The emission potential from municipal solid waste landfill in Jordan

A comprehensive study was conducted to monitor the emission potential from solid waste landfilled in Jordan over a period of 292 days using an anaerobic lysimeter. A 30 kg waste sample reflecting the typical municipal solid waste (MSW) streams generated in Jordan was used to simulate the influence of climate on the emission potential of landfills located in semi-arid areas. The experimental results demonstrated that a significant amount of leachate and landfill gas was produced. The methane content was found to be more than 45% and the leachate produced reached 15.7 l after 200 days. However, after 260 days the gas and leachate production rate became negligible. A significant amount of heavy metal traces was found in the leachate due to mixed waste disposal. Changes in biogas and leachate quality parameters in the lysimeter revealed typical landfill behaviour trends, the only difference being that they developed much more quickly. In view of current landfill practices in Jordan and the effect of climate change, the results suggest that landfill design and operational modes need to be adjusted in order to achieve sustainability. For this reason, optimized design parameters and operational scenarios for sustainable landfill based on the country’s climatic conditions and financial as well as technical potential are recommended as a primary reference for future landfills in Jordan as well as in similar regions and climates

EXPERIMENTAL SMALL-SCALE SALT-GRADIENT SOLAR POND FOR ENERGY PRODUCTION, DEAD SEA-JORDAN

A small-scale experiment for salinity-gradient solar pond has been constructed and operated at the Dead Sea area over a period of 3 months. The pond has a volume of 5m3 with dimensions of (L, H, W) as 2.0, 2.0 and 1,25 meter respectively. The two parameters temperature and salinity concentration profiles were evaluated through the measurements of the solar pond with respect to time. The experimental result shows that the bottom layer has a higher temperature and it reached a maximum temperature of 85 ℃ after 100 hour of operating. In this experiment, the thermal insulation for the pond was successful to keep the boundaries isolated that made it possible to extract the thermal energy stored in the bottom zone during the daytime, continuously, while maintaining the stability of the solar pond. The total cost of the pond was about $35/m2, in which the cost of the salt represents 45% of the total cost of the solar pond that is relatively cheap. Therefore, constructing the ponds close to the Dead Sea area is a cheaper alternative. Resulting low cost of utilizing thermal energy that could be a valuable option for multistage flash desalination plant that is functioning below 100 oC. The operation of this pond reveals that solar pond technology in the Dead Sea area, as compared with other methods of using solar thermal energy for power generation, is more efficient especially for the utilities where direct thermal energy is required

Solid Waste Management in Jordan

Solid waste became one of the major environmental problems in Jordan, which has been aggravated over the past 15 years by the sharp increase in the volume of waste generated as well as qualitative changes in its composition. The challenges face solid waste management (SWM) in Jordan are numerous. Financial constraints, shortage of proper equipment and limited availability of trained and skilled manpower together with massive and sudden population increases due to several waves of forced migration. In this work we discussed these challenges; the main problems which stand against developing this sector to sustainable levels in the coming future are identified. Suggestions and recommendations that should be taken in consideration for developing the sector are also presente

Water Quality, Availability and Potential of Geothermal Energy Utilization, Afra Water, Jordan

Reusing of 3.3 MCM (million cubic meter) of water every year from utilizing thermal water of the hot springs will boost the availability of water at the Dead Sea area. This water represent an additional sources of water for agribusiness in which all available springs and similar sources can follow the same way of successful. In this work the water quality of Afra hot springs was analysed at source and compared with the water at downstream at the Dead Sea area. Microbial analysis found no traces for faecal coliform and E.coli bacteria which lower the risk for contract diseases when the water is used for irrigation without any prior treatment. The water at upstream rich with high trace of metals with a significant content of bicarbonate, BOD5 and COD but within Jordanian standards for irrigation purposes. Slight variations between physicochemical parameters and trace metal contents found between the water from the source and the water at the downstream because of surface runoff interactions at the way down. Afra spring water at the source is considered as low-enthalpy geothermal sources, as the temperature is range between 45-48 oC, therefore, power generation is unlikely to be possible. However, it can be used in curative water tourist. According to the water quality and availability, different suggestions for treatment and uses will be defined in this paper. Furthermore, to evaluate the potential uses at the downstream

