Waste and environmental impact

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Monitoring network for landfills.

Since 1998, the Police and Inspections Department (DPC) has entrusted the ISSeP with managing the monitoring network for class 2 landfills in Wallonia. The network currently comprises 12 landfills, including 6 having been provisionally (Froidchapelle, Cronfestu, Happe-Chapois) or definitively rehabilitated (Belderbusch, Morialmé and Malvoisin) and 6 which are operational (Mont-Saint-Guibert, Hallembaye, Cour au Bois, Champ de Beaumont, Tenneville and Habay). The ISSeP regularly organises investigation campaigns with the aim being to assess the impact of site emissions (leachate, discharge from sewage works, engine smoke, etc.) on an environment (on immissions).  These measurements concern recipients such as underground waters, surface waters, ambient air quality and rivers. Depending on the status (definitively or provisionally rehabilitated, or operational) and the sensitivity of a landfill, the ISSeP adapts its sampling strategy and focuses its monitoring on certain, more specific problems. All campaign reports from the landfill sites integrated into the network are available in electronic format on the control network’s website:

http://environnement.wallonie.be/data/dechets/cet/00intro/00_1mi.htm

Monitoring of the rehabilitation of polluted sites

In recent years, to respond to increasingly common requests from the administration, the technical support provided by the ISSeP also includes the examination of the rehabilitation files for polluted sites, monitoring of clean-up, assessment of the environmental situation of class 2 landfills not integrated into the monitoring network, class 3 and class 5 landfills, as well as advice for the various administrative departments concerned (Department of Soil and Waste, Department of Permits and Authorisations, Department of Environment and Water). On average, approx. 10 sampling and analysis campaigns are organised on these sites annually, on which there is suspected non-compliance with the environmental obligations. An environmental assessment report is systematically prepared for each campaign.  In addition, the ISSeP is regularly involved in support committees or monitoring committees for the clean-up of polluted sites. It offers technical assistance to the competent authorities and, if necessary, plans independent measurement campaigns in parallel with those organised by the approved expert responsible for clean-up.

Database and encryption masks

In an effort to simplify communication channels between landfill site operators, the administration and the ISSeP in charge of managing the control network, in 2013 the institute developed an IT tool (encryption mask) for the standardised encryption of self-control results for liquid matrices at landfill sites (leachate, discharge from sewage works, surface waters and underground waters). This tool is designed such that the results can be used to directly supply a database concerning the landfill sites. This database, known as OGRE (environmental results management tool) is used to draw environmental statistics, whether for the landfill monitoring network as a whole or for an individual landfill. The output interface of the encoder mask has been designed to meet the reporting requirements for classified installations in accordance with the Industrial Emissions Directive (IED directive).

Thematic correspondent for waste characterisation : Emerance Bietlot – 04 229 88 24