Assessment of the Impact of a Recultivated Landfill on the Soil Environment

Abstract

Recultivated landfills, despite remedial actions, may pose a threat to human health and the environment, and therefore require long-term monitoring. The aim of the work was to investigate the impact of recultivation treatments on changes in the physical and chemical properties of soils in the vicinity of a landfill for waste other than hazardous and neutral. In order to carry out the work, drillings were made around the tested landfill, from which samples were taken and selected physical and chemical properties were determined, including substances causing risks that are particularly important for the protection of the earth's surface. The tested soils were characterized by a neutral and alkaline reaction and a high degree of saturation of the sorption complex with exchangeable basic cations after the use of dust and ash as a recultivation material. Leaks and leachate accumulation were found in the northern part of the facility. The permissible metal contents for industrial areas (group IV) and forest areas (group III) were not exceeded. In the northern part of the landfill area, the permissible content of cadmium was exceeded, while in the southern part, the permissible content of zinc, lead and cadmium was exceeded for agricultural areas (group II). The use of dust and ashes for the recultivation of the landfill in its southern part limited the migration of pollutants deeper into the profile and resulted in an improvement in the physical and chemical properties of the tested soils. The conclusion stated that there is a need to undertake further remediation activities and monitoring studies in order to minimize potential migration of pollutants into the soil and water environment, posing a threat to human health and the environment.

Uncontrolled Post-Industrial Landfill—Source of Metals, Potential Toxic Compounds, Dust, and Pathogens in Environment—A Case Study

“…Moreover, Pusz et al (2023) emphasizes that the plant cover, especially in the initial reclamation phase, requires careful care. A lack of attention to the health of the plants is a common cause of recultivation failure and may lead to the so-called "secondary wasteland".…”

“…High biological activity in the reclamation layer intensifies soil-forming processes and creates favorable conditions for the further development of vegetation, which guarantees the inclusion of the reclaimed facility in the landscape. Floristic and phytosociological studies indicate that over time, the reclaimed site is inhabited by the surrounding vegetation with a large ecological amplitude [71].…”