Studies on environmental quality in and around municipal solid waste dumpsite

The characteristics of municipal solid waste dumped at Mathkal dumping ground, Kolkata, India, was investigated to evaluate the environmental quality in and around the landfill site. The physico-chemical characteristics of the landfilled waste varied differently with organic matter content varying between 11.87 and 12.95%, lignin 4.18 and 4.26%, cellulose 4.21 and 4.31% and hemi-cellulose 0.93 and 1.02%. Leachates were characterized for measuring Cr, Cd, Ni, Mn, and Pb and physico-chemical parameters including pH, chemical oxygen demand (COD), and hardness. The important relationships between these parameters were defined and statistical evaluation of the results was performed. The moderately high concentrations of heavy metal in groundwater, likely indicated that the groundwater quality has been significantly affected by leachate percolation. Finally, the results emphasized that that there is an urgent need to adopt certain measures at the landfill site for the protection of environmental quality in and around Mathkal landfill site.