Advancement and Challenges in Municipal Landfill Leachate Treatment–The Path Forward!
Harmita Golwala, Biraj Saha, Xueyao Zhang, Stephanie C. Bolyard, Zhen He, John T. Novak, Yang Deng, Brian Brazil, Frank J. DeOrio, Syeed Md Iskander
Abstract
Although landfill leachate is a small volumetric fraction compared to municipal wastewater, its complexity raises concerns for researchers and practitioners. Emerging and novel treatment technologies are being investigated to address landfill leachate treatment challenges. In the past decade, leachate research shifted from the removal of contaminants to the simultaneous recovery of resources and removal of contaminants. While resource recovery is appealing, it is also questionable due to the economic feasibility and post-environmental impact of applied resources. Various emerging contaminants may remain in recovered resources, making recovery a less preferred option. Because of the ineffectiveness of biological treatment of emerging contaminants, such as per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, leachate cotreatment has been restricted in some wastewater treatment plants. Thus, in the wake of emerging contaminants and stringent regulations, it seems wiser to develop effective, integrated leachate treatments in lieu of widely practiced biological cotreatment. The solid waste industry needs viable, cost-efficient, and readily executable technologies to effectively handle the upcoming need. Thus, in this paper, academic and industry experts discuss the progress, challenges, and future of leachate treatment. This paper provides a forward-thinking evaluation of the past decade’s advancements and challenges in the field of landfill leachate treatment.