Description of the EVIAVE methodology for environmental diagnosis of municipal waste landfills

Abstract

In Europe, a Council Directive passed in 1999 provided for the regulation of waste disposal in landfills. This was a specific piece of legislation aimed at environmental control of new and currently operational installations. As a result, it has become necessary to adapt currently operational release points to make them compatible with the new legislation. This new situation has obliged the different environmental organisations to carry out a stocktaking of release points in order to draw up a conditioning plan or a closing plan in accordance with the directive. The present study describes a new methodology by which environmental diagnosis of landfill sites may be carried out, involving the formulation of environmental indexes that give information about the potential environmental problems of currently operational landfills. The indexes provide information related to the location, design and operation in order to help draw up action plans for the conditioning or closure of the landfill site and to prioritise the order of actions required.

Environmental diagnosis of landfills in Venezuela using EVIAVE methodology

“…EVIAVE methodology for the environmental diagnosis of landfills is based on the use of a series of environmental indexes that quantify the impact of landfills on the surrounding environment [7,8]. This method can be applied to landfills with non-hazardous waste, as defined by EU Directive 31/99/EU, regarding the elimination of solid waste in landfills in the European Union or in countries with similar or less restrictive laws [7,8].…”

“…This method can be applied to landfills with non-hazardous waste, as defined by EU Directive 31/99/EU, regarding the elimination of solid waste in landfills in the European Union or in countries with similar or less restrictive laws [7,8].…”

“…The concept of Environmental Value is informative of the environmental importance of specific elements at the site, such as surface water, ground water, soil, atmosphere, and health [7,8]. Environmental Value identifies and quantifies the relation of each environmental element in the area to its environmental and/or socio-political characteristics and the emissions at the landfill.…”

“…These variables permit the quantification of environmental risk because they are characteristic of the landfill site, and also measure the exploitation level of the landfill [7,8]. All of the variables have a theoretical justification, and their selection was based on numerous research studies on how landfills can affect the environment as well as the criteria set out in current regulations and guidelines in Europe and Spain [7,8].…”

“…To do this, we have used EVIAVE, a method of environmental diagnosis developed by researchers at the University of Granada, and applied in Spain [7] and Chile [8]. In each case the method was adapted to the legal and social framework of the country involved.…”