Proceedings of Indian Geotechnical Conference IGC-2014

December 18-20, 2014, Kakinada, India

CHARACTERISTICS OF A MUNICIPAL SOLID WASTE LANDFILL

LEACHATE
Naveen. B.P, Research Scholar, Dept. of Civil Engg., IISc, Bangalore, Email: bpnaveen@civil.iisc.ernet.in
Sivapullaiah. P.V, Professor, Dept. of Civil Engg., IISc, Bangalore, Email: siva@civil.iisc.ernet.in
Sitharam. T.G, Professor, Dept. of Civil Engg., IISc, Bangalore, Email: sitharam@civil.iisc.ernet.in
ABSTRACT: Landfill Leachates consist of soluble organic and inorganic compounds as well as
suspended particles. Depending on weather leachate flow can increase (during rainy season) or decrease
(during dry/summer season). The landfill leachate discharge may lead to serious environmental problems.
Leachate may percolate through landfill liners and subsoil causing pollution of ground water and surface
waters resources. The composition of waste changes dramatically over the life of the landfill due to
chemical degradation and biological decay of organic matter present. Bangalore city generates about
4,500 metric tons of municipal solid waste every day out of which 75% is disposed in the landfill. The
aim of this research study is to identify the characteristics of the leachate from a landfill in Mavallipura,
near Bangalore. Leachate characteristics are analysed by standard test. Landfill leachate pollutants are
categorized into four groups as dissolved organic matter, inorganic macro components, heavy metals, and
organic compounds. The pH of the leachate is considered as alkaline as the pH is 7.4 in Mavallipura
landfill leachate. The results showed that the highest metal concentration that exists in the leachate was
Iron which is about of 11.16 ppm. BOD5 and COD of the leachate are 1500 mg/L and 10400 mg/L,
respectively. The leachate when they migrate into surrounding soil can significantly change their
geotechnical properties.
INTRODUCTION
The wastes that are generated in cities dispose their
wastes in different ways. Historically waste is
disposed of unscientifically leading to the
development of many waste dumps around. These
are generally natural anomalies in the ground
where trash is disposed of with very little or no
environmental regulations. Seeing the scenario of
increase in generation, improper utilization and
disposal of waste in the country, the Ministry of
Environment and Forest (MoEF) has Municipal
Solid Waste (Management and Handling) Rules,
2000 [1], which states that Municipal Solid Waste
(MSW) is commercial and residential wastes
generated in a municipal or notified areas in either
solid or semi-solid form, excluding industrial
hazardous wastes but including treated biomedical
wastes. These solid wastes are generally disposed
off in a low lying area called sanitary landfill area
by the municipal authorities. These rules have
specified many compliance for the management of

solid waste for the State Committee and Pollution

Board, which includes proper segregation of solid
waste into biodegradable waste, Non-degradable
and domestic hazardous waste are stored in
coloured bins at the source of generation and
properly treated, recycled and disposed to landfill
areas.
MSW STATUS IN BANGALORE
In Bangalore the waste generation presently is
about 4500 Metric tons and the waste generation is
likely to grow over the coming years. Going by the
present trend of increase in the quantity of waste
the waste quantity is projected to be around 12000
MT by 2032.
Bangalores Waste Composition
The changes in the composition of the solid waste
should form important criteria for any waste
management [2]. The waste composition data is
presented in Fig. 1.

Naveen.B.P, Sivapullaiah.P.V, Sitharam.T.G

in small percentage and over long periods of time.

