Case Study: Leachate Recirculation System Pays for Itself

System cuts leachate trucking and treatment costs by $11,000 per month

To achieve even dispersal and optimum long term wetting of the trash requires a widely distributed subsurface network of pipes with a controlled rate of leachate flow throughout the fields. This method provides even leachate distribution, eliminates odor problems, increases gas production and eliminates the expense of trucking and treating leachate.

The trucking and treatment of leachate represents a significant cost to landfill operations. It also contributes to truck traffic into and out of the landfill, which is always a major concern among residents along the route.

When all the costs associated with trucking and the treating of leachate are considered, the real expense can be as high as $0.20 per gallon. Included in these costs are labor, vehicle depreciation, fuel and the leachate treatment costs. At a time when cities and counties are attempting to reduce expenses, leachate recirculation is a way of dramatically lowering the cost of landfill operations.

Recirculation in Subtitle D landfills has become an increasingly accepted way of dealing with leachate. Because the landfills are lined, the leachate is contained and should not contaminate groundwater. The wetting of the biological material in the landfill has a composting effect, which significantly reduces the volume of the trash. Recirculation also improves leachate quality and increases landfill gas production. Post-closure time to stabilization is also decreased significantly.

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