Landfill leachate treatment - towards an integrated approach
Full-scale results during two years operation in a controlled activated sludge system withnitrogen removal show that nitrification can be managed around the year, even long periods atlow temperature ( 4 - 5 °C), which is a new feature in landfill leachate management. The totalnitrogen removal was 46 - 57 % as annual averages and was limited seasonally by the lowcarbon content of leachate, Addition of external carbon was also tested. The removal ofheavy metals was reasonable (45 - 90 %), but organohalogen compounds was removed onlypartially (around 20 %). The biological step suits for the first phase of local treatment andrather low costs can be achieved. If more stringent effluent standards are required, a posttreatment system can be added - some of the most suitable alternatives and their costs arediscussed. From environmental point of view more comprehensive alternatives should beconsidered, which means the integration of processes inside the landfill body to the wholetreatment system.