Sustainable Solid Waste Management through Landscaped Landfills

Background/Objectives: The paper looks into an approach to develop landscape solution to landfill sites or an unused land which allows a sustainable disposal option of urban organic waste as well as a sustainable maintenance of land in urban areas. Methods/Statistical Analysis: The paper identifies landfills as specific examples of urban landscapes which can be transformed to landscaped landfills. Such a plan can be formulated only by knowing the quantity and quality of the waste generated the available resources and the environmental conditions of a particular region. This paper looks into an innovative approach where source separated biodegradable waste that is taken to a landfill could be a source for landscape development. Findings: As a result the paper describes a conceptual model for landscaped landfills where it considers two options; one is rehabilitating existing dump sites (due for a clean-up) and another for setting up new sites for disposal. For both these solutions the organic/biodegradable nature of the waste can provide nutrient for plant growth which is an essential element of landscape. However, for a continuous maintenance and management of such sites the model tries to integrate certain existing waste management techniques without overlooking the environmental risks associated. Further, the paper explains the cyclic process of landscaped landfills in three different phases which includes the dumping phase, degradation phase and the planting phase. The paper briefly outlinesthat the extent and intensity these phases are site specific and depends on the quantity and quality of the waste, plant growth period and climate. Application/Improvement: The model describes a strategy and methodology to convert landfills/open dumps or any vacant land into a fitting component of typical urban landscapes through enhancing its environmental significance and visual quality for sustainability.