Académique Documents
Professionnel Documents
Culture Documents
Landfill
Guidelines
May 2002
Table of Contents
1
Introduction ...................................................................................................................1
1.1 Context .................................................................................................................................. 1
1.2 Objectives ............................................................................................................................. 2
1.3 General Overview and Principles ......................................................................................... 2
1.4 Landfill Development Critical Factors ................................................................................ 4
Foreword
Ghana is currently facing a considerable challenge in the area of solid waste management.
This challenge stems from the fact that the generation of solid waste has been increasing
steadily over recent years, particularly in the urban areas. Solid waste management
problems in the country may be attributed to high population growth, inadequate resource
allocation and shortage of skilled manpower, amongst other factors. As a result, the various
Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies are unable to cope with the volume of solid
waste generated.
It is pertinent to note that solid waste disposal in the country to date has largely been by way
of poorly controlled dumping in any convenient place such as abandoned quarry sites,
valleys, beaches and drains. These dumping sites, which are an eyesore and a major threat
to human health and the environment, are worlds apart from modern landfill practice, where
risks to health and the environment are effectively managed.
Against this background, and in view of the increasing pressure on groundwater resources,
which can suffer long-term damage from poor solid waste dumping practices, the time has
come for guidelines to be established for the safe disposal of domestic solid waste in the
country.
It is obvious that better waste management practices, as set out in this document, have
significant cost implications. However, the Guidelines have been systematically and
pragmatically prepared, categorising the landfills according to their potential to pollute and
setting out a time period over which the improvements are to be realised. This therefore
provides for some element of affordability while at the same time achieving the overall
objectives.
I would like to acknowledge the commendable work done by the Built Environment
Department of the Environmental Protection Agency, the Human Settlement and
Environment Division of the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development and their
consultants Carl Bro, as well as other governmental institutions, NGOs, the District
Assemblies and private enterprises who provided valuable and constructive comments,
criticisms and suggestions on the draft Guidelines. These have all assisted in developing
these guidelines, both through discussions at a national workshop and through written
responses. These, being the first Landfill Guidelines, should be subject to periodic review to
maintain their social environmental and economic relevance within the context of the
countrys long-term planning framework.
Part of the legislative framework underlying these Guidelines is already in place, and the
remainder will soon be enacted. All stakeholders in waste management in the country, both
Governmental and non-governmental, are therefore strongly urged to start using the
Guidelines as a basis for the selection, design, construction, management and monitoring of
any new sites and also for the closure or upgrading of existing ones as warranted.
Kwadwo Baah-Wiredu
Minister of Local Government
and Rural Development
Acknowledgements
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Ministry of Local Government and
Rural Development (MLGRD) would like to thank all those individuals, organisations,
Ministries, District Assemblies, sector agencies and institutions who have contributed to the
success of preparing these guidelines.
We wish also to acknowledge the efforts of Dr. P.C. Acquah, the former Executive Director of
the EPA, through whose efforts the initial version of these Guidelines came into being.
We would also like to commend members of the Built Environment Network Committee,
particularly members of the Landfill Guidelines Sub-Committee, without whose effort this
document would not have been accomplished. They include the following:
1. Mr. J.A. Allotey
2. Okyeame Ampadu Agyei
3. Mr. Samuel Anku
4. Mr. Charles Asare
5. Mrs. Emelia Brew-Butler
6. Mr. John Pwamang
7. Mr. William Hayfron-Acquah
8. Ms. Mavis Owusu
9. Mr. Johnie Nyametso
10. Mr. Michael Anyormi
11. Mr. William Agyemang-Bonsu
12. Mr. A.Y. Nawurah
13. Mr. Louis Agbe
14. Mr. Samuel Allotey
15. Mr. Peter Hawkins
16. Mr. Nat Armah
17. Dr. Dela Attipoe
18. Mr. Collins Annoh
19. Mr. Lukman Salifu
20. Dr. Anthony Osam-Duodu
21. Mr. Victor J. Amamoo
22. Major T.N.K. Awuah (rtd.)
23. Madam Magaret Abowen
24. Ms. Mavis Ablordeppey
25. Ms. Angela Cudjoe
EPA
EPA
EPA
EPA
EPA
EPA
EPA
EPA
EPA
EPA
EPA
MEST
MLGRD
MLGRD
MLGRD/Carl Bro
MLGRD/Carl Bro
MLGRD/Carl Bro
Colan Consult
World Bank Water & Sanitation Programme
Department of Urban Roads
Technical Services Centre, MWH
Waste Management Department, AMA
NALAG
Secretary, EPA
Secretary, EPA
1 Introduction
1.1 Context
Recent years have seen an upsurge in concern for the management of municipal solid waste
in Ghana. This growing concern is the result of the escalating production of municipal solid
waste, especially in the large urban areas. Based on an estimated population of 20 million
and an average daily waste production per capita of 0.45 kg, Ghana generates annually
about 3.3 million tons of solid waste. Accra for instance, with an estimated population of
about 3 million and a floating population of around 300,000, generates about 1,500 tons of
solid waste per day. The quantities of waste generated are increasing rapidly and may
double by the next decade.
Currently, the various District Assemblies are unable to cope with the quantities of waste
generated. The Accra Metropolitan Assembly, for instance, is only able to collect about 55%
of solid waste generated within the city. In the face of increasing costs for waste collection,
transportation and disposal in addition to the ever more distant location of new disposal sites,
the already poor collection performance may deteriorate even further. Moreover, municipal
solid waste disposal practices in Ghana in the past have not been environmentally friendly.
Municipal solid waste has been disposed of anywhere anyhow without regard to the
nuisance and harm caused to the environment. All kinds of wastes, regardless of their
nature, are being dumped indiscriminately without due regard to the nuisance and harm
caused to the environment, in depressions, low spots such as sand pits, old quarries,
beaches, drains and even, in certain areas, along streets. There is presently not a single
well engineered landfill in the country. All this despite the heavy environmental and health
costs of inadequate solid waste disposal.
As for many developing countries (and indeed developed countries, e.g. USA 70%, UK 85%)
disposal of waste onto land remains the main route for final disposal. However, the disposal
of waste onto land has the potential to cause hard to correct environmental pollution and
pose risks to human health. This, together with the difficulty of securing suitable land within
economic distance of the ever-expanding urban centres, makes improved management of
existing dump sites and the imposition of minimum acceptable standards to guide the
development and operation of new landfills indispensable.
Improved waste disposal is also called for by the Governments Environmental Sanitation
Policy, in pursuit of the development and maintenance of a clean, safe and pleasant physical
environment in all human settlements to promote the social, economic and physical wellbeing of all sections of the population. The policy has as one of its strategic objectives the
identification and dissemination of cost effective, appropriate, affordable and environmentally
friendly technologies to address environmental sanitation needs. Technology selection is to
be governed by technical guidelines issued by the Ministry of Local Government and Rural
Development or its designated agency.
Whilst the highest environmental standards and most advanced techniques must be the
ultimate goal, it is clearly unrealistic to demand their application overnight. Experience
elsewhere and considerations of what is practical suggest that a staged development be
pursued if sustainability is to be achieved. This will allow for the adoption of realistically
attainable standards within a framework of continuous and systematic improvement as
economic conditions improve and new knowledge is gained from research.
page 1
1.2 Objectives
The purpose of these Landfill Guidelines is to provide the basis upon which the EPA will
issue Environmental Permits and Certificates and District Assemblies will issue and renew
licences for landfill operations in the country. The Guidelines are also intended to provide
adequate and practical information to enable licence applicants, licence holders and their
designated advisors and managers to comply with the policy of the District Assembly and
related legislative requirements.
The objectives of these Landfill Guidelines are, among others, to:
The Guidelines are designed to provide a basis for protecting public health and the
environment, employing mainly locally available and adaptable techniques, knowledge and
resources to provide value-for-money to the general public.
For each disposal site, the size of operations, waste types received and hence the pollution
potential to the immediate ecosystem make it unique. The disposal sites are classified
according to clearly defined parameters and graded standards. This, appropriate minimum
standards for environmentally acceptable solid waste disposal from a small communal pit to
a major urban landfill site are provided.
Implementation of the Guidelines will be backed by legislation and licensing arrangements.
The granting and retention of licences will depend on landfills meeting minimum and site
specific requirements imposed with reference to the Guidelines. The conditions appearing in
the Guidelines represent enforceable standards for the specific categories of landfill
described. When the Guidelines become effective, existing disposal sites will have to follow
the same licensing procedure as new ones.
page 2
Figure 1.1
Overview of the different steps and issues related to landfill site selection
(adapted from D. Mutz & H. Oeltzschner, 1994)
Decision on individual
site or co-operation
with other Districts
Pressure and/or
support from
inhabitants & NGOs
Political commitment
for the operation of a
landfill site
National
Documentation of
environmental and
health risks from
uncontrolled dumping
International
Financial resources
Local
Regional
Environmental issues
Financial issues
Legal issues
Search and
identification of a
landfill site
Social constraints
Health risks
Supervision
Selection of
contractor
Wastewater treatment
facilities
Supervision
Operation of landfill in
accordance with laid
down regulations
Recycling
Monitoring
Monitoring
Privatisation
Reclamation and
restoration
Potential utilisation
page 3
Environmentally acceptable landfilling should therefore aim at avoiding the degradation of the
environment, and especially at preventing pollution of the surface and ground water through
leachate contamination.
