Reactive Resources and Wastes

This module addresses the processes in different types of reactive resources/wastes and their possible impact on the environment. These vary in relation to the different ways of material treatment, use or storage and disposal and will be evaluated for the different possible impact pathways (water path, gas path). On this basis, the potential of wastes to serve as secondary resources will be developed. Furthermore, this module will teach engineering applications to avoid and minimise environmental impacts during waste and resource storage, treatment, use and disposal, and to remediate and stabilise affected sites. The pertinent legislation will be taught as a continuous topic spanning all themes.

The module content is organized in the following themes:

(1) Environmental impact of reactive resources and wastes

Link to learning objectives of the module:

B2: LO1, LO2 and LO5.

The following topics will be addressed:

• Water path: Leachate quality, transport of water through wastes and modelling thereof, leachate and groundwater monitoring, wastewater treatment technologies.

• Gas path: Gas production and modelling thereof; transport of gas through wastes and emissions into the atmosphere, gas concentration and emissions monitoring and treatment technologies. Greenhouse gas accounting and clean development mechanisms (CDM).

• Source-Pathway-Receptor-concept. Sorption, dispersion, transport. Point-of-compliance-point-of-emission concept. Acceptable emissions.

• Regulations on protection of soil, groundwater, surface water and atmosphere.

(2) Waste as a resource

Link to learning objectives of the module:

B2: LO3 and LO5.

The following topics will be addressed:

• Valorisation of wastes, recovery of raw materials from wastes. Concepts of waste-to-resource and waste-to-energy.

• End-of-waste criteria and procedures.

Resource potential of specific waste streams:

A- Biowastes: Anaerobic digestion

B- Contaminated soils: Soil separation, treatment and remediation technologies (biological, chemical, physical). Re-use of soil.

C- Sediments as a resource, sediments as a waste: Sediment-to-Soil ripening processes. Beneficial use of sediments. Sediment disposal.

D- Mining residues: Properties, hazards, use potential. 'Hidden flows'.

E- Construction and demolition wastes, bottom and other ashes.

• Regulations on re-use and recovery of wastes.

(3) Final sinks

Link to learning objectives of the module:

B2: LO4 and LO5.

The following topics will be addressed:

• Waste separation and treatment technologies

• Principles of sanitary landfill engineering including sealing, leachate collection and gas extraction systems

• Landfill processes and monitoring of emissions and deformation behaviour

• Landfill aftercare, end of aftercare and in situ waste stabilisation technologies

• Waste incineration

• Legacy sites

• Regulations concerning operation, monitoring and aftercare of sanitary and liability for legacy landfills.