Description : |
: Legacy waste dumpsites have been a significant environmental concern in India for many years.
These dumpsites are characterized by the uncontrolled disposal of Municipal Solid Waste (MSW)
and have led to various types of pollution and disease outbreaks. As India faces the challenges
of rapid urbanization and increased waste generation and with over 3000 legacy waste dumpsites
in the country, the need to address these legacy waste dumpsites has become paramount. As we
continue to struggle extensively for waste management as well as space, landfill mining has been
recognized as a promising way of recovering resources in our country by employing various technological
and engineering advancements to extract valuable materials and energy from legacy waste streams.
Unlike existing waste management approaches, this review explores the application of a novel Recovery
Potential Index (RPI) for legacy waste dumpsites in India, which evaluates the feasibility of waste
treatment facilities based on waste compositions and recovered material quantities. Depending on the RPI,
recovered fine fractions can be sold as city compost or used as fill material, while recyclable, combustible,
and inert fractions could be directed towards appropriate recycling or landfill uses. Unscientific and
uncontrolled landfill mining practices could lead to unanticipated impacts on the nearby environment
in the form of heavy contamination, thereby presenting this practice as a challenge in addition to the
immense opportunities it provides.
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