The majority of inorganic compounds are readily
soluble and the ions released usually appear within
a short time. Heavy metals contained in the solid
waste are usually released slowly into the leachate
and the process may take up to several years.
Moreover, there is a complex interplay between
leaching of ionic species and the maturity of the
solid waste landfill site that leads to other
mechanisms, such as complexation and
precipitation. This affects the compositional
characteristics of the leachate [4].
Fig.1 Physical Composition of MSW generated in
Bangalore.
Roughly 40% is dry waste and remaining 60% is
organic waste.
COMPOSITIONAL CHARACTERISTICS OF
THE LAND FILL LEACHATE
One of the major pollution problems caused by the
municipal solid waste landfill leachate can be
defined as a liquid that is generated when water or
another liquid comes in contact with solid waste. It
contains number of dissolved and suspended
materials. After municipal solid waste landfill site
is closed, landfill will continue to produce
contaminated leachate process could last for 30-50
years [3]. Due to increase growth of population
and development of the industry the landfill
leachate problem becomes increasingly serious.
Leachate has potential to contaminate ground and
surface water and threaten human health which
migrating from the landfill and contaminates
surrounding lands and water. Once the leachate
enters the water bodies, it is very difficult and
expensive to clean up the contaminated water.
Mechanism of solid waste in landfill
Within the municipal solid waste mass,
biodegradable waste includes food waste, green
waste and certain wastes arising from commercial
and industrial sources. This kind of waste will
easily decompose and appears in the leachate
within the first few months of disposal. No
biodegradable waste like paper, wood and plastics
also yield organic compounds to leachate, but only

Generally, landfill leachate mainly constituent of

large amount of organic matter such as COD
(chemical oxygen demand) and TOC (total organic
carbon); as well as ammonia nitrogen, heavy
metals like copper, zinc, iron, lead manganese etc,
chlorinated organic and inorganic salts, which are a
great threat to the surrounding soil, groundwater
and even surface water[5,6]. The leachate
composition varies with different sites and
environmental conditions depending on the nature
of the deposited solid wastes, soil characteristics,
elapsed time, temperature, moisture, available
oxygen, rainfall patterns and on the age of the
landfill, engineering and operational factors of the
landfill, pH, landfill chemical and biological
activities.
The production of leachate also varies widely
through the successive aerobic, acetogenic,
methanogenic and stabilization stages. The
degradation process of the waste in a landfill
passes through different phases. The first phase
which is normally short is characterized by the
aerobic degradation of organic matter. When the
oxygen is depleted, the degradation continues
anaerobically. The anaerobic degradation process
consists of two major fermentation phases, the
acidogenic phase generating young, biodegradable
leachate and the methanogenic phase, generating
old, stabilised leachate [7].
Young leachate from the early acidogenic phase
contains large amounts of readily biodegradable
organic matter. The complex organic compounds
are fermented anaerobically, yielding mainly

CHARACTERISTICS OF LEACHATE FROM MUNICIPAL SOLID WASTE LANDFILL

soluble organic acids such as free volatile fatty

acids (VFAs), amino acids, other low molecular
weight compounds and gases like H2 and CO2 [8].
The concentration of VFAs can be quite
significant, representing 95% of the TOC, leading
to low pH (less than 5). BOD5/COD will have high
ratio values of 0.5-0.7 indicate large amounts of
biodegradable organic matter [9, 10]. COD values
are 3,000-60,000 mg/l [13]. During this phase the
metals are more soluble because of lower pH and
the bonding with the VFAs, leading to relative high
concentrations of Fe, Mn, Ni and Zn [8].
Old leachate will be in the methanogenic phase
with lower concentration of VFAs [9]. This is due
to their conversion into methane and carbon di
oxide as gaseous end products during this second
fermentation period. VFAs and other readily
biodegradable organic compounds in the leachate
decreases, the organic matter in the leachate
becomes dominated by refractory compounds, such
as humic like compounds and fulvic acid like
substances [11].
Thus BOD5/COD will have low ratio values, most
often close to 0.1, is a characteristic value for
stabilised leachates [10]. The dark colour in
leachate is mainly due to humic substance. The
decrease of VFAs results in an increase in pH. A
characteristic pH value for stabilised leachate is
close to 8 [10]. The concentration of metal ions is
in general low due to the decreasing solubility of
many metal ions with increasing pH. In case of
lead, it forms very stable complexes with the
humic acids [8]. Due to the effect of the shifting
pH on metal-ions, reduction of sulphate to sulphide
during methanogenic phase, this increases the
precipitation of metals ions.
Generally, leachate strength get reduces with time
due to biological breakdown of organic compounds
and precipitation of soluble elements like heavy
metals. With increasing age of leachate production,
the organic compounds decrease more rapidly than
the inorganic compounds. Hence, the ratio of total
volatile solids to total fixed solids decreases with
the age of the landfill [12].

