Leachate Management

Last year the vast majority of landfill leachate in the United Kingdom & Ireland (10 millon+ cubic meters) was collected for transported for treatment. The majority was tankered or discharged to Wastewater Treatment (WWT) Plants which are now facing serious capacity issues. Transport is a significant factor in the cost of leachate disposal depending on distance and treatment charges/costs are also a significant factor.

Landfill leachate poses an environmental risk to ground and surface water if not properly controlled. The licensing of urban wastewater treatment plants by may limit leachate treatment capacity at urban wastewater treatment plants and landfill operators need to be aware of and plan for this.

There remain, however, a number of significant issues to address with respect to leachate management at landfills. The vast majority of non-compliances issued last year related to:

  • Failure to maintain leachate head 1m above the basal liner
  • Emissions related non-compliances, e.g. noncompliant emissions to surface water, groundwater or sewer
  • Failure to provide adequate leachate management infrastructure

There is a serious push to highlight the need to consider onsite treatment solutions. BioCore agree and believe in a treatment at source approach to effective leachate management and although it does not have the same resource potential as sludge, we can see a holistic value which can be tapped into at the landfill facility which will eliminate the transport costs and greatly reduce the treatment costs whilst dramatically improving on site compliance.

BioCore would welcome the opportunity to engage with you if you have challenges in either of these areas. Why not contact us today.