In view of cost and managerial issues involved in developing and running a landfill in the
Ghanaian context, certain principles have to be taken into account in deciding on the
technology to use:
In the first place, open uncontrolled waste dumping must be phased out. In this case
landfill is the most appropriate, cost effective option for replacing open dumps. Landfill
standards must however be appropriate, allowing a step-by-step progression to the
highest international standards (sanitary landfills) by the year 2020.
Public resistance;
Land tenure and acquisition;
Collaboration between District Assemblies;
Resource mobilisation; the initial investment for a landfill or improved dump is quite
considerable, and running costs will also have to be covered.
A means of sharing management costs and reducing unit cost is to realise economies of
scale by expanding the area of coverage of the facilities to neighbouring communities. In this
case, plans for landfill and associated services will need to cover several neighbouring
communities or separate administrative areas.
Establishing the organisational and
institutional framework for this purpose will, however, need to address the difficult issue of
inter-municipal co-operation. First, political support will have to be won because of changes
in responsibility; secondly responsibilities for different aspects of the service will have to be
distributed among the different levels of local government; and thirdly a model
(governance/management structure) to be used to bring about co-operation between District
Assemblies will have to be chosen.
page 4
page 5
Whatever landfill designs are finally accepted, the overriding goal should be to reduce the
risk to public health and the impairment of the ecosystem and resources in the receiving
physical environment to an acceptable level.
Development of landfill by the private sector and competitive tendering of contracts is
desirable as a means of ensuring a downward pressure on cost and an improved pressure
on standards. Contracting out, however, should only be carried out when the District
Administration has good in-house expertise available to manage contractors. Tender
documents should be written in such a way as to generate active interest from local
contractors (possibly utilising international expertise where appropriate) as well as clearly
stating the operational and environmental management requirements for the site.
page 6
Produce medium and long term plans for the provision of treatment and disposal
sites, including the preparation of Environmental Impact Assessments;
Acquire sufficient land and secure title with payment of due compensation for the land
for immediate and future use and protect such acquisitions by proper demarcation,
fencing, etc.;
Ensure that the sites are managed so as to satisfy approved environmental protection
standards.
page 7
page 8
Within 24 months of starting operation, the operator must submit a detailed Environmental
Management Plan and the first in a series of annual environmental reports in order to obtain
an Environmental Certificate. In the case of landfills, the EPA would normally set some
requirements relative to the construction specification (e.g. landfill liner). Confirmation that
these have been complied with would be obtained from certified in-situ test results and (in
general) an on-site inspection by the EPA.
The Environmental Management Plan would contain detailed descriptions of environmental
protection measures to be taken both during operation and after closure of the landfill. The
length of time for which the operator would retain responsibility will vary according to the size
of the landfill, but could be up to 30 years for larger ones. This would be clearly specified in
the Environmental Management Plan.
In order to maintain certified status, the operator should submit annual environmental reports
to the EPA and an updated Environmental Management Plan every three years. Breaches
of performance are punishable by withdrawal of the Environmental Certificate, fines and
prison sentences.
This regime continues after closure of the landfill, in accordance with the closure and
aftercare provisions in the Environmental Management Plan.
The name and registration details of the company or organisation (copies of registration
documents to be attached);
A business plan setting out the expected volume of business, costs, financing
arrangements and cash flows;
Audited accounts for the last two years;
CVs of key staff and descriptions of previous work undertaken by the company or
organisation, showing relevant experience;
Operation and maintenance manual and Environmental Management Plan for the landfill;
A full list of staff with details of relevant qualifications and training;
Staff designated to accept hazardous waste;
A full list of the motorised and wheeled equipment to be used (documentary proof of
ownership and insurance to be attached);
Location of the service provider's office open to the public.
If the applicant can demonstrate competence to operate the landfill, the Assembly may issue
a licence. Licences will generally have a validity of one year from the date of issue, after
which they would have to be renewed under the same procedure as for a new application.
An application will not be considered if the company or any of its officers have been involved
in a company whose licence has been revoked in the previous five years.
If a breach of any of the conditions specified in the Landfill Guidelines, the operation and
maintenance manual or the Environmental Management Plan comes to the attention of the
Assembly, the Assembly may issue a written notice instructing the licensee to rectify the
default within a specified time period not greater than seven days. If, after the specified
page 9
period, the default has not been rectified, the Assembly may issue a warning that the licence
will be revoked if the default is not rectified within a second specified time period not greater
than seven days. If, after this second period, the default has still not been rectified, the
Assembly may revoke the licence with immediate effect. No refund of the licence fee will be
payable. Legal sanctions may be applied in addition if the operator is found guilty in a court
of law of an offence against the bye-laws.
In the event of such termination the District Assembly shall take over and manage the landfill
or contract it out to an accredited licensed landfill operator of good standing.
Detailed conditions would be set out in the landfill operation agreement (see sample in
Annex A), which may also specify further sanctions short of termination for less serious
defaults. The agreement would also render the Assembly liable for defaults under some
circumstances, for example, failure to pay disposal fees.
Operation can start once the Environmental Permit has been issued, a licence granted and
an agreement signed with the Assembly or Assemblies involved. Continuation would be
subject to the issue by the EPA of an Environmental Certificate within 24 months and annual
renewal of the licence. If any of the operation agreement, operating licence or Environmental
Certificate are revoked, the operator must hand the landfill site back to the Assembly.
It is the responsibility of the operator to amend the site classification appropriately should a
change in circumstances affect the classification of a landfill site. In executing this
responsibility, the operator may appoint staff or consultants, appropriately qualified to the
satisfaction of the District Assembly, to co-ordinate and supervise the different phases of
landfill development. Different people may, therefore, be appointed as Responsible Persons
for different phases of the landfill development and be accountable to the operator for
ensuring that the work undertaken is properly and competently directed, guided and
executed. The operator will retain ultimate liability for the actions of those the operator may
appoint as Responsible Persons.
On closure of the landfill, the operation agreement and operating licence would lapse, with
the operator's responsibilities being defined by the Environmental Management Plan.
The regulatory framework is summarised in figure 2.1 on the following page.
page 10
District Assembly
Operator
EPA
Environmental Permit
Site selection
Feasibility Report
Design and
construction of landfill
Operating Licence
O&M Manual
Env. Mgt Plan
Cash flow estimates
Inspection of landfill
Initial operation
of landfill
First annual report
Monitoring
Continued operation
of landfill
Renewal of Licence
Annual reports
Env. Mgt Plan updates
Inspection
and approval
Monitoring
Enforcement of
Environmental
Certificate
Notice of Closure
Detailed records
Final capping
Site rehabilitation
Landfill aftercare
Annual reports
Env. Mgt Plan updates
Environmental
Certificate
Enforcement of
Environmental
Certificate
page 11
3 Landfill Classification
Landfills can be classified according to the scale and complexity of operations, equipment
employed, type of waste handled and also by their potential environmental impact. All these
classifications are directly and inter-dependently influenced by the waste quantities handled
(daily capacity/tonnage) and the minimum standards and criteria imposed on the operation
and maintenance management requirements of the site.
page 12
Settlement sizes have been divided into groups in accordance with the governments general
classification of settlements. However, the urban classification is too wide for the purpose
of this guideline, as some smaller landfills within this category can function adequately with
manual technology, whilst larger ones require mechanical equipment. This category has
therefore been subdivided.
It should be noted that there are considerable economies of scale in landfill operation, so that
the sharing of disposal facilities between towns or districts should be carefully considered at
the planning stage. Thus, whilst the designations Metropolitan, Municipal etc. are used,
they refer to the total tonnage of waste handled, which may not necessarily be that from a
single settlement or from within the jurisdiction of a single Assembly.
Table 3.1: Classification of Landfills According to Scale
Designation
Contributing Population
Metropolitan
Municipal
Large Urban
Small Urban
Large Rural
Small Rural
>250,000
95,000 - 250,000
40,000 - 95,000
15,000 - 40,000
5,000 - 15,000
<5,000
>150
50 - 150
20 - 50
8 - 20
3-8
<3
3.2.1 Leachate
Rain failing onto and soaking through decomposing refuse, moisture contained by the wastes
and water produced by the decomposition process itself, become heavily contaminated with
organic matter and any other chemicals present in the waste. This liquid, known as leachate,
can cause serious pollution of surface water or groundwater, particularly at larger facilities. It
may also continue to be produced for years after a landfill has been closed.