Pollutants in MSW landfill leachate can be

classified in to four groups:
Dissolve organic matter, quantified as
Chemical oxygen Demand (COD), Total
organic carbon (TOC), volatile fatty acids
(that accumulate during the acid phase of the
waste stabilization).
Inorganic macrocomponets like calcium,
magnesium, sodium, potassium, ammonium,
iron, manganese, chloride, sulphate and
hydrogen carbon.
Heavy metals like chromium, cadmium, lead,
iron, nickel, zinc, copper.
Organic
compounds
originated
from
household or industrial chemicals and present
in relatively low concentrations. [13].
Study Location
The Landfill is situated at survey no.108, at
Mavallipura village, Hesaragatta zone, Bangalore
North, Karnataka state. This site has been used as
processing site for the municipal solid waste
generated from the Bangalore city. Fig.2 shows
leachate collected from Mavallipura landfill.

Fig. 2 Leachate collected from landfill

LEACHATE SAMPLING AND ANALYSES
Sample collection and Preservation
A municipal solid waste leachate sample was
collected in the month of April from the
Mavallipura area in Bangalore. Glass bottles were
used to collect leachate samples for chemical
analyses, whereas, samples preserved for BOD and

Naveen.B.P, Sivapullaiah.P.V, Sitharam.T.G

COD tests were collected in polyethylene bottles

covered with aluminium foils. A few drops of
concentrated nitric acid were added to the leachate
sample collected for heavy metals analysis to
preserve the samples. The samples were then
transported in cooler boxes at temperature below
5C, and transported immediately to the laboratory.
Sample of leachate were stored in refrigerator at
4C before proceeding for the analysis. The
analysis is carried out according to standard
methods for examination of water and wastewater
unless otherwise stated, APHA [14].
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
Table 1 shows the results the chemical
characteristics of the leachate from Mavallipura
landfill. As for metals, high concentrations of iron
in the leachate, followed by zinc, nickel were
observed. The concentrations of chromium, copper,
cadmium and lead were low.
Table 1. Leachate characteristic of Mavallipura
landfill
Details
Leachate
pH
7.4
Colour
Dark black
Odour
Medium
Temperature,C
29
Conductivity, S/cm
4120
Turbidity (NTU)
23.08
TS, mg/l
4087
TDS, mg/l
2027
COD, mg/l
10400
BOD3 , mg/l
1500
Sulphate, mg/l
40
Chloride, mg/l
660
Calcium, mg/l
400
Hardness, mg/l
20000
Alkalinity, mg/l
11200
Iron, mg/l
11.16
Copper, mg/l
0.151
Silver, mg/l
0.035
Chromium, mg/l
0.021
Cadmium, mg/l
0.035
Lead, mg/l
0.3
Zinc, mg/l
3
Nickel, mg/l
1.339

