Strata-based approach for determination of resource recovery potential from legacy waste dumpsite in India

The growing interest in recovering resources from old dumpsites has greatly accelerated the adoption of landfill mining (LFM) in recent years. This study focuses on assessing the quality of materials recovered from diverse legacy waste dumpsites using a strata-based approach. The method involved waste characterization, elemental analysis, physico-chemical characterization, heavy metals analysis and correlation analysis to assess the potential of solid waste samples collected from all three layers. Results revealed intriguing patterns in waste composition, with an increase in soil like fractions with depth and percentage of single-use plastic was almost same in all layers. Elemental analysis revealed variations in nitrogen, carbon, hydrogen and sulphur content across different layers, showcasing the heterogeneity of legacy. There was a small variation in the percentage of carbon in the first two layers, indicating high potential for use as fuel in the form of refuse-derived fuels. Significant changes were observed in layer 3, indicating it is best suited for landfill gas collection. Similar trends were observed for other elements. The presence of nitrogen-rich content indicates the potential for ammonia production, whereas hydrogen-rich materials suggest the possibility of generating hydrogen gas. Sulphur-rich waste holds promise for contributing to sulphur dioxide production. Correlation analysis was performed to maximize resource recovery while minimizing environmental risks.