Landfill Mining & Reclamation / Bio-Mining
Bio-mining involves excavating legacy landfill waste, processing it to recover valuable resources, reclaim landfill space, and safely dispose of residuals. Key outputs include recyclable materials, combustible fractions for power generation, soil, and restored land.
Origins & Value
- Introduced in 1953 at the Hiriya landfill, Israel.
- Landfills often contain high-value resources like aluminum and steel, sometimes in higher concentrations than natural ores.
Applications
- Ideal for cities lacking land for new landfill sites.
- Construction landfill mining recovers wood (as fuel), scrap metal, and masonry.
- Municipal landfill mining separates biodegradable and non-biodegradable fractions for reuse or safe disposal.
- Crucial for remediating hazardous, unlined landfills to prevent leachate contamination.
Conventional Process
- Excavation using loaders/excavators.
- Conveying to sorting machinery.
- Screening via trommels (large and small).
- Magnetic separation of metals.
- Optional air classification for light/heavy fractions.
- Transport for further processing or sale.
- Odor control with neutralizing agents.
Challenges in Developing Countries
- Rapid urbanization, poor waste collection infrastructure, and high informal waste-picking activity.
- Only 50–80% of waste is collected despite significant municipal spending.
- Open dumping and burning create severe environmental and health hazards.
Advanced Mobile Screening (MSE)
- Compact, diesel-powered units process ~500 MT/day (vs. 100–150 MT for conventional systems).
- No major infrastructure needed—portable, cost-effective, and independent of grid power.