The amount of leachate is affected by the amount of rainfall and the operational practices
employed.
It may be reduced by minimising the working area, efficient separation and
drainage of leachate and runoff, recirculation (i.e. collection followed by re-distribution over
the landfill) and the use of impermeable intermediate and final cover.
Leachate from anaerobic landfills is highly polluting; that from aerobic ones less so, as much
of the organic fraction is oxidised if the waste is sufficiently shredded and mixed. Larger
quantities require treatment by ponding or aeration, whilst smaller quantities may be treated
by sub-surface infiltration and purification by natural processes in the soil.
3.2.2 Gas
The decomposition of organic waste produces a mixture of methane and carbon dioxide
known as landfill gas. This can be dangerous if allowed to build up in the body of the waste,
as it may cause explosions on the landfill. It can also seep out through subterranean fissures
and collect in nearby buildings, again causing a risk of explosion.
Ghana Landfill Guidelines: May, 2002
page 13
The risks can be reduced either by reducing landfill gas formation by promoting aerobic
processes or by containing the gas within the boundaries of the landfill and venting it to
atmosphere or collecting and burning it (with the possibility of energy generation).
3.2.3 Litter
Lighter waste components such as plastic bags and paper are easily blown around by wind,
causing serious littering around unimproved dumpsites. Containment within the site by wire
fencing and within the waste body through good compaction and/or regular cover can
eliminate the problem.
3.2.4 Odour
No landfill can be odour-free, due to the decomposition of organic wastes. However, good
compaction and regular covering of the wastes can considerably reduce the problem. The
promotion of aerobic processes can also reduce odours, as fully oxidised decomposition
products tend to smell less strongly.
page 14
page 15
Improved Dumping
Fenced
Site drainage
Separation of special or
hazardous wastes
Collection: $8-20/T
Disposal: $2-4/T
Moderate
Acceptable urban
environment
Wastes confined to the
dumping site
Concentrated in one area
Slightly reduced
Possibility of explosions
Substantially reduced
Concentrated at dump site
Concentrated at dump site
Concentrated at dump site
Open Dumping
Unimproved, inappropriate
dump site, often in valleys
etc.
Collection: $8-20/T
Disposal: $1-2/T
Moderate
Acceptable urban
environment
Wastes scattered around
dumping site
Possibility of explosions
Option
Description
Costs
Management
requirements
Results
Groundwater
pollution
Surface water
pollution
Methane gas
Litter
nuisance
Odours
Bird nuisance
Other vermin
Reduced
Reduced
Substantially reduced
Eliminated
Production substantially
reduced
Substantially reduced
Reduced
Acceptable urban
environment
Low environmental impact of
disposal (except aesthetic)
Moderate to high
Collection: $8-20/T
Disposal: $4-6/T
HDA Landfill
Substantially reduced
Substantially reduced
Substantially reduced
Eliminated
Minimal, if leachate
management is
effective and reliable
Acceptable urban
environment
Low environmental
impact of disposal
High
Collection: $8-20/T
Disposal: $6-8/T
Daily cover
Impermeable liner
Leachate treatment
Gas management
Sanitary Landfill
Table 3.3: Summary of the Main Features of the Four Landfill Types
Feature
Sanitary
Landfill
HDA
Landfill
Improved
Dumping
(mechanical)
(tractor/roller)
(also possible)
Improved
Dumping
(manual)
page 16
3.4 Phasing
The health and environmental problems associated with landfilling operations vary with
scale. Thus, it is the largest landfills that have the greatest potential to cause problems. It is
also these large landfills that serve the greater part of the urban population; about two thirds
of Ghanas total urban population is concentrated in the Metropolitan and Municipal areas. In
these settlements, absence of an efficient solid waste collection and disposal service would
constitute a major public health problem and must be avoided.
At the other end of the scale, small rural settlements below 5,000 population may well be
able, at least in the short term, to maintain a healthy environment by burying or burning
wastes at household level.
The cost of landfill is very substantial, both in terms of investment and operation. It is
therefore not feasible to move immediately to the highest possible standard of landfill,
namely sanitary landfill. Table 3.4 below shows how the standard of landfilling should
gradually increase towards this ultimate goal. The phasing specified takes account of the
relative health risks involved at the different levels and the financial and institutional feasibility
of implementing the improvements.
Table 3.4: Phasing-in of Improved Landfill Arrangements
Landfill
Type
Capacity
(T/day)
2003
Metropolitan
Municipal
Large Urban
Small Urban
Large Rural
Small Rural
>150
50 - 150
20 - 50
8 - 20
38
<3
HDA
ID-mech.
-
HDA
HDA
ID-mech.
ID-manual
ID-manual
ID-manual
SL
HAD
ID-mech.
ID-mech.
ID-manual
ID-manual
2020
SL
SL
ID-mech.
ID-mech.
ID-manual
ID-manual
SL - sanitary landfill; HDA - high-density aerobic landfill; ID-mech. - improved dumping (mechanical);
ID-manual - improved dumping (manual)
page 17
for domestic water supply (such as the rivers Densu and Oda) and those of major ecological
importance such as Ramsar sites can already be identified as a special class.
For landfills which present a potential pollution threat to such special water resources, nonpoint discharges from the landfill must be avoided and leachate collected and treated to meet
the background quality standards of the receiving water body. In collaboration with the
Water Resources Commission, fresh water resources falling into this special class will be
defined and listed in future editions of these guidelines.
District Assemblies whose waste discharges affect such waters should be given special
technical assistance, if not available locally, in order to meet receiving water standards.
Indeed, the advent of classification of rivers and water bodies will require effluent discharges
from landfills and other treatment facilities not only to comply with general discharge
consents, but also to ensure that the receiving water body meets the specific standards
applicable to its class.
page 18
Environmentally acceptable;
Socially acceptable;
Technically and economically feasible;
Provide for simple, cost-effective design,
which in turn provides for good operation
Whilst this chapter provides basic guidelines for landfill site selection, other factors and
criteria, besides those mentioned, may be of particular importance in a certain District,
Municipality or Metropolis. It must therefore be emphasised that these guidelines set out the
minimum criteria required to safeguard human health and welfare, water resources and the
integrity of natural resources.
The area (catchment) that the landfill should serve, its present and projected rates of
waste generation and hence its category (daily tonnage) and type (technology to be
employed);
page 19
The geographical area(s) and types of waste to be accepted in the new landfill. Together
with a target lifetime, these factors will dictate:
restrictions, due to transport limitations, on general locations of sites;
the type of environmental impacts likely;
the required volumetric capacity of candidate sites;
any inter-district co-operation that might be needed;
The criteria that will be appropriate for the site selection assessment. These should
include all those given in this Guideline plus any other factors which have particular
significance in the local context.
Promoting public understanding of the need for a landfill and its operational principles;
Keeping the public well informed on the status of various planning, design, and operation
activities;
Soliciting opinions and perceptions from concerned citizens on the landfill development;
Promoting public consciousness of their role as waste generators.
page 20
Potential for confusion on the issues if too many new subjects are introduced;
The possibility that false information may be disseminated by unknowledgeable
participants;
Added cost to the project;
A possibility that the effort will not involve the appropriate people, or that the citizens will
not develop an interest in the project until it is too late for changes to be initiated.
Key Points: Positive Community Interaction
page 21
1. Determine catchment area, required capacity and hence category and type
of proposed landfill
4. Public forum
Revise if necessary
Revise if necessary
page 22
The ownership of land should also be recorded and this should include communal or stool
lands, which may be under multiple ownership, and lands which are sacred and should not
be developed.
Locational Criteria
The following factors would normally disqualify a site from use as a landfill:
1. 3000m from the end of any airport runway or landing strip in the direct line of the flight
path and within 500m of an airport or airfield boundary. This is because landfills attract
birds, creating the danger of aircraft striking birds.
2. Areas below the 1 in 50 year flood line. This eliminates wetlands and flood plains where
water pollution would result from waste disposal.
3. Areas in close proximity to significant surface water bodies, 300m for ponds lakes and
dams, 90 m for rivers.
4. Unstable areas including fault zones, seismic zones and areas with mining pits where
subsidence are likely.
5. Sensitive ecological and/or historical areas including nature reserves and areas of
ecological, cultural or historical significance (i.e. wetlands and cultural habitats).
6. Catchment areas for important water resources. Although all sites ultimately fall within a
catchment area, the size and sensitivity of the catchment may represent a constraint
especially if it feeds a water supply source. No landfill should be situated less than 360m
from a well in current use.
7. Areas characterised by flat gradients (<2%), shallow or emergent ground water (springs
and seepages) where a sufficient unsaturated zone separating the waste body and the
ground water would not be possible.