Public Awareness and Willingness for Recycle in Jordan

Jordan has seen a large increase in population during the past five decades as a result of population growth and forced migrations, and also, accompanied with this increase, a cultural and economical development that has improved the standard of living and changing consumer habits in the community, resulting in a clear increase in the volume of waste. These changes urges the need for finding proper ways of making the living conditions for the people of Jordan more sustainable, recycling has been adopted as an important way to reduce waste and ease the use of landfills in many courtiers of the world. The residential area is a good place to start and practice recycling as a substantial part of all waste is generated there every day. This paper examines the level of willingness and awareness of recycling of Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) among residential, with specific focus on university students. A total of 1000 residents were surveyed using 3 types of questionnaires designed to pattern their views on recycling of MSW and to test their willing for recycling, but also to examine their knowledge and awareness of recycling befits on a social, economical and environmental basis. In total 28 questions have been asked in a computer based survey to the students. The result clear that the recycling knowledge between respondent is very low. However, they hold a positive attitude toward the willing for learning more. Respondent also aware of the environmental and economical benefits from recycling, whereas they have negative attitude toward walking more distance and for paying more for better recyclin

Towards sustainable solid waste management in Jordan

Jordan is a country with a growing population that is undergoing rapid modernization. The increased volume of solid waste and associated logistical difficulties, the steady growth in the cost of waste management and the risk to human health are sources of concern. The increasing amount of solid waste generated in Jordan has not been accompanied by adequate sanitation facilities or management programmes. The poor financial situation of municipalities constitutes an obstacle to modern solid waste collection, recycling and successful landfill management. Mixed waste is collected without source separation, in addition to which open dumping and co-disposal of wastewater are practised. Solid waste mismanagement leads to public health risks, adverse environmental impacts and other social and economic problems that put increasing pressure on the infrastructure as well as the authorities responsible. The objectives of the present work were to; (1) investigate and evaluate the existing solid waste management (SWM) system as well as the current policy, institutional, legal and financial framework, (2) review regulations, compare options and identify needs, (3) determine the problems associated with current practices, especially landfilling and source separation, with focus on the environmental impact of municipal solid waste (MSW) landfills and describe the main obstacles to developing this sector to a sustainable level in the future, and (4) suggest design parameters and operational methods for sustainable landfill operations in the light of the current financial, social and environmental situation in Jordan. Field and laboratory experiments, numerical simulation as well as surveys were used to achieve these objectives. The field experiment was conducted to gather information about the sanitary status of Mafraq landfill by investigating the leachate and groundwater quality in its surroundings. Laboratory experiments on typical Jordanian waste were undertaken to explore the effects of landfill practices and climate on emission potential from landfills in Jordan and similar regions. Modelling and numerical simulation were used to compare different waste management options and their effects on climate change and greenhouse gas (GHG) production. The daily landfill cover of Mafraq landfill was studied, while in Akaider landfill a water balance equation was applied to predict the leachate generated by the co-disposal of wastewater (liquid sewage mixed with municipal waste) and its possible effect on groundwater. Two surveys were conducted; The first was designed to explore the public perception and awareness of as well as willingness to recycle MSW and to determine best SWM practices. The aim of the second was to describe the role of scavengers in waste management in terms of waste reduction and material recovery. Field experiments clearly demonstrated that Mafraq landfill does not meet the standards of a sanitary landfill, as the leachate is free to interact with the groundwater aquifer. Furthermore, the leachate analysis revealed that the soil under the landfill is contaminated. Groundwater from wells in the vicinity is unsuitable for household use due to high concentrations of fluoride and mercury which, if ingested, can cause serious health problems in humans. Laboratory results provided evidence of the production of a significant quantity of leachate and landfill gas during wet seasons. However, the gas and leachate production rate was negligible in summer. Significant traces of heavy metals were found in the leachate due to mixed waste disposal, indicating that the landfill design and operation could be improved. Modelling of various waste management options revealed a vast reduction in GHG emissions when organic waste was separated and either composted or treated in anaerobic bio-reactors. The numerical simulation of landfill daily cover demonstrated that clay loam was suitable for Mafraq landfill cover as well as for sites with similar soil and climatic conditions, as it had the lowest penetration depth at the end of the simulation period, is available in sufficient quantities in the landfill, does not waste landfill space and effectively seals the waste. The simulation result for the suggested water balance equation illustrated that the co-disposed wastewater plays a major role in controlling the rate and magnitude of contaminants percolating from MSW leachate and increases groundwater contamination. Finally, the survey revealed that people in Jordan had a very low level of knowledge about recycling, albeit a positive attitude towards and willingness to learn more about it. Satisfaction with municipal waste collection services was very high. Thus, source separation at the point of generation will be difficult to achieve in the immediate future in Jordan. Scavengers play an important role in informal SWM, especially in terms of waste reduction and material recovery. The value of the scavenged material makes scavenging a relatively profitable business for poor people and could attract more in the future