Sodium, mg/l
Potassium , mg/l
Nitrate,mg/l
Total Phosphorus, mg/l

3710
1675
22.36
26.29

pH
pH value of leachate sample of the landfill site was
7.4. pH is controlled principally by a series of
chemical reactions. The important reaction is the
degradation of organic materials to produce carbon
dioxide and small amount of ammonia. These
dissolve in the leachate to form ammonium ions
and carbonic acid. The carbonic acid dissociates
with ease to produce hydrogen cations and
bicarbonate anions. Which influence the level of
pH of the system. Additionally, leachate pH is also
influenced by the partial pressure of the generated
carbon dioxide gas that is contact with the leachate.
Colour
Colour in leachate is caused by metallic substance
like salts of iron, manganese, humus materials,
tannins, peat, algae, weeds, protozoa, industrial
effluents from paper and pulp, textile,
tanneries...etc actually, colour in water is due to
dissolved substances and substances present as fine
colloids. As leachate first emerges it can be black
in colour, anoxic and may be effervescent with
dissolved and entrained gases. As it becomes
oxygenated it tends to turn brown or yellow
because of the presence of Iron salts in solution
and in suspension. It also quickly develops a
bacterial flora often comprising substantial growths
of Sphaerotilus [15].
Turbidity
Turbidity value of leachate samples of the landfill
site is 23.08 NTU. Turbidity is due to the colloidal,
extremely fine suspension such as clay, slit, finely
divided matters (organic and inorganic) microorganisms like plankton...etc.
Temperature
Temperature has an effect on the biological activity
of bacteria present in leachate and also affects the
solubility of gas in leachate. The normal
temperature of landfill leachate is generally slightly

CHARACTERISTICS OF LEACHATE FROM MUNICIPAL SOLID WASTE LANDFILL

higher than the temperature of water because of

generation of heat \during the utilization of water.
Alkalinity and Hardness
Alkalinity causes by bicarbonate, Carbonate and
Hydroxyl ions. It is important in treatment of waste
water: coagulation, softening, evaluating buffering
capacity of water. However, for landfill leachate
total alkalinity values are often found to be
significantly higher than natural waters. This is
because of the biochemical decomposition and
dissolution process occurs within a landfill and
disposal sites. The biodegradation processes of
organic matter within the waste mass produce a
significant amount of bicarbonate, which
represents dissolved carbon dioxide and is also the
major components of alkalinity. In this
investigation, the Mavallipura leachate sample was
found to have significantly high alkalinity values.
The high alkalinity observed in this study reflects
the level of biodegradation process taking place
within the disposal sites. The presence of
significant amounts of ash and slag is from the
combustion of wood, agricultural residues and peat
in Mavallipura landfill sites. These components are
known to increase alkalinity in leachtes greatly.
The high hardness is due to carbonate and
bicarbonate of calcium and magnesium.
Conductivity and Total dissolved solids
These parameters are generally influenced by the
total amount of dissolved organic and inorganic
materials present in the solution, and are used to
demonstrate the degree of salinity and mineral
contents of leachate. Total mineral content further
reflects the strength and overall pollutant load of
the leachate. The salt content in the leachate is due
to presence of potassium, sodium, chloride, nitrate,
sulphate and ammonia salts. The leachate sample
seems to be high values (EC=4210S/cm) due to
the effects of the concentration of salts as a
consequence of degradation of organic matter.
Major anions
The level of inorganic elements present in leachate
is dependent principally on the ease of leaching the
inorganic constituents present in the municipal
solid waste materials and the stabilization process

in the landfill. In this investigation, Mavallipura

landfill leachate sample was found to have
considerably high concentrations of all the major
anions like chlorides, nitrates, sulphate as reflected
in concentration of chloride is highest, while
sulphate concentration is the lowest. The high
chloride content in the leachate sample reflects the
significant presence of soluble salts in the
municipal solid waste materials of the study area.
The high chloride content in Mavallipura landfill
leachate sample is attributed to the large amount of
sewage, agricultural and other animal waste
deposited in the site. Prior anaerobic activity taken
place in sample sulphate is converted to sulphide
and metal sulphide precipitated in leachate sample.
Sulphate in landfill leachate is sourced primilarly
from the decomposition of organic matter, soluble
waste, such as construction wastes or ash, synthetic
detergents and inert waste, such dredged river
sediments.
Nitrates represent the most oxidized form of
nitrogen found in natural system. It is often
regarded as an unambiguous indicator of domestic
and agricultural pollution. In leachate sample it is
formed primarily as a result of oxidation of
ammonium to nitrite and subsequently, to nitrates
by nitrification process.
Major Cations
The constituents Calcium, Magnesium, Sodium
and Potassium are considered generally to be major
cations typically present in leachate. Derived from
the waste material through mass transfer processes,
concentration of these cations in leachate is
specific to the composition of the waste mass and
the prevailing phase of stabilization in the landfill
[16].
In leachates, these are sourced usually from the
degradation of organic materials and the
dissolution of inorganic wastes such as concrete,
plaster and tiles. Sodium and potassium are both
present at considerably high concentrations in the
entire samples of this investigation. The sodium
and potassium are not affected significant by
microbiological activities within the landfill site.
These ions play an important role in plant
physiology and are most likely derived from

