Sustainable landfilling in The Netherlands: developments, methodologies and experiences

Abstract

The current Dutch policy concerning landfills is based on isolation of the waste from its environment. Infiltration of rain water is limited by means of an impermeable top liner to such an extent that emissions to groundwater are reduced to acceptable levels. This approach however is not a sustainable solution. The pollution potential stays in place and will be imminent, whenever the isolation measures fail. Therefore the isolation requires eternal aftercare. A group of Dutch landfill owners consider isolation and eternal aftercare not a real and sustainable solution for the mitigation of unacceptable emissions due to landfills. So they initiated a project 'Sustainable emission reduction at present landfills' to evaluate the possibilities and effects of sustainable landfill-methodologies at present landfills. Three landfills have been selected (Vlagheide, Kragge and Wieringermeer) for full scale demonstration projects. The present paper reports on the approach and methodologies to be applied.