid waste management successfully.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 999.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Hardcover Book
USD 1,199.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  • Abbas AA, Jingsong G, Ping LZ, Ya PY, Al-Rekabi WS (2009) Review on landfill leachate treatments. Am J Appl Sci 6(4):672–684

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Adeyemi O, Oloyede O, Oladiji A (2006) Effect of leachate-contaminated groundwater on the growth and blood of albino of rats. Int J Hematol 3(2):1–6

    Google Scholar 

  • Agusa T, Kunito T, Nakashima E, Minh TB, Tanabe S, Subramanian A (2003) Preliminary on trace element contamination in dumping sites of municipal wastes in India and Vietnam. J Phys IV 107:21–24

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Akinbile CO, Yusoff MS (2011) Environmental impact of leachate pollution on groundwater supplies in Akure, Nigeria. Int J Environ Sci Dev 2(1):81–86

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Alekhya M, Divya N, Jyothirmai G, Reddy KR (2013) Secured landfills for disposal of municipal solid waste. Int J Eng Res Gen Sci 1(1):1–5

    Google Scholar 

  • Aljaradin M, Persson KM (2012) Environmental impact of municipal solid waste landfills in semi-arid climates – case study – Jordan. Open Waste Manag J 5:28–39

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Al-Khatib IA, Monou M, Abu Zahara ASF, Shahen HO, Kassions D (2010) Solid waste characterizations quantification and management practices in developing countries, a case study: Nablus District-Palestine. J Environ Manag 91:1131–1138. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2010.01.003

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Annepu RK (2012) Report on sustainable solid waste management in India. Waste-to-Energy Research and Technology Council (WTERT) 1-189. See http://swmindia.blogspot.in/. Accessed 26 Apr 2018

  • Baig S, Coulomb I, Courant P, Liechti P (1999) Treatment of landfill leachates: Lapeyrouse and Satrod case studies. Ozone Sci Eng 21:1–22

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Best practices of Solid Waste Management in Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (2014). Solid Waste Management Department, Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation. http://www.mgsm-gujarat.in/

  • Chian ESK, De Walle FB (1976) Sanitary landfill leachates and their treatment. J Environ Eng Div 102:411–431

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Christensen TH, Kjeldsen P (1989) Basic biochemical processes in landfills. In: Christensen TH, Cossu R, Stegmann R (eds) Sanitary landfilling. Process, technology and environmental impact. Academic, London, pp 29–49

    Google Scholar 

  • Christensen TH, Cossu R, Stegmann R (1992) Landfill Leachate: An Introduction. In: Christensen TH, Cossu R, Stegmann R (eds) Landfilling of waste: leachate. Elsevier Applied Science Publishers, London/New York, pp 3–14

    Google Scholar 

  • Christian L, Stefanie H, Samuel S (2003) Springer, Berlin/Heidelberg, 3(2):11–35

    Google Scholar 

  • CPCB (2013) Status report on municipal solid waste management. Retrieved from http://www.cpcb.nic.in/divisionsofheadoffice/pcp/MSW_Report.pdf; http://pratham.org/images/paper_on_ragpickers.pdf

  • CPCB (Central pollution Control Board) (2000) Management of municipal solid waste Delhi. See http://www.cpcb.nic.in/divisionsofheadoffice/pcp/MSW_Report.pdf. Accessed 27 Apr 2018

  • Dasgupta B, Yadav VL, Mondal MK (2013) Seasonal characterization and present status of municipal solid management in Varanasi, India. Adv Environ Res 2:51

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Daskalopoulos E, Badr O, Probert SD (1998) An integrated approach to municipal solid waste management. Resour Conserv Recycl 24(1):33–50

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dawane PS, Gawande SM (2015) Solid waste management- A review. Int J Curr Res 7(5):16019–16024

    Google Scholar 

  • El-Fadel M, Findikakis AN, Leckie JO (1997) Environmental impacts of solid waste landfilling. J Environ Manag 50(1):1–25

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Energy Information Administration (EIA) (2003) Emissions of Greenhouse Gases in the United States Comparison of global warming potentials from the IPCC’s second and third assessment reports

    Google Scholar 

  • Gelberg KH (1997) Health study of New York City department of sanitation landfill employees. J Occup Environ Med 39:1103–1110

