* waste characterization; treatment opportunities and risks
* establishment of landfills
* landfill design and operation
* conversion processes in landfills
* landfill biology
* emission control, unit processes for leachate & gas management
* post closure landfill management

Within these topics the course is designed to provide operational skills, e.g. for dimensioning of gas abstraction systems.


CONTENTS
Introduction to depology
The role of landfills and their function within the waste management. Waste treatment and landfill strategies.

Waste characterisation
Physical, chemical and biological properties of different wastes. Mechanical properties that affect landfilling techniques. Degradability and pollution potential. Risk assessement. Evaluation and presentation of data.

Establishment of landfills
Discussion of factors affecting the localisation of a new landfill site. Swedish legislation. Surveillance and environmental standards. Geological and hydrological aspects. Public awareness.

Landfill design & operation
The function of different types of landfills, design of landfills (constructional parts and functions). Operation of landfills and closing of landfills. Field visit.

Landfill biology
Microbiological processes in landfills, dependence on and influence of the landfill environment. Generation of landfill gas and leachate. Methane oxidation. The function of the flora and fauna on a landfill and how they are influenced by emissions. Ecological aspects.

Landfill gas
Generation and composition of landfill gas. Abstraction, treatment and utilisation.

Leachate quality and treatment
Leachate quality and how it is influenced by different factors such as waste composition, landfill environment, landfill design, operation and time. Requirements for discharge. Biological, chemical and mechanical leachate treatment. Leachate treatment at municipal sewage plants and in natural systems.

Post closure landfill management
Control and management of emissions after the active phase of a landfill. Swedish legislation for supervision. Transport of organic and inorganic pollutants in soils. Filter and barrier functions of soils and how these functions are influenced by different factors.


TEACHING
The course contains lectures, seminars, a site visit and a laboratory training. An introductory task prepares the students for the course.

Laboratory training
The laboratory assignments deal with waste characterisation, leachate treatment, gas generation and gas treatment. The exercises are reported both orally and in writing.


EXAMINATION
Written exam with graded notes. To pass the course, the following parts need to be approved: the laboratory training, the introductory task and the study visit.

COURSE GRADE SCALE: 3, 4, 5

ITEMS/CREDITS