Characterization of Leachate from Different Landfills Sites of Morocco and Spain: A Comparative Study

Abstract

The socio-economic activities in Morocco and Spain as well as all the other countries around the world involving population growth and changes in consumption behavior have generated a substantial and important solid waste production. The decomposition of waste by microorganisms in landfills generates soluble compounds, which under the leaching action and water infiltration meteorites come to mix together forming “leachate juices”. Its composition varies widely depending on the age of the landfill and the type of waste it contains. The latter usually contains dissolved and suspended material. This study aims to characterize the physicochemical properties and evaluate the mineral and organic compounds of different leachates. It is worthy to note that this physicochemical characterization is arbitrary because those landfills willsoon be equipped with an elimination center and treatment. The following objectives of this paper have been set for this work; on one hand, to determine the qualitative characteristics aspects of leachates that are essential for characterizing the pollutant load and, thus, estimating the risks that these leachates pose to the water quality of the surrounding groundwater. On the other hand, it aims to propose a cost effective and efficient leachates treatment processes and also serves as a stepping stone reference for future leachate research. The desired process aims at obtaining a very significant reduction in the organic load of the leachate and thus could be replicated in other current and future releases. To achieve this characterization, we carried out a series of leachate sampling from different regions in Morocco (Casablanca and Marrakech) and Spain (ULEA and Orihuela). This sampling was carried out for the purpose of making a comparison between the evolutions of their qualities, and it also allows us to know the statue of those landfills.