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ghosh P, Gupta A, Thakur IS (2015) Combined chemical and toxicological evaluation of leachate from municipal solid waste landfill sites of Delhi, India. Environ Sci Pollut Res 22:9148–9158

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ghosh P, Thakur IS, Kaushik A (2017) Bioassays for toxicological risk assessment of landfill leachate: a review. Ecotoxicol Environ Saf 141:259–270

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Gómez G, Meneses M, Ballinas L, Castells F (2009) Seasonal characterization of municipal solid waste (MSW) in the city of Chihuahua, Mexico. Waste Manag 29:2018–2024

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gupta D, Singh SK (2015) Energy use and greenhouse gas emissions from waste water treatment plants. J Environ Eng 7:1–10

    Google Scholar 

  • Harsem J (1983) Identification of organic compounds in leachate from a waste tip. Water Res 17:699–705

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ikem A, Osibanjo O, Sridhar MKC, Sobande A (2002) Evaluation of groundwater quality characteristics near two waste sites in Ibadan and Lagos, Nigeria’. Water Air Soil Pollut 140:307–333

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • International Energy Agency (2008) Turning a liability into an Asset: Landfill methane utilization potential in India. Retrieved from https://www.iea.org/publications/freepublications/publication/India_methane.pdf

  • Islam MR, Razi KAA, Hasan MR, Hasan MH, Alam S (2013) Effect of leachate on surrounding surface water: case study in Rajbandh sanitary landfill site in Khulna City, Bangladesh. Global J Res Eng 13(2):12–17

    Google Scholar 

  • ISWA (International Solid Waste Association) (2012) Globalization and waste management final report from the ISWA task force. See http://www.iswa.org/knowledgebase/tfgfinal. Accessed 27 Apr 2018

  • IUKR (Indo-UK Seminar Report) (2015) Sustainable solid waste management for cities: opportunities in SAARC countries. See http://www.neeri.res.in/Short%20Report_Indo-UK%20Seminar%20(25-27th%20March%202015.pdf). Accessed 28 Apr 2018

  • James SC (1977) Metals in municipal landfill leachate and their health effects. Am J Public Health 67(5):429–432

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Jhamnani B, Singh SK (2009) Groundwater contamination due to Bhalaswa landfill site in New Delhi. Int J Environ Sci Eng 1(3):121–125

    Google Scholar 

  • Kangsepp P, Mathiasson L (2009) Performance of a full-scale biofilter with peat and ash as a medium for treating industrial landfill leachate: a 3-year study of pollutant removal efficiency. Waste Manag Res 27(2):147–158

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kanmani S, Gandhimathi R (2012) Assessment of heavy metal contamination in soil due to leachate migration from an open dumping site. Appl Water Sci 3(1):193–205. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13201-012-0072-z

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kjeldsen P, Barlaz MA, Rooker AP, Baun A, Ledin A, Christensen TH (2002) Present and long-term composition of MSW landfill leachate: a review. Crit Rev Environ Sci Technol 32(4): 297–336. https://doi.org/10.1080/10643380290813462

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kumar A, Sharma MP (2014) Estimation of GHG emission and energy recovery potential from MSW landfill sites. Sustainable Energy Technol Assess 5:50–61

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kumar S, Bhattacharyya JK, Vaidya AN, Chakrabarti T, Devotta S, Akolkar AB (2009) Assessment of the status of municipal solid waste management in metro cities, state capitals, class I cities, and class II towns in India: an insight. Waste Manag 29:883–895. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wasman.2008.04.011

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kumar S, Smith SR, Fowler G, Velis C, Kumar SJ, Arya SR, Kumar R, Cheeseman C (2017) Challenges and opportunities associated with waste management in India. R Soc Open Sci 4:160764. https://doi.org/10.1098/rsos.160764

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lema JM, Mendez R, Blazquez R (1988) Characteristics of landfill leachates and alternatives for their treatment: a review. Water Air Soil Pollut 40:223–250

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Liu J (2008) Municipal solid waste Management in China. Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tsinghua University, China

    Google Scholar 

  • Lou Z, Chai X, Niu D, Ou Y, Zhao Y (2009) Size-fractionation and characterization of landfill leachate and the improvement of Cu2+ adsorption capacity in soil and aged refuse. Waste Manag 29(1):143–152

