CONSIDERATIONS FOR SANITARY LANDFILLS IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES

Abstract

Solid waster management is a major environmental problem faced by developingcountries at present. At present the most common waste disposal option indeveloping countries is the open dumping of waste. The reasons for the nonadoptionof sanitary landfilling in developing countries are many, the mainamongst them being the lack of an adequate financial base for the process.

Review of literature shows that the failure or reluctance to implement sanitarylandfilling as a waste disposal option in developing countries is also because thelandfill technologies available at present due to many factors cannot besuccessfully transferred to developing countries. However, many new costeffectiveapproaches have been developed which could be adopted in thesecountries.

This paper reviews considerations in planning designing and operation of sanitarylandfills in a developing country. These considerations include the basicdifferences between the waste management scenarios in developing anddeveloped countries; constraints faced by developing countries to implement acost-effective waste disposal plan; policy consideration; siting of landfills takingadvantages of the natural aspects; minimal requirements for landfills according toa classification system; appropriate designing to control leachate and landfill gasemissions and treatment of leachate and operation and maintenance of landfillstaking into consideration unique factors such as scavenging activities andavailability of manual labor.