LEACHATE-RECYCLE INFILTRATION PONDS

A leachate-recycle system (LRS) consisting of four infiltration ponds was operated and monitored over a 28-month period at an active lined l andfill in Florida. Ponds were constructed by excavating into the land filled waste and by compacting lifts of solid waste to form the pond w alls. A total of 36,470 m(3) of leachate were recirculated, representi ng 63% of the total volume of leachate generated. The entire leachate stream was not recycled because of the large volume of leachate and th e low leachate infiltration rates into the landfill. Water budgets con ducted on individual ponds over the first 16 months of operation revea led that the infiltration rates ranged from 6 x 10(-6) to 9 x 10(-6) c m/sec. The vertical saturated hydraulic conductivity of the compacted waste was estimated in the range of 3 x 10(-6)-4 x 10(-6)cm/sec, lower than values reported in the literature.