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Malakootian M, Dowlatshahi S (2007) Variations of chemical quality for drinking water sources in Zarand plain. Iran J Environ Health Sci Eng 4(4):257–262

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Minh NH, Minh TB, Watanabe M, Kunisue T, Monirith I, Tanabe S (2003) Open dumping site in Asian developing countries: a potential source of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and polychlorinated dibenzofurans. J Environ Sci Technol 37:1493–1502

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Minh NH, Minh TB, Kajiwara N, Kunisue T, Subramanian A, Iwata H, Tana TS, Baburajendran R, Karuppiah S, Viet PH, Tuyen BC, Tanabe S (2006) Contamination by persistent organic pollutants in dumping sites of Asian developing countries: implication of emerging pollution sources. Environ Contam Toxicol 50:474–481

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • MoEF (Ministry of Environment and Forests) (2000) The gazette of India. Municipal solid waste (management and handling) rules, New Delhi. http://cpcb.nic.in/displaypdf.php?id=aHdtZC9NU1dfQW5udWFsUmVwb3J0XzIwMDEtMDIucGRm

  • Moo-Young H, Johnson B, Johnson A, Carson D, Lew C, Liu S, Hancock K (2004) Characterization of infiltration rates from landfills: supporting groundwater modeling efforts. Environ Monit Assess 96:283–311

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mor S, Ravindra K, Dahiya RP, Chandra A (2006) Leachate characterization and assessment of groundwater pollution near municipal solid waste landfill site. Environ Monit Assess 118(1–3): 435–456

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Nagarajan R, Thirumalaisamy S, Lakshumanan E (2012a) Impact of leachate on groundwater pollution due to non-engineered municipal solid waste landfill sites of erode city, Tamil Nadu, India. Iran J Environ Health Sci Eng 9:35. https://doi.org/10.1186/1735-2746-9-35

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Nagarajan R, Thirumalaisaumalaisamy S, Lakshumanan E, Eakshumanan E (2012b) Impact of leachate on groundwater pollution due to non-engineered municipal solid waste landfill sites of erode city, Tamil Nadu, India. Iran J Environ Health Sci Eng 9(1):1–12

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Narayana T (2009) Municipal solid waste management in India: from waste disposal to recovery of resources? Waste Manag 29:1163–1166

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Nduka JK, Anyakora C, Obi E, Obumselu FO, Ezenwa TE, Ngozi-Olehi LC (2013) Polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and inorganic chemical contaminants at refuse dumpsites in Awka, South Eastern Nigeria: a public health implication. J Sci Res Rep 2:173–189

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Olsson S, Gustafsson JP, Kleja DB, Bendz D, Persson I (2009) Metal leaching from MSWI bottom ash as affected by salt or dissolved organic matter. Waste Manag 29(2):506–512

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Pear Experience and Reflective Learning (PEARL) (2015) Urban Solid Waste Management in Indian Cities-Compendium of Good Practices. National Institute of Urban Affairs, Core 4B, India Habitat Centre, New Delhi

    Google Scholar 

  • Planning Commission Report (2014) Reports of the task force on waste to energy (Vol-I) (in the context of Integrated MSW management). Retrieved from http://planningcommission.nic.in/reports/genrep/rep_wte1205.Pdf

  • Poulsen OM, Breum NO, Ebbehoj N, Hansen AM, Ivens UI, van Lelieveld D, Malmros P, Matthiasen L, Nielsen BH, Nielsen EM (1995) Sorting and recycling of domestic waste: review of occupational health problems and their possible causes. Sci Total Environ 168:33–56

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Rachel G, Damodaran N, Panesar B, Leatherwood C, Asnani PU (2007) Methane to markets and landfill gas energy in India. In: Proceeding of the international conference on sustainable solid waste management, pp 519–525

    Google Scholar 

  • Ray MR, Roychoudhury S, Mukherjee G, Roy S, Lahiri T (2005) Respiratory and general health impairments of workers employed in a municipal solid waste disposal at an open landfill site in Delhi. Int J Hyg Environ Health 208:255–262

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Saarela J (2003) Pilot investigations of surface parts of three closed landfills and factors affecting them. Environ Monit Assess 84:183–192

