LAUSR

A lifetime of landfill with the waste composition and conditions specific to big and small towns of Ukraine is reproduced with landfill simulation reactors in 12-week period. The heavy metals concentrations (lead, nickel, chromium, cadmium) and physico-chemical parameters affecting (pH, reduction potential, conductivity, DOC, COD) are measured in the leachate formed during the reactors exploitation. The results show a quite high content of the heavy metals. Higher concentrations are found where more organic fraction is present in the waste. There are conditions inside the reactors, especially acidity, which are crucial at the early stages. Further, a significant impact can be caused by unequal distribution of heavy metals in the waste body. Also due to accelerated water regime in the reactors, the heavy metals concentrations in a landfill leachate are predicted up to 50–55 years. Forecast shows multiple (2–18 times) exceeding the allowable concentrations of all heavy metals.