Naveen.B.P, Sivapullaiah.P.V, Sitharam.T.G

vegetable residues and domestic wastes. Increased

concentration of potassium in ground water is often
considered as an indicator of leachate pollution
[16]. Main source of potassium is weathering and
erosion of potassium bearing minerals such as
feldspar, leaching of fertilizer, sea water in areas
susceptible to salt water intrusion. It can adverse
health effects from exposure to increased
potassium in drinking water are unlikely in healthy
people and it cause diseases like kidney failure,
heart
disease,
coronary
artery
disease,
hypertensions, diabetes.
Sodium is an essential nutrients and adequate
levels of sodium are required for good health, too
much sodium is one risk factor for hypertension.
Sodium is used for water softening. The sodium
and potassium are not affected significant by
microbiological activities within the landfill site.
Indications from BOD and COD values
The BOD/COD ratio indicates the age of the waste
fill [17]. Also the changes in the amount of
biodegrable compounds in the leachate. Any waste
water, having its BOD5/COD ratio more than 0.63,
can hence, be considered to be quite controlled to
biological treatment, since it does not contain nonbiodegrable organics [18].
Table 2 Age of waste based on BOD & COD
values of leachate [17].
BOD5/COD
0.5
0.1-0.5
<0.1

Age of fill
Young (< 5yr.)
Medium (5 yr 10yr)
Old(>10 yr)

COD
>10,000
500-10,000
<500

From table 1, it shows that BOD5 was 1500 mg/l

and the value of COD was 10400 mg/l. The ratio of
BOD5/COD is 0.144 for Mavallipura landfill. The
value of BOD5/COD can characterize the age of
the landfill according to the leachate constituents
(Table 2). The value of COD and BOD5/COD
from Table 2 shows that the leachate sample in this
study was collected from the landfill with the age
more than 5 years.

Total Phosphorus
Total phosphorus value for leachate was found to
be 26.29mg/l. Phosphorus is one of the key
elements necessary for growth of plants and
animals and is a backbone of the kerbs cycle and
Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA). Phosphorous
transported from agricultural lands to surface water
can promote eutrophication, which is one of the
leading water quality issues in lakes and reservoirs
[19].
Heavy Metals
Heavy metals appear in the municipal solid waste
like Batteries, consumer electronics, ceramics, light
bulbs, house dust and paint chips, lead foils such as
wine bottle closures, used motor oils, plastics, and
some inks and glass can all introduce metal
contaminants into the solid waste stream.
Concentration of heavy metals in a landfill is
generally higher at earlier stages because of higher
metal solubility as a result of low pH caused by
production of organic acids. It is now recognized
that most trace elements are readily fixed and
accumulate in soils, and because this process is
largely irreversible, repeated applications of
amounts in excess of plant needs eventually
contaminate a soil and may either render it nonproductive or the product unusable. Although
plants do take up the trace elements, the uptake is
normally so small that this alone cannot be
expected to reduce appreciably the trace element
[20].
CONCLUSIONS
It has been concluded that leachate sample
contain high concentration of organic and
inorganic constituents. Heavy metals
concentration was in trace amount as the
waste in domestic in nature.
Leachate is found to have significantly high
salinity and alkalinity as reflected in their
values for conductivity, TDS, alkalinity and
pH.
Based on BOD5/COD ratio suggested that
the Mavallipura landfill leachate is medium
aged leachate.

CHARACTERISTICS OF LEACHATE FROM MUNICIPAL SOLID WASTE LANDFILL

The
Mavallipura
Landfill
leachate
migration to the soil and water resources
poses a significant threat to the
environment and public health.
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