Comparison of technical methods of securing closed landfills in the Czech Republic and Poland

Landfills and/or open dumpsites have been the common practice for municipal solid waste disposal all over the world. Landfilling is one of the oldest and still most frequently used waste disposal methods. The purpose of this work is to compare technical methods of securing landfills that are being closed in the Czech Republic and Poland. The Polish example of such is Słabomierz-Krzyżówka landfill site and the Czech example is Štěpánovice landfill. Closing landfills is a very important process in the aspect of environmental protection, which is of technological, legal and organizational nature. Reclamation of a landfill should be conducted in accordance with clearly presented time schedules that result from an administrative decision in a manner that protects the landfill against its adverse impact on the envi-ronment. These goals were achieved in both analysed landfills despite some differences in the closing process of both landfills.O

Research of the biodegradability of degradable/biodegradable plastic material in various types of environments

Research was carried out in order to assess biodegradability of degradable/biodegradable materials made of HDPE and mixed with totally degradable plastic additive (TDPA additive) or made of polyethylene (PE) with the addition of pro-oxidant additive (d2w additive), advertised as 100% degradable or certifi ed as compostable within various types of environments. Research conditions were: (i) controlled composting environment – laboratory-scale, (ii) real composting conditions – domestic compost bin, (iii) real composting conditions – industrial composting plant and (iv) landfill conditions. The results demonstrate that the materials made of HDPE and mixed with totally degradable plastic additive (TDPA additive) or made of polyethylene (PE) with the addition of pro-oxidant additive (d2w additive) or advertised as 100% degradable did not biodegrade in any of the above-described conditions and remained completely intact at the end of the tests. Biodegradation of the certified compostable plastic bags proceeded very well in laboratory-scale conditions and in real composting conditions – industrial composting plant, however, these materials did not biodegrade in real composting conditions – domestic compost bin and landfill conditions

Chemical composition and hazardous effects of leachate from the active municipal solid waste landfill surrounded by farmlands

Landfill leachates are potentially harmful to the environment and to human health.The objective of this study was to characterize leachates in order to analyze whether a relationshipexists between the stored waste and the composition of leachates, and to detect possible leakages ofpollutants into the environment. To achieve these objectives, field data, Global Positioning Systemdata and physico-chemical data were used. Biological tests are becoming increasingly popularin determining leachate toxicity; therefore, two toxicity tests were performed with the seeds ofwhite mustard (Sinapis albaL.) and duckweed (Lemna minorL.). Leachates were sampled from theleachate pond. Groundwater quality was monitored by using drill holes. The research and analysiscarried out are important to determine their potential impact on agricultural areas located near thelandfill. Demonstrably increased (P<0.05) concentrations of heavy metals were detected only inthe leachate pond which closes the landfill body, where it links up with the landfill insulation layer.Water sampled from drill holes reaching into groundwater was not contaminated. The results showedthat the leachates did not leak outside the landfill. Nevertheless, they were found to be phytotoxic.Both toxicity tests showed that the increasing amount of leachates resulted in the increasing growthinhibition of the tested plants. The proper handling of leachates should have been ensured.The research was funded by the Ministry of Agriculture of the Czech Republic, institutional support MZE-RO1720

Municipal solid waste management under Covid-19: Challenges and recommendations

Covid-19 is proving to be an unprecedented disaster for human health, social contacts and the economy worldwide. It is evident that SARS-CoV-2 may spread through municipal solid waste (MSW), if collected, bagged, handled, transported or disposed of inappropriately. Under the stress placed by the current pandemic on the sanitary performance across all MSW management (MSWM) chains, this industry needs to re-examine its infrastructure resilience with respect to all processes, from waste identification, classification, collection, separation, storage, transportation, recycling, treatment and disposal. The current paper provides an overview of the severe challenges placed by Covid-19 onto MSW systems, highlighting the essential role of waste management in public health protection during the ongoing pandemic. It also discusses the measures issued by various international organisations and countries for the protection of MSWM employees (MSWEs), identifying gaps, especially for developing countries, where personal protection equipment and clear guidelines to MSWEs may not have been provided, and the general public may not be well informed. In countries with high recycling rates of MSW, the need to protect MSWEs' health has affected the supply stream of the recycling industry. The article concludes with recommendations for the MSW industry operating under public health crisis conditions

Analýza fungování meziobecní spolupráce na příkladu vybraných svazků obcí z Vyškovska

This master thesis looks at the intermunicipal cooperation from the point of usage of the application on the nationwide level and also on the level of selected microregions Ivanovická brána and Větrník. It investigates the functioning of the municipal cooperation in various domains and consequently presents opinions and positions of municipal representatives by means of qualitative research

EVALUATION OF LANDFILL POLLUTION WITH SPECIAL EMPHASIS ON HEAVY METALS

Monitoring leachate, groundwater and surface water aiming to determinate the concentration of heavy metals (Hg, Zn, Ni, Cr6+,Cd, Pb) at the municipal solid waste landfill Štěpánovice took place in the years 2002–2010. The values of heavy metals concentration oscillated as follows: Zn (0.05 – 0.37 μg/dm3), Cr+6 (0.01 – 3.3 μg/dm3), Hg (0.0001 – 0.001 (μg/dm3), Ni (0.001 – 0.19 μg/dm3, Cd (0.001 – 0.007 μg/dm3) and Pb (0.002 – 0.176 μg/dm3). The measured data show that the concentrations of heavy metals met the limits provided by law. Under the current landfill operation mode, the results of measurements do not indicate any negative impact on the quality of surface water, groundwater or leachate water