8. Areas characterised by steep gradients, where stability of slopes could be problematic
(>10%).
page 23
page 24
Depending on the restrictions imposed by the constraint mapping exercise, the district should
aim to draw up a list of up to, say, five possible sites identified for their positive features,
which may include:
This list of sites could include the municipal waste dump, which is to be replaced, provided it
meets some of the criteria above and is likely to have a further lifetime of at least 5 and
preferably 10 or more years as a better-managed landfill. Conversion of a waste dumpsite
would have the apparent advantages of being already available; having an established use
for waste disposal and being familiar to the collection agencies. In the event that the
development of a new site will take about five years it may be desirable to implement
immediate improvement works at existing sites to upgrade operations and aptitude of
operatives for landfill operation and maintenance procedures.
Checklist for walkover surveys (adapted from World Bank Tech. Paper 426, 1999)
Transport Aspect
A1
A2
A3
A4
A5
B
Natural Features
B1
B2
B3
B4
B5
B6
B7
B8
B9
page 25
Land Use
C1
C2
C3
C7
C8
What is the present land use of the site and the route of any access road to it?
What is the present land use in the immediate vicinity of the site and access route?
Are there likely to be any water abstractions (for drinking or livestock watering) downstream
of the site (for example, within 1 km)?
Are there any overhead power lines crossing the site?
Is there evidence of buried electrical cables or water pipes in the site?
Is there any evidence to suggest where the nearest points of water and electricity distribution
networks might be to the site?
Are there any places of historic or cultural significance nearby?
Is there likely to be a need for resettlement?
Public Acceptability
D1
Are there any significant population centres on the principal route to the site which will be
adversely affected by increased traffic volumes?
Is the site overlooked by, or overlooking, residential or commercial development, or sociopolitically sensitive sites?
Where are the nearest inhabited dwellings (e.g., farms)?
C4
C5
C6
D2
D3
page 26
11. Other miscellaneous economic or socio-economic issues. These may arise in particular
instances, e.g. where the displacement of local inhabitants must be addressed.
b) Environmental Criteria
Environmental criteria relate to the potential threat to the biotic and abiotic environment,
particularly to water resources. They include the following considerations:
1. The distance to ground or surface water. The greater this distance, the more suitable the
site is in terms of a lower potential for water pollution.
2. The importance of ground or surface water resources. The greater the resource value of
the water, the more sensitive the establishment of a landfill on account of the potential for
water pollution.
3. Topography and drainage. The landfill should not, either during its working lifetime or
after closure, intrude into the landscape or obstruct natural drainage.
4. The depth of soil on the site. The greater the availability of soil, the easier and more
cost-effective it will be for the landfill to satisfy cover material requirements for operation
and control of nuisances.
5. The quality of on-site soil. Low permeability soils reduce pollutant migration and are
therefore more suitable.
6. Valleys where temperature inversion could occur. This could promote the migration of
landfill gas and odours into populated areas.
7. The sensitivity of the receiving environment. The development of a site in a disturbed
environment, such as derelict mining land, would be preferable to a development in a
pristine environment.
c) Public Acceptance Criteria
Public acceptance criteria relate to such issues as the possible adverse impacts on public
health, quality of life, and local land and property values. They also relate to potential public
resistance to the development of a landfill site. Failure to meet the public acceptance criteria
may be a serious constraint to landfill site development. The following are important
considerations:
1. The displacement of local inhabitants. This will usually arouse public resistance.
2. Exposed sites with high visibility. These are less desirable than secluded or naturally
screened sites.
3. The sensitivity of the environment through which the access road(s) passes. The shorter
the distance to the site through residential areas, the more acceptable the site.
4. Prevailing wind directions. New landfills must be sited downwind of residential areas.
5. The distance to the nearest residential area or any other land-use which is incompatible
with landfilling. The greater the distance from incompatible land-uses, the lower the risk
of nuisance problems and hence resistance to the facility.
To protect the public from any adverse effects of a landfill operation, adequate buffer zones
around landfills must be properly acquired, demarcated, fenced and enforced. A buffer zone
is a set-back distance or separation between the boundary of the filling/dumping area and
residential or other developments. It may vary in width (see Table 4.2), depending on the
classification of the landfill, the site-specific factors affecting the environmental impact, and
the requirements of the Environmental Protection Agency and the IAPs. In general, no
development may take place within a designated buffer zone. However, certain economic
activities such as forestry or agro-forestry may be carried out in a buffer zone, and will have
the beneficial effect of discouraging encroachment as well as creating a screen for the site.
page 27
d) Ranking
The identified landfill sites are technically evaluated using the above criteria and ranked to
determine the best options. This can conveniently be done using a matrix with candidate
sites on one axis and selected criteria on the other (see Figure 4.2 for the minimum content
of such a matrix). The criteria should be appropriately weighted in order to reflect their
relative importance. For example, size might be scored out of 20 whereas access might be
scored out of 5. In general, the matrix should be so designed that the following aspects are
addressed:
Environmental impact;
Safety risk (public safety, occupational health);
Social impact;
Costs (acquisition, construction, operation and closure).
All identified sites are evaluated using the matrix. Scores are assigned for each criterion and
added together to provide a total for each site. Thereafter, sites are ranked from the highest
to the lowest.
Costs should also be estimated for the initial purchase of the land and the value of any
eventual sale on completion for productive use. The estimated capacity of each site will
indicate the approximate time over which the initial development costs could be amortised
and the cost of supplying cover material would be spread. The estimate may then be used to
develop indicative costs per cubic metre of waste for those elements considered above
which are site specific.
The results of this fine screening, indicating the preferred candidate site, are then
documented, together with all the preceding steps, in a Site Selection Report.
Ghana Landfill Guidelines: May, 2002
page 28
page 29
Site N
Site 3
Site 2
Site 1
Candidate
Site
Figure 3.2
Distance
Lifespan
Access
Economic Criteria
etc.
Ground
water
Surface
water
Soil
depth
Setting
Environmental Criteria
etc.
Distance
Visibility
Wind
Total
Score
Quantity of soil material available within the site for cover purposes;
Permeability of the base of the landfill and of the material to be used for final cover;
Bearing capacity of the base of the landfill;
Stability of any slopes to be cut;
Groundwater regime;
Baseline quality of ground and surface water.
These site investigations will be critical to the success of the siting and design of the landfill.
They should therefore be designed, supervised, and the results interpreted by an
Ghana Landfill Guidelines: May, 2002
page 30
Technical
Economic
Physical and environmental (including environmental impact)
Social and cultural
Legal
The report should begin with a summary of the process of selection, justifying the basis on
which the site was selected. The economic justification of the site needs to consider all
financial implications to the waste management system, including the following:
The current costs of waste disposal at the existing site(s) which is/are to be closed;
The expected cost of the design, construction, operation, completion, and aftercare of the
new landfill;
Closing down the existing site(s);
The current costs of collecting and transporting wastes to the new sanitary landfill;
Any proposed apportionment of costs between operating departments or benefiting
municipalities;
Any changes in cost recovery which may be expected during the lifetime of the new
landfill.
Such cost analyses should be expressed both as cash flow forecasts, so that the implications
on future budgets can be clearly seen, and in terms of net present value (NPV).
A key element of the feasibility report is the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). This
should identify all significant environmental impacts, together with appropriate mitigation
measures (modifications to the conceptual design of the site) or a statement that the impact
is unavoidable. Table 4.3 sets out a checklist of points to be addressed by the EIS
Table 4.3: Content of a Typical Environmental Impact Statement for a Landfill
1.0
1.1
1.2
1.3
1.4
2.0
2.1
2.2
3.0
3.1
3.2
3.3
3.4
3.5
3.6
3.7
3.8
3.9
page 31
4.0
4.1
4.2
4.3
5.0
5.1
5.2
5.3
The EPA may decide to hold a further public hearing on the application, or may request
further information or modifications to the Feasibility Report. When the EPA is satisfied that
environmental considerations have been adequately addressed, it will issue the
Environmental Permit to the Assembly.
page 32
5 Design of Landfills
5.1 General Design Considerations
Appropriate detailed design of the key features of each type of landfill is important to meet
minimum prescribed standards and planned operational methods. The following general
design requirements should be observed:
Landfills are to be designed taking into account the possibility of source separation and
reduction of waste;
Location should be such as to allow for no more than 60 km round-trip travel distance;
Bottom of fill should be at least 2m above the seasonally high groundwater table;
Location of fill should allow sufficient airspace, provide for adequate cover material, and
should be on the leeward side of settlements;
Landfill sites are to be properly acquired and should be in conformity with general landuse and district development plans;
The proposed end-use of the site should be considered when designing the final land
form.
Unless locally measured data are available, waste generation should be assumed to be
0.45 kg per person per day. In all cases, waste generation by major sources such as
markets with a catchment areas extending beyond the solid waste service area or
commercial and industrial undertakings should be estimated from field measurements.