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Siddiqui FZ, Khan E (2011) Landfill gas recovery and its utilization in India: current status, potential prospects and policy implications. J Chem Pharma Res 3:174–183

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Smahi D, Hammoumi OE, Fekri A (2013) Assessment of the impact of the landfill on groundwater quality: a case study of Mediouna site, Casablanca, Morocco. J Water Resour Prot 5:440–445

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sridevi P, Modi M, Lakshmi MVVC, Kesavarao L (2012) A review on integrated solid waste management. Int J Eng Sci Adv Technol 2:1491–1499

    Google Scholar 

  • Srivastava R, Krishna V, Sonkar I (2014) Characterization and management of municipal solid waste: a case study of Varanasi city, India. Int J Curr Res Acad Rev 2:10–16

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Subramani T, Elango L, Damodarasamy SR (2005) Groundwater quality and its suitability for drinking and agricultural use in Chithar river basin, Tamil Nadu, India. Environ Geol 47: 1099–1110

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • UNEP (2010) Reports on waste and climate change: Global trends and strategy framework. Retrieved from http://www.unep.or.jp/ietc/Publications/spc/Waste&ClimateChange/Waste&ClimateChange.pdf

  • UNEP (United Nations Environment Programme) (2005) Solid waste management volume I: http://www.unep.org/ietc/Portals/136/SWM-Vol1-Part1-Chapters1to3.pdf. Accessed 28 Apr 2018

  • UNEP/CHW.9/INF/32 (2008) Conference of the parties to the Basel convention on the control of transboundary movements of hazardous wastes and their disposal ninth meeting. Bali. Retrieved from http://www.basel.int/Portals/4/Basel%20Convention/docs/meetings/cop/cop9/docs/39e-adv.pdf

  • UNEP-IETC (1999) International source book on environmentally sound technologies (ESTs) for municipal solid waste management (MSWM). http://www.unep.or.jp/ietc/ESTdir/Pub/MSW/index.asp

  • Vrijheid M (2000) Health effects of residence near hazardous waste landfill sites: a review of epidemiologic literature. Environ Health Perspect 108:101–108

    Google Scholar 

  • Wang F, Smith DW, El-Din MG (2003) Application of advanced oxidation methods for landfill leachate treatment. J Environ Eng Sci 2:413–427

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Welander U, Henryson T, Welander T (1997) Nitrification of landfill leachate using suspended-carrier biofilm technology. Water Res 31:2351–2355

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • WER (World Energy Council Report) (2013) World energy resources: waste to energy. See https://www.worldenergy.org/wpcontent/uploads/2013/10/WER_2013_7b_Waste_to_Energy.pdf. Accessed 28 Apr 2018

  • WHO (1997) Guideline for drinking water quality vol 2 Health criteria and other supporting information, 2nd edn. World Health Organization, Geneva, pp 940–949

    Google Scholar 

  • Wiszniowski J, Robert D, Surmacz-Gorska J, Miksch K, Weber JV (2006) Landfill leachate treatment methods: a review. Environ Chem Lett 4:51–61. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10311-005-0016-z

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zakaria MP, Geik KH, Lee WY, Hayet R (2005) Landfill leachate as a source of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) to Malaysian waters. Coast Mar Sci 29:116–123

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Environmental Sciences, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, India

    Swati & Indu Shekhar Thakur

  2. Centre for Rural Development and Technology, Indian Institute of Technology, New Delhi, India

    Virendra Kumar Vijay & Pooja Ghosh

Authors
  1. Swati
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Indu Shekhar Thakur
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Virendra Kumar Vijay
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Pooja Ghosh
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Pooja Ghosh .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Chemistry and Environmental Science, New Jersey Institute of Technology, Newark, NJ, USA

    Chaudhery Mustansar Hussain

Section Editor information

  1. Dept. of Chemistry and EVSC, New Jersey Institute of Technology, Newark, NJ, USA

    Chaudhery Mustansar Hussain

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2019 Springer Nature Switzerland AG

About this entry

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this entry

Swati, Thakur, I.S., Vijay, V.K., Ghosh, P. (2019). Scenario of Landfilling in India: Problems, Challenges, and Recommendations. In: Hussain, C. (eds) Handbook of Environmental Materials Management. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-73645-7_167

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation