Esji

As part of our final task for  “ENGL103La(PUBLIC SPEAKING AND LEADERSHIP)”, we conducted a training program about what is a sanitary landfill and demonstrating the process of waste management. Our objective is that the students will understand the concept of how a landfill works, become acquainted with environmental issues surrounding landfills, and learn actions they can take to help keep solid waste out of landfills.

Sanitary landfills are sites where waste is isolated from the environment until it is safe.

It is considered when it has completely degraded biologically, chemically and physically. 

It is a method of controlled disposal of municipal solid waste (refuse) on land. The method was introduced in England in 1912 (where it is called controlled tipping).

Engineers design landfills to contain waste from many types of anthropogenic (human-generated) sources. The garbage comes from many places, including household trash cans, worn-out tires, sludge from wastewater treatment plants, old couches, and scrap metal. The main challenge for engineers is to keep the waste materials from being a health hazard. Also, because of economic constraints, landfills must be as small as possible while holding the most amount of waste material possible. Engineers work with regulators to design landfills that are suitable for hazardous and non-hazardous waste.

We interviewed an expert about sanitary landfill. He graduated in De La Salle University- Dasmarinas in BS Environmental and Sanitary Engineering, A CEATSC Vice President 2012-2013, a design Engineer in NBF Consulting, Inc. in Makati.

we ask a volunteer from our audience to participating our program and for them to learn the process of a sanitary landfill. First we provide the needed materials for our miniature landfill. the container, soil, improvised garbage, shovel, straw and water.

Under the anaerobic (oxygen free) conditions of landfill sites, organic waste is broken down by micro-organisms, leading to the formation of landfill gas (LFG). LFG is a gaseous mixture which consists mostly of methane and carbon dioxide, but also of a small amount of hydrogen and occasionally trace levels of hydrogen sulphide. LFG capture projects aim at preventing the emissions of methane and other pollutants from landfills.

The basic idea behind the technology is that the landfills are covered (e.g. by a layer of earth) and that LFG is extracted from landfills using a series of wells and a blower/flare (or vacuum) system. This system directs the collected gas to a central point where it can be processed and treated depending upon the ultimate use of the gas. From this point, the gas can be simply flared (thereby converting methane into CO2) or used to generate electricity and/or heat, replace fossil fuels in industrial and manufacturing operations, or fuel greenhouse operations. The gas could also be upgraded (purified) to natural gas standards. 

 How the technology could contribute to socio-economic development and environmental protection top:

Improved groundwater quality as the management of the site could relatively easily be combined with leachate collection and disposal action,

Improvement of local air and safety (fewer emissions of SOx, NOx, and particulates) through burning less coal for electricity generation and reduction of landfill gas released into the air,

Reduces the risk of dangerous methane gas concentrations in landfills and reduced exposure of residential areas to odour,

Small increase in local employment, and

In some cases, additional payment by the project sponsor to support community programmes for stakeholders, including support for people living nearby the sites and who are affected by the project (e.g. the sites under the baseline conditions could be considered a source of living for some groups).

Group Members:

Medina, Dan Esjay

Carubio, Rona

Garrido, Jesselyn

Reyes, Krisa

Cendana, DJ Aldin