For the landfill itself, the following figures should be used:
The following sections set out detailed design parameters for the four types of landfill
specified in these Guidelines. Because of similarities between sanitary and HDA landfills,
and between mechanical and manual improved dumping, the parameters have been
condensed into two sections.
page 33
Access Roads
Site Facilities
Entrance
Fence
Landfill Liner
page 34
Leachate
Collection
(Figs. 5.1 & 5.2)
Leachate Disposal
Hazardous Waste
Disposal Cells
Landfill Equipment
(see Chapter 7)
Gas Venting
page 35
page 36
(Source: Technical Guidedline on Sanitary Landfill and Operation, Ministry of Housing and Local Government, Malaysia)
Plan
page 37
Access Roads
Site Facilities
Entrance
Fence
page 38
Leachate
Management
(Fig. 5.3)
Hazardous Waste
Disposal Cells
Landfill Equipment
(ID Mechanical)
(see Chapter 7)
Landfill Equipment
(ID Manual)
(Fig. 5.4)
page 39
page 40
(Source: Guia para el Diseo, Construccin y Operacin de Relleos Sanitarios Municipales, Jorge Jaramillo, WHO, 1991)
page 41
page 42
possible final contours for promoting stability and drainage of the closed site. In some
circumstances it may even be preferable to continue dumping after the new site is open so
as to reach an acceptable final profile.
6.3.3 Levelling
There is a tendency at uncontrolled dumpsites for wastes to accumulate in high and
potentially unstable heaps. These heaps are usually also poorly compacted and not
disposed in such a way as to facilitate stormwater drainage. The heaps should be re-shaped
to promote rainwater run-off, with gentle slopes to promote stability. During this process,
wastes being moved should be spread in layers about 0.5m thick and compacted by running
a bulldozer over them 4-6 times. Space should be left for immediate use during the
evaluation period.
6.3.4 Cover
Where the site is of such a size that it is not all going to be used during the evaluation period,
the areas which will not be used should be covered with a 0.5m layer of compacted soil, ash,
composted waste or clay of low permeability, gently sloped to promote run-off and planted to
minimise erosion.
page 43
6.3.6 Fencing
Fencing is important at all dumping or landfill sites to prevent encroachment, control waste
inputs to the site and reduce windblown litter. Chain-link fencing is the preferred type, but for
smaller dumps in rural areas, bamboo or other locally available materials may be used.
6.4 Upgrading
Where it is decided to continue using the site as one of the approved landfill types, the
existing wastes must be integrated into the new working system to be adopted. This is done
by establishing the upgraded landfill over or beside the existing waste.
On flat or gently sloping sites, little further work will be required on the existing wastes after
they have been spread, compacted and, if appropriate, covered. The site upgrading can
take place around the existing waste. If an HDA or sanitary landfill is to be established, with
a drainage layer or network under the landfilled waste, care should be taken to grade and
consolidate the capping layer before laying the drainage system over it. The permeability of
the consolidated capping layer should meet the liner specifications for the site in question
(see Chapter 5).
On valley and steeply sloping sites, more extensive intervention is required. A retaining bund
should be constructed on the downhill side of the dump. This may be made partly of
decomposed waste, but caution should be exercised to ensure that the mix of soil and
decomposed waste used will be structurally stable under all conditions likely to be
encountered. To further enhance stability, bunds should be covered with material of low
permeability. Drainage pipes through the bund should be provided so as to avoid liquid
accumulation and the possibility of catastrophic failure. If required, the drainage layer or
network is then laid over the graded, compacted and covered waste. Landfilling then
proceeds according to a planned sequence, with further bunds being constructed as required
to retain the waste within the final profile designed for the site.
Other features of the upgraded site should be in conformity with those for a new site, as set
out in Chapter 5.
page 44
Closed sites can usefully be converted into public amenities (football pitches are popular and
appropriate, but other uses may also be relevant) so as to avoid encroachment. The site
could also be used for tree planting. Any structures erected on the site before it has fully
stabilised (typically 30 years) will be subject not only to structural risks arising from
subsidence, but also to fire and asphyxiation risks arising from the seepage and
accumulation of landfill gas in closed spaces. If no use can be found for the site, then it
should be closed off to the public and fenced.
page 45
7.2 Operations
7.2.1 Access Roads
Access roads shall be kept in good condition, regularly maintained and repaired to allow
vehicles to deposit their waste loads quickly and efficiently. Road inspection and
maintenance clearing, grading, filling of potholes shall be done on regular basis.
7.2.2 Sign-Posting
At each entrance of the landfill a sign shall be erected and maintained with letters of
sufficient size and colour contrast so that it may be read at a distance of 30m by a person
with normal vision, stating the following:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
Name of facility;
Schedule of days and hours the facilities shall be opened;
Speed limit applicable to all vehicles on the site;
Maximum and minimum rates for use of the facility (if applicable);
Name and address of operating body;
Telephone numbers for contact and reporting of problems;
The waste types received at the site and corresponding disposal fees, if any;
Unauthorised Persons Not Allowed.
Authorised persons gate keeper/security guard shall be on duty at all times during
operating hours of the landfill;
page 46
The facility shall have a weighbridge to check the weight of waste being deposited. If
there is no weighbridge, the volume of each incoming load of waste shall be estimated;
Waste vehicles shall be inspected at the gate for possible transfer of fire to the landfill
site;
Vehicles shall be checked to ensure that they do not carry waste not allowed into the
landfill site;
Premises shall be secured with fences and locked gates so as to permit no access after
operating hours of the landfill;
Personnel at the landfill site shall arrive early to prepare site before the arrival of
collection vehicles and to direct the day-to-day maintenance activities at the site;
Payment and Billing Control: all customers shall be required to make proper payment, if
applicable. The attendant should record all transactions including the waste transporters
identity, license number and the origin of the waste delivered.
Incoming vehicles shall be directed to the appropriate area/cell of the working face to off
load.
Waste shall be deposited in thin layers no more than 0.6m in depth for good compaction.
Cells shall be fenced temporarily to collect litter during waste deposition.
Daily working area shall be kept as small as possible in order to minimise the area of
waste material exposed during the operating day.
Each layer of waste deposited shall be compacted to reduce the likelihood of instability
and settlement problems in future, and to give the best density. On HDA landfills the
waste shall be re-compacted after 1-2 weeks.
To avoid creating large voids within the landfill, bulky waste such as old furniture,
baskets, cages, packaging etc. shall be crushed before compacting and spreading.
The working face shall be developed on a slope of 20%, with waste deposited at the toe
of the working face and worked up the slope rather than down. This way waste is spread
thinly and littering is minimised. Alternatively, wastes may be laid in level strips allowing
for extra compaction by in-coming vehicles.
Cells shall be demarcated to accept various types of special waste e.g. health care
wastes, industrial, chemical, hazardous, food waste etc.
A supervisor shall be at the landfill to see to the proper operation of the landfill during the
operating hours, monitor data and inspection reports, direct and implement all operational
decisions to ensure compliance.
When excessive settlement is seen, additional waste shall be placed in the depression to
restore the shape.
Final cover (minimum of 0.6m) shall be applied to all surfaces where the final approved
elevation has been reached and on all surfaces when the landfill operation is closed.
page 47
Where cells are used for depositing wastes (sanitary landfill), temporary bund walls are built
up to provide sides and an end to each cell. The bunds are constructed of spoil or other inert
waste. The initial bund should be of fairly low permeability material in order to prevent
surface water infiltrating into the cell.
As the whole of the cell is filled to the top of the bund, another bund wall is raised diagonally
at each successive filling. The raised diagonal bunds are built at a suitable angle, as steep
as practical (the gradient should be specified in the Operational Plan). The surface of the
bunds should be graded to form a smooth batter, so that rainwater is encouraged to drain off
into an interceptor ditch. This run-off is then dealt with as clean surface water.
To control the filling operation, and to limit the exposed area of the fill, thus reducing the
infiltration of rainfall and thereby limiting leachate generation, each cell is of a size that to fill
to final level and cap off will take a planned duration of about one year. Sub-cells can be
constructed within a larger cell to bring each section up to final level at the right time of year
for capping.
page 48
Waste shall be discharged at the bottom/toe of the working face this prevents rubbish
being blown about as against the case where the waste is placed on top of the working
face and exposed on the windward slope.
Portable temporary litter screens shall be installed around the working face of the landfill
to collect/attract litter. Moveable screens of size 1.5m high and 2.0m wide may be
employed.
Litter patrols by landfill workers within and outside the edge of the landfill shall be
organised daily to collect litter not captured by screens.
7.3.2 Fence
Fencing the landfill site with wire mesh of appropriate size and suitable height, and planting
trees for buffering ensures that site boundaries are preserved and control access to the site
by stray animals and unauthorised persons. Inspection of the perimeter fence and ensuring
that it is always repaired where damage is detected is an important routine duty at a landfill
site.
