Special Wastes

Atmospheric Dispersion Modeling for Odor Buffer Distances from Florida Landfills

C. David Cooper, Ph.D., P.E. – University of Central Florida

Odors from a large landfill can be a significant nuisance to nearby neighborhoods and businesses. As population in Florida continues to grow and create development pressures, housing projects creep closer to existing landfills. Even though the landfill was there “first,” homeowners may still complain loudly about odors. Research is proposed to develop a detailed modeling methodology (and ultimately a modeling/screening tool) for use by counties and other landfill owners to provide them with an objective and scientifically defensible means to establish buffer zones around landfills. Such buffer zones provide more time and space for dispersion and dilution of odorous compounds that drift away from a landfill.

This research project focuses on using the latest dispersion model, CALPUFF, to predict odor levels near landfills, and to help determine appropriate buffer distances around landfills. CALPUFF should be superior to ISCST and AERMOD because of the transient nature of odor impacts (CALPUFF is a non-steady-state model), and because it can handle complex meteorology that occurs near shorelines or terrain features (such as a large “mountain” of municipal solid waste. One landfill will be modeled during the first year of the project. The CALPUFF results will be compared with those from the AERMOD model to determine if, in fact, CALPUFF is better suited for this modeling task. Finally, other landfills will be modeled, and the results will be used to create a simplified screening tool for easy use by landfill managers and others.

Detection of Selected Pharmaceutical Compounds and Determination of their Fate in Modern Lined Landfills

Timothy G. Townsend, Ph.D., P.E. - University of Florida

Many sources now recommend refuse disposal of PPCPs due to a lack of alternative disposal options and the newly exposed dangers of sewer disposal (MDEQ, 2004). The Florida Department of Environmental Protection is currently preparing to recommend PPCP disposal in landfills rather than the sewer system (Price, 2005). This will result in greater amounts of pharmaceuticals than previously projected entering landfills. Ever expanding research concerning pharmaceuticals in the environment is resulting in a call to collect unused medications. Much like electronic devices in the late 1990’s, in the coming years solid waste managers may be asking “What is your pharmaceutical diversion plan?” This research will provide information necessary in formulating strategies for future pharmaceutical waste management.

This research is based upon the hypothesis that modern, engineered landfills can provide an environmentally friendly disposal method for discarded pharmaceuticals. The research objectives are: 1) To determine if landfills are a significant source of pharmaceuticals to the environment. 2) To evaluate the viability of utilizing engineered, lined landfills for the cost-effective, environmentally-sound disposal of pharmaceuticals: Evaluation of the fate of selected pharmaceuticals under anaerobic and aerobic landfill stabilization.

Investigation of Energized Options for Management for Leachate Management - Year 2

Dr. Daniel Meeroff, Florida Atlantic University

Because of widely varying practices in solid waste management across the State of Florida, an understanding of emerging issues and an inclusive solution to long-term management of landfill leachate is currently not available. This research will address these needs and produce a valuable decision-making tool for solid waste managers. The research will also generate performance data to develop unit treatment costs for scale-up and address current barriers to the use of futuristic technologies for reducing toxic loads in water, wastewater, and soils in addition to leachate.

For laboratory scale demonstration testing of selected energized treatment processes for landfill leachate, the following parameters will be tested: lead, conductivity, TDS, ammonia, and COD. For the matrix of engineering alternatives, preliminary risk assessments will focus on hazard identification and exposure assessment; preliminary cost analyses will focus on capital expenditures, operation and maintenance costs, and other engineering and regulatory costs, specific to Florida.

Membrane Bioreactor for the Removal of Xenobiotic Organic Contaminants from Landfill Leachate

Daniel H. Yeh, Ph.D., P.E. – University of South Florida

Increasing disposal of pharmaceutical and other xenobiotic organic compounds through household trash increases the presence of these contaminants, many of which are potential endocrine disruptors, in landfill leachate. An effective leachate treatment system is needed to protect surrounding soils and groundwater. However, due to the complexity of leachate constituents, conventional methods of biological or physicochemical treatment are either ineffective or overly costly.

A novel MBR process will be tested, involving anaerobic/aerobic stages and ultrafiltration membranes, on its ability to remove refractory organic compounds, ammonium, and pharmaceutical and personal care products (PPCPs) from landfill leachate. A hormone prevalent in the environment and household trash, 17ß-estradiol, will be used as the model compound for determining the efficiency of the treatment process. In the initial phase, a laboratory-scale system will be developed to treat simulated landfill leachate. The objectives are to demonstrate proof of concept and determine critical operational parameters for eventual pilot-scale implementation.