Brgy Banquerohan Sanitary Landfill 63511f

Bicol University College of Engineering DEPARTMENT OF CHEMICAL ENGINEERING S.Y 2018-2019

FOR FROM SUBJECT

: Engr. Michelle Canaria Instructor, Department of Chemical Engineering : Aidan Kyle P. Sanglay BSChE-5 : SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT Learning Journal for the Sanitary Landfill visit

The sanitary landfill at Brgy. Banquerohan, Legazpi City was visited by the class to actually visualize what a landfill really looks like. This landfill, as stated by its caretakers, is the only engineered sanitary landfill located in the Bicol region since most dumpsites are either open dumps or closed dumps. The Sanitary Landfill started to be constructed on 2010 upon the receipt of Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC) on June 2008 and by October 2011, the landfill was fully operational. As we arrived, I could not bear the pungent odor entering my nose because of the methane currently seeping out of the decomposing wastes. Then I noticed that the ground was brown, much like the characteristics of clay-like soil from mountainous sites. Everything else was spacious, perfect for collection of wastes from a booming city, although the space did attract unwanted Figure 1 Arrival at the SLF

animals and birds that scavenge for wastes. We were

first oriented inside the istration building by the officials of the site. They said that the facility currently has two cells that were operational for storage of wastes. Cell 1, the bigger cell has a total area 1.015 has. While Cell 2, only has 0.371 has. A third cell, is proposed to be constructed once approved by DENR. These cells are lined by HDPE-plastic for isolation of leachate and were covered by the brown clay of about 8-10 meters of fill height. These cells are expected to be functional only for a maximum of 2-12 years. We asked the facilitators about how waste arrives and how it is segregated to the cells. They said that they must first inspect incoming waste-carrying vehicles entering the site to

determine whether the wastes could be deposited. An initial requirement is that the waste must first be segregated for it to be disposed in the cells. If not, they will notify the barangay who sent the dump truck to properly segregate their wastes. After the initial overview, we were led outside to the actual landfill to see the leachate ponds. The leachate coming out of decomposing wastes are first sent to the leachate treatment facility where it is removed of toxic substances that could harm the environment. Then it is piped to the ponds slowly, awaiting for maturation. They said that bacteria decompose the leachate so, no further treatment is necessary. It will only be stocked inside the ponds for complete aerobic decomposition (or maturation) until

Figure 2 Leachate ponds

the

liquid is ready to be disposed as gardening water. The leachate won’t be able to be discharged without securing a permit from DENR-EMBV for permission. A sharp vault is also present, a container for hospitals wastes (syringes, needles, broken vials, glass tubes) and this is isolated from the cells. Since the sanitary landfill is located in a hill setting, hiking was to be expected to cover the entirety of the landfill. Next, we visited the composting site where biodegradables are supposed to be dumped. They said that the materials mainly come from the local market and is the main supplier of these types of wastes. As a source of income, the facility encouraged the use biodegradables as composting amendment. They let the biodegradables decompose naturally in the soil by the aid of proper aeration. Sieving of the compost was done for uniformity of particles. Figure 3 Sharp Vault

The compost are then sold at a rate of 20php/sack or 5php/kilo.

Lastly we went to the highest peak of the site where it used to be a closed dump, now covered by the clay. As we went up the peak, I saw multiple straw-like objects plunged into the ground. They explained that those are actually air-vents for the methane, reaching deep into the waste bed. These vents are necessary for the release of methane stuck inside the covered wastes. The gas greatly generates

Figure 4 Composting Area

the volume of the landfill and thus, the waste height and so, the vents are required to reduce this volume for further compacting of the waste.

Figure 5 Methane vent