7.3.3 Drains
Drains are required within the site to collect runoff and leachate and around the site
perimeter to cut off run-in onto placed waste and for the disposal of storm water.
All drains shall be kept clean and all cracks and uneven areas rectified to avoid chokages
and mosquito breeding.
Leachate collection pipes shall be constructed and maintained to ensure free flow of
leachate;
Once every 2 weeks, all main leachate drainage channels are to be cleared of growing
weeds, accumulated sand and objects that could cause blockage.
Once every 2-3 years, all main leachate drainage channels shall be drained and cleaned
of accumulated sludge. Where the channels are filled with gravel, such gravel shall be
removed, washed and dried before placement.
Leachate disposal system shall be inspected on a daily basis and maintained in a
manner which will prevent anaerobic and malodorous conditions from developing.
page 49
Minimum monitoring requirements are set out in sections 7.5 and 7.6 below.
7.3.5 Fire
Open burning and its attendant smoke cover and deposition of ash and particulate matter on
areas several kilometres away from landfills is one main complaint made by nearby
communities. Therefore open burning on landfill sites shall not be permitted and fire
outbreaks shall be extinguished immediately to prevent it from spreading.
Burning areas should be isolated by making a trench around them. If the fire starts to blaze
at this stage, it should be left to burn out. If the fire continues to smoulder, the burning
material should be spread out and drenched with water until the fire is extinguished. This
may be done by the Fire Service or using a cess-pit emptier or water tanker.
7.3.7 Scavenging
Owing to the desirable promotion of recycling and re-use scavenging is unavoidable at this
stage but should become a better organised auxiliary activity. For aesthetic reasons,
scavenging shall be confined to a specific area of the facility so that they do not interfere with
normal operations. The following should be observed regarding scavenging operations:
7.3.8 Structures/Facilities
To meet health and safety standards it is required that all structures and facilities meet laid
down regulations. To enhance the landfill operations and the public perception structures
and facilities should provide a pleasing amenity. To achieve these the following minimum
standards should be observed:
All buildings on the site shall be so constructed and maintained as to prevent the
harbouring of rodents.
page 50
Adequate toilet facilities shall be provided and maintained for the use of employees and
all other persons who have business on the premises.
Provision shall be made for washrooms and cloakrooms and the Site Manager shall
ensure that workers who are in direct contract with waste wash down and change their
clothes after the days work and before leaving landfill site.
An approved sanitary drinking water supply shall be provided and maintained on the
premises.
All landfill sites shall have facilities for emergency first-aid equipment to provide adequate
treatment of accidents.
Minimum appropriate communication facilities (telephone, radio etc.) must be provided to
enable rapid communication in case of personal or environmental accidents.
Gravel or rock filled gas interception ditches shall be constructed around the perimeter of
the site and wells or pipes inserted into the surface of the landfill to act as passive vents.
Gas wells shall be ignited to oxidise the methane gas.
Any instance of unexpected smells of landfill gas issuing from the landfill, or the dying
back of vegetation, either of which could indicate unplanned gas seepages, should be
followed up and extra vents inserted if found necessary.
The gas venting system should be monitored weekly to ensure that gas vents are in
place and that they have not deteriorated due to corrosion and that stone gas drainage
channels have not been eroded away or suffered damage from burrowing animals.
Monitoring positions should be reviewed quarterly (as part of the quarterly site survey) to
ensure that new collection points are incorporated as needed in the monitoring
programme.
page 51
The operator must also submit an operation and maintenance manual and Environmental
Management Plan for approval by the Assembly.
If the application is approved by the Assembly, the operator must pay the prescribed annual
licence fee. This may be renewed annually subject to satisfactory performance, updating of
the licensing information and payment of the current annual fee set by the Assembly.
In addition to the above, the operator must provide the following documentation to maintain
the licence:
A revised version of the operation and maintenance manual prepared after 3 months'
operations and incorporating practices validated in action;
Annual reports on operations to be used by the Assembly and the EPA in assessing the
continued adequacy of the operator;
Every three years, an update of the Environmental Management Plan.
Operational procedures, including waste reception and placement, with reference to the
Operational Plan and Environmental Management Plan for the site;
Site development and construction details;
Site restoration and aftercare requirements;
Environmental monitoring and protection requirements;
Record-keeping and reporting;
Freedom of access for Assembly and EPA staff;
User fees, prices and price escalation;
Sanctions;
Provision and maintenance of a performance bond
Notice and termination of the contract.
In addition, a register of all monitoring data (see 7.5 and 7.6 below) on leachate, surface
water and groundwater must be kept.
page 52
Landfill personnel shall be provided with personal protective clothing (overalls, wellington
boots, gloves, nose marks, goggles, hard hats etc.)
Safety equipment shall be kept clean and serviceable at all times
Landfill personnel shall undergo pre-employment medical examination. Thereafter this
shall be repeated annually
Regular in-service training shall be organised for all personnel in personal hygiene, waste
classification, hazardous waste disposal procedures, possible hazards, emergency
procedures in case of fire, exposure to toxic wastes etc.;
Fire/emergency evacuation drills should be held, without notice, at least annually;
All staff shall undergo basic first aid training;
A specific employee should be designated and trained to be responsible for first aid and
ensuring that the first aid cabinet is adequately stocked;
All accidents, however minor, shall be recorded and reported monthly. A safety culture
shall be encouraged through incentives for extended individual and collective accidentfree periods and the analysis of accidents with the full involvement of all staff;
No smoking shall be allowed on the site;
Sale and consumption of food shall be restricted to designated areas.
page 53
Cover Material
Monitoring
page 54
Cover Material
Monitoring
page 55
Improved Dumping
HDA Landfill
Sanitary Landfill
Daily Tonnage
20
50
150
50
150
500
50
150
500
Equipment Required
Compactor
Bulldozer D8
Bulldozer D6
Tractor/Attachments
Payloader
Tipper (5m3)
Water Tanker (4m3)
Water Trailer (2m3)
1
**
-
2
**
**
1
1
1
**
**
1
1
1
**
**
1
1
1
**
**
1
2
2
1
**
1
-
1
1
1
**
1
1
1
1
1
1
-
2
1
2
2
2
-
page 56
8.2 Aftercare
Aftercare requirements will depend on the circumstances of each individual landfill site.
However, as a general rule, aftercare will be required for a minimum of 30 years for the
Metropolitan and Municipal landfill categories, 20 years for Urban and 10 years for Rural
landfills.
The landfills Operational Plan and operation and maintenance manual should give detailed
specifications of aftercare requirements and procedures. These are to be written into the
Environmental Permit.
page 57
The EPA shall give written approval prior to any excavation, disruption or removal of any
deposited material from either an active, terminated or closed landfill.
All such requests shall include an operation plan stating the area involved, the depth of
the excavation with final grades, the site where excavated material is to be re-deposited
and the estimated time required for completion of excavation procedures.
Adequate measures shall be taken during excavation to control dust, odours, fires,
rodents, insects, blowing litter, surface water run-on and erosion.
All excavation shall be confined to an area consistent with the number of units of digging
equipment or trucks used for haulage.
8.7 Restoration
Restoration of landfill sites is of importance because it ensures that the final state of the site
is environmentally safe. Some of the conditions relate to the surrounding water bodies, final
cover, capping, top soil application and vegetation. Apart from this there are some important
procedures with regard to monitoring, leachate and gas management.
page 58
8.7.1 Monitoring
The District Assembly is the primary supervisor of the landfill. Upgraded landfills should be
designed to provide an acceptable level of environmental protection. They should also
include systems for monitoring that protection. Monitoring requires technical resources to
carry out and interpret the end results. Boreholes and sampling points to monitor the quality
of groundwater should be installed at site preparation stage.
For unimproved landfills, monitoring arrangements should be planned and established in
consultation with the EPA and taking into account the environmental risks associated with
the closed landfill.
page 59
List of References
1. Department of Water Affairs and Forestry, Minimum Requirements for Waste Disposal by
Landfill, second edition, DWAF, South Africa, 1998
2. Environmental Protection Agency, Guidelines for the Development and Management of
Landfills in Ghana, EPA, 1998
3. Government of Ghana, Environmental Sanitation Policy, MLGRD, 1999
4. Jaramillo J., Guia para el Diseo, Construccin y Operacin de Rellenos Sanitarios
Manuales, WHO, 1997
5. Ministry of Housing and Local Government, Malaysia, Technical Guideline on Sanitary
Landfill Design and Operation, Draft, 1990
6. Oeltzschner H. & Mutz D., Guidelines for an Appropriate Management of Landfill Sites,
GTZ, 1996
7. Rushbrook P. & Pugh M., Solid Waste Landfills in Middle- and Lower- Income Countries,
World Bank, 1999
8. U.K. Department of the Environment, Waste Management Paper 26B: Landfill Design,
Construction and Operational Practice, HMSO, 1995
page 60
Article 1: Definitions
1.1
The Applicable Law is the Laws of Ghana and the relevant Bye-Laws of the
Assembly
1.2
Health Care Waste is Solid and Liquid Waste produced by public and private human
health care and veterinary facilities, including hospitals, clinics, maternity homes,
alternative health care providers, laboratories, pharmacies, chemists, mortuaries,
funeral homes, veterinary clinics and research facilities, including: General Wastes
similar in character to Municipal Solid Wastes except that they are produced within a
medical facility; Infectious Wastes generated by both in-patients and out-patients
which are known or likely to contain pathogenic micro-organisms from blood or other
body fluids, including sharps (needles, blades, slides etc.), dressings, swabs,
syringes etc.; Pathological Wastes comprising body parts and tissues arising from
amputations, surgical operations, autopsy (post-mortem) and childbirth; Hazardous
Wastes comprising pharmaceutical wastes (expired or discarded drugs and their
containers), radioactive wastes and laboratory wastes (acids, alkalis, solvents,
cultures, specimens, organic chemicals, heavy metals); and lncinerator Ash and
Sludge.
1.3
1.4
1.5
page 61
The following documents shall be deemed to form and be read and construed as part
of this Agreement:
a) The Landfill Guidelines issued by the Ministry of Local Government and Rural
Development and the EPA;
b) The Environmental Management Plan as contained in the Environmental Impact
Assessment for the landfill approved by the EPA and subsequently updated in
accordance with L.I. 1652;
c) The Operational Plan developed by the Operator and approved by the Assembly
and the EPA.
2.2
2.3
The designated officials and the addresses, telephone and facsimile numbers to be
used in communicating and providing all notices required under this Agreement are
as follows:
For the Assembly:
Official: *****
Address: *****
Telephone: *****
Facsimile: *****
e-mail: *****
Official: *****
Address: *****
Telephone: *****
Facsimile: *****
e-mail: *****
2.4
The Operator and the Assembly agree that the Operator is an independent entity and
not an employee or agent of the Assembly. Nothing herein shall be construed as
creating a partnership, agency, joint venture or similar relationship between the
Operator and the Assembly. The Operator shall be fully and solely responsible for its
own acts and omissions and those of its employees, officers and agents.
2.5
This Agreement, its meaning and interpretation, and the relation between the Parties
shall be governed by the Applicable Law.
2.6
The Operator and its personnel shall pay necessary taxes, duties, fees and other
impositions levied under the Applicable Law.
2.7
No provision of this Agreement can be waived except by written consent from the
Assembly's Officer. Any forbearance or indulgence by the Assembly shall not
constitute a waiver of any covenant or condition. The Assembly shall be entitled to
invoke any remedy available to it to address any inadequacy in performance, despite
any forbearance or indulgence.
2.8
The headings shall not limit, alter or affect the meaning of this Agreement. The use
and order of titles and headings within this document is for ease of reference.
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2.9
3.2
The Services shall be carried out in accordance with the Landfill Guidelines issued by
the Government of Ghana and the design and the Environmental Permit for the
Landfill.
The Operator shall operate the Landfill in accordance with an Operational Plan and
the Environmental Management Plan approved by the Assembly and the EPA,
conforming to the Landfill Guidelines issued by the Government of Ghana and the
design and the Environmental Permit for the Landfill. The Operational Plan shall be
updated at least annually and shall be available at all times on the Landfill site.
4.2
The Landfill shall be properly supervised at all times, and all material entering or
leaving shall be monitored and recorded to ensure its compliance with the applicable
regulations and legislation.
4.3
Working Hours shall be from 7:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. from Monday to Saturday or other
times mutually agreed in writing between the Parties to this Agreement.
4.4
The Operator shall receive and dispose of all Municipal Solid Waste delivered to the
Landfill during Working Hours by firms and individuals authorised by the Assembly.
4.5
The Operator shall receive and dispose of all Health Care Waste delivered to the
Landfill during Working Hours by firms and individuals authorised by the Assembly.
Such waste shall be disposed of in specially designated cells and according to the
procedures for Hazardous Wastes set out in the Operational Plan.
4.6
The Operator shall only accept Hazardous Waste on the explicit and specific
instructions of the Assembly and when a person designated in the license to accept
such waste is present, and shall record full details (date and time of arrival, origin,
nature, quantity, generator, transporter) of any such waste presented for disposal and
pass them to the Assembly within 6 hours.
4.7
The Operator shall provide a wet weather disposal area near the entrance so as to
ensure that waste can be still discharged under adverse weather conditions.
4.8
The Operator shall maintain adequate internal roads to allow for the safe arrival of
vehicles to the discharge area and without provoking excessive wear and tear on their
tyres.
4.9
The Operator shall keep records, which shall be available for inspection at any time
by the Assembly or the EPA, of the following:
a) For each load:
i. Time of entry,
ii. Type of waste (household, commercial, hazardous, industrial, demolition
debris etc.),
iii. Detailed description of all hazardous wastes,
iv. Origin of the waste (generator and transporter),
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4.10
The Operator shall maintain and keep at the Landfill an up-to-date site map, showing
at least:
a) Areas where special or hazardous wastes have been filled;
b) Operational areas;
c) Leachate drainage layout;
d) Areas capped;
e) Future steps in the landfilling plan;
f) Site topography.
4.11
The Operator shall record monitoring data on leachate, surface water and
groundwater, as prescribed by the Landfill Guidelines and the EPA, and keep the
data in a register available on request to officials of the Assembly or the EPA.
4.12
The Operator shall at all times observe the public health ordinances, regulations and
bye-laws.
4.13
The Operator shall at all times follow safe and hygienic practices according to
published operational guidelines.
4.14
The Operator shall provide adequate protective clothing (including overalls, raincoats,
boots, gloves and nose masks) and annual medical check-ups for all operational staff.
4.15
4.16
The Operator shall maintain a complete log of all complaints received, including a
record of follow-up actions. The Operator shall respond to all complaints regarding
Services provided under this Agreement within two days.
4.17
The Operator shall keep all vehicles and equipment used for performing the Services
in good repair, appearance and sanitary condition.
4.18
All vehicles and equipment shall be operated by qualified operators, and so as not to
harm human health or the environment.
4.19
The Operator shall maintain all risks vehicle insurance and general liability insurance
coverage with insurance companies reasonably acceptable to the Assembly,
providing for replacement value in case of theft or damage, and liability in the case of
accident.
The Operator shall furnish to the Assembly and maintain during the term of this
Agreement, a Performance Security in a form reasonably acceptable to the
Assembly.
6.2
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Article 6: Monitoring
6.1
The services of the Operator under this agreement shall be subject to performance
monitoring by the Assembly and the EPA. The Assembly and/or the EPA may assign
responsibility for monitoring the performance of the Services to their own staff, or may
separately assign responsibility for monitoring to a private firm or firms. The Operator
shall co-operate fully with all persons designated by the Assembly or the EPA to
monitor the Services.
6.2
The Operator shall allow the Assembly and the EPA, including all designated
monitoring personnel, to have access at all times to inspect work being carried out
under this Agreement, to inspect all records and documents maintained by the
Operator regarding work performed under this Agreement and to inspect the
Operator's vehicles, plant and site facilities.
6.3
The Operator shall provide suitable accommodation for Assembly staff recording
waste deliveries to the Landfill.
6.4
The Operator shall submit to the Assembly quarterly reports in a format acceptable to
the Assembly, including at least: summaries of waste disposed of; summaries of
monitoring data; accidents and emergencies, including actions taken; summaries of
complaints received and remedial actions taken; changes in staffing; and summaries
of equipment performance and down time.
The Assembly shall ensure that the Operator has unrestricted access to the Landfill
and shall resolve the cause underlying any action taken by any person or persons to
prevent the Operator from having access to the Landfill.
7.2
The Assembly shall hand over the Landfill [and equipment], excluding the
weighbridge if present, to the Operator in good working order, and shall be liable for
any problems resulting from the condition or contents of the Landfill at the time of
handing over.
7.3
The Assembly shall promulgate any Bye-Laws necessary to enable the Operator to
discharge the obligations specified in this Agreement.
7.4
In the event that a user of the Landfill defaults in payment of Tipping Fees for three
months or more, the Assembly shall, upon request of the Operator, institute a lien
procedure, which shall result either in payment by the user or in the placement of a
lien on the user's property.
Tipping Fees shall be set by the Assembly in its fee-fixing resolutions and shall be
payable by those delivering waste to the Landfill.
8.2
[The Assembly shall in addition make a payment of ***** per month to the Operator.]
8.3
The Operator shall be entirely responsible for collecting its approved Tipping Fees for
the Services.
8.4
All Tipping Fees and payments shall be subject to review by the Assembly in
conjunction with the Operator as and when the need arises.
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9.2
If any default comes to the attention of the Assembly, it may issue a request to the
Operator to rectify the default within a specified period of time. If the default is not
rectified within the specified period, the Assembly may impose a fine equivalent to the
average weekly revenue from Tipping Fees and other payments over the previous six
months or since the inception of the Services, whichever is the lesser.
9.3
If four fines are imposed within any period of twelve consecutive months, the
Assembly may terminate the Agreement on three months' notice.
9.4
If the Assembly decides not to exercise its right to impose sanctions in any case of
default, such forbearance or indulgence by the Assembly shall not constitute in any
regard whatsoever a waiver of the covenant or condition to be observed by the
Operator. The Assembly shall be entitled to invoke any sanction available to it to
address any default, despite any forbearance or indulgence on previous occasions of
default.
The date of commencement of this Agreement is the ***** day of *****, *****.
10.2
In the first instance, this Agreement shall be effective for a period of six years from
the date of commencement of the Agreement.
10.3
The Agreement shall be subject to renewal for periods of three years thereafter
subject to satisfactory performance by the Operator.
The Operator shall not be required to perform the Services required under this
Agreement if prevented from doing so by an Act of God, order or direction of
Government or local authorities, act of state enemies, riots, strikes, substantial
destruction to the plant or equipment of any supplier, shortage of fuel or lubricants, or
any other circumstances beyond their control.
11.2
For purposes of this Agreement, Act of God shall include causes arising from
natural calamities such as earthquakes, volcano eruptions, floods, fires or lightning
strikes.
11.3
In case of such an event, the Operator shall notify the Assembly in writing of its
occurrence within seven days.
11.4
The Operator shall not be entitled to payment for services not performed due to Force
Majeure, and shall not be deemed to be in breach or default of this Agreement by
reason of non-performance.
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The Parties to this Agreement shall use their best endeavours to settle amicably any
disputes that may arise between them.
13.2
If the Parties are unable to settle the dispute amicably, then they shall go into
arbitration and agree upon and appoint a single arbitrator to hear and determine the
dispute. If the Parties cannot agree upon an arbitrator, either of them may apply to
the High Court for the appointment of such arbitrator.
13.3
The decision of the arbitrator shall be final and binding on the Parties, and either Party
may apply to the High Court for enforcement of the decision.
Either Party may terminate this Agreement by giving the other three months' prior
notice in writing on the occurrence of any of the following:
a) If the Operator does not perform satisfactorily and four fines have been imposed
by the Assembly within a period of twelve consecutive months, pursuant to Article
9.3 above.
b) If either Party breaches any of the stipulations regarding its part in this
Agreement, and fails or refuses to remedy the breach after notice to that effect
has been served on it.
c) For any other cause deemed reasonable by the Court or arbitrator.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF the Parties hereto have hereunto set their respective hands and
seals the day and year first above written.
District Chief Executive,
***** District Assembly
........................................................................................................
Witnessed by:
(Signature)
........................................................................................................
(Occupation)
........................................................................................................
(Name)
........................................................................................................
(Address)
........................................................................................................
Managing Director
*****
........................................................................................................
Witnessed by:
(Signature)
........................................................................................................
(Occupation)
........................................................................................................
(Name)
........................................................................................................
(Address)
........................................................................................................
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........................................................................................................
Registered address:
..........................................................
..........................................................
..........................................................
Telephone(s):
..........................................................
Date: .......................
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Hazardous Waste
Health Care Wastes, dead animals, condemned foodstuffs, abattoir wastes, dry cell and
vehicle batteries, pesticides, sludges or solvents containing heavy metals and/or oily
material, asbestos materials, motor oil, diesel fuel, gasoline (petrol), paint, solvents and all
wastes that are toxic, flammable, corrosive, radioactive, explosive or otherwise dangerous as
defined by the EPA. General or inert waste containing significant quantities of hazardous
waste shall be treated as hazardous waste.
Inert Waste
Waste containing less than 5% of biodegradable and non-hazardous material, including
construction, excavation and demolition waste and naturally occurring earth and rock.
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FLOOD PLAIN
A lowland area, whether dyked, flood-proofed or not, which, by reasons of land elevation, is
susceptible to flooding from an adjoining water course, ocean, lake, or other body of water
and for administrative purposes is taken to be that area submerged by the design flood plus
freeboard.
GEOMEMBRANE
A prefabricated continuous sheet of flexible waterproof material including synthetic
membranes, polymeric membrane liners, and plastic liners.
HARZADOUS WASTE
Any waste or combination of wastes, including toxic, corrosive, irritating, sensitising,
radioactive, biologically infectious, explosive or inflammable waste, which poses a present or
potential threat to human health, living organisms or the environment.
HEALTH CARE WASTE
Solid and Liquid Waste produced by public and private human health care and veterinary
facilities, including hospitals, clinics, maternity homes, alternative health care providers,
laboratories, pharmacies, chemists, mortuaries, funeral homes, veterinary clinics and
research facilities, including: General Wastes similar in character to Municipal Solid Wastes
except that they are produced within a medical facility; Infectious Wastes generated by both
in-patients and out-patients which are known or likely to contain pathogenic micro-organisms
from blood or other body fluids, including sharps (needles, blades, slides etc.), dressings,
swabs, syringes etc.; Pathological Wastes comprising body parts and tissues arising from
amputations, surgical operations, autopsy (post-mortem) and childbirth; Hazardous Wastes
comprising pharmaceutical wastes (expired or discarded drugs and their containers),
radioactive wastes and laboratory wastes (acids, alkalis, solvents, cultures, specimens,
organic chemicals, heavy metals); and lncinerator Ash and Sludge.
INERT WASTE
Waste composed of non-decomposing (non-rotting) material, generally originating from
demolition and construction works or industrial and commercial waste.
INTERMEDIATE COVER
A compacted layer of at least 300mm of soil or functionally equivalent depth of other cover
material placed where no additional solid waste has been deposited or will be deposited
within a period of 90 days.
LANDFILL GAS
Gas generated at landfill sites by the decomposition of putrescible waste, consisting of a
mixture of carbon dioxide, methane and a number or other constituents.
LEACHATE
Liquid generated at landfill sites by the solution in water (or other liquids) of chemical
compounds which are present in the waste and/or arise through decomposition.
LIFT
A compacted layer of solid waste plus its overlying cover material in a sanitary landfill.
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LINER
A continuous layer of synthetic material or natural clay or earth materials placed beneath and
at the sides of a landfill and intended to restrict the downward or lateral escape of waste or
leachate or in some cases to restrict the upward movement of groundwater into the landfill.
MUNICIPAL SOLID WASTE
All solid waste material generated by households, institutions, commercial establishments
and industries, and discharged from their premises for collection, including kitchen waste,
garden waste, sand, ashes, paper, cardboard, food waste, plastic packaging, glass, tin cans,
construction or demolition debris and bulk waste (including large appliances, machines,
furniture, and other bulky items); all litter and clandestine piles of such wastes; street
sweepings, drain clearings and dead animals but not including Hazardous Waste.
OPERATIONAL PLAN
The Operational Plan shall contain drawings detailing the engineering development of the
site, the infrastructure to be provided, the site layout and phasing of operations, the location
of monitoring boreholes and the control systems for leachate and landfill gas and a
description of the site preparation works including the design and specification of all
engineering works, the operation of the site and the management and control of landfill gas,
leachate and groundwater.
PUTRESCIBLE
Organic matter which has the potential to decompose with the formation of malodorous byproducts.
RECOVERY
Reclaiming of recyclable components and/or energy from the post-collection solid waste
stream by various methods including incineration, pyrolysis, distillation, gasification or
biological conversion (including composting), including the collection and subsequent
management or methane gas generated in the landfill.
RECYCLING
The collection, transportation and processing of products separated from the Municipal Solid
Waste stream which are no longer useful in their present form and the use (including
composting) of their material content in the manufacture and sale of new products.
Recycling refers to source-separated wastes only, when used in the context of the 3 Rs
(Reduce, Reuse and Recycle).
RUN-OFF
The liquid that drains from an area as surface flow.
RUN-ON
Any rainwater, leachate, or other liquid that drains overland onto any part of a facility.
SCAVENGING
The removal of recyclable materials from a solid waste facility by informal-sector operators.
SITE LIFE
The period of operation beginning with the first receipt of solid waste at a landfill and ending
at completion of landfill closure activities.
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TOE
The bottom of the working face or side slope of a land disposal site where deposited waste is
in contact with virgin ground or the previous lift.
UNSTABLE AREA
A location that is susceptible to natural or human-induced events or forces capable of
impairing the integrity of some or all of the landfill's structural components responsible for
preventing pollutant releases. Unstable areas can include poor foundation conditions, and
areas susceptible to mass movement.
VECTOR
A carrier that is capable of transmitting a pathogen from one organism to another including,
but not limited to, flies and other insects, rodents and birds.
WASTE STREAM
The aggregate of all solid waste components, and also the process through which they move
from point of generation to ultimate disposal.
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