Landfills: spraying and odour abatement

February 9, 2024

Why use spray cannons in waste management?

In the context of waste management, landfills and disposal sites represent crucial nodes. However, these sites are often associated with significant environmental problems, including the emission of dust and unpleasant odours. These problems not only threaten public health and the surrounding environment, but also call into question the effectiveness of waste management practices. Addressing these problems has become an imperative priority to ensure sustainable waste management and protect the well-being of local communities.

The presence of powders in landfills and waste management sites is a widespread and worrying phenomenon. This dust, generated by waste movement activity, can contain a wide range of harmful substances, including heavy metals, volatile organic compounds and other polluting particles. When this dust is lifted into the air, it can be transported over long distances, increasing the risk of contaminating the air and surrounding bodies of water. This can lead to serious consequences on human health, causing respiratory problems, skin irritation and potential long-term health effects.

Similarly, the odours emitted from landfills and waste management sites are a major concern. These odours, often resulting from the anaerobic decomposition of organic waste, can be extremely annoying and disturbing to surrounding communities. In addition to their unpleasant nature, odours can also indicate the presence of hazardous chemicals in the air, further increasing risks to public health and the environment.

To effectively address these problems, a number of preventive and control measures need to be taken. Firstly, it is crucial to invest in innovative waste management technologies and practices that minimise the generation of dust and odours. This could include the implementation of waste cover systems, the separation and treatment of organic waste, and the use of advanced composting and recycling techniques.

Furthermore, the use of emission control devices, such as the atomising cannonscan play a crucial role in mitigating the effects of dust and odours in landfills and waste management sites. These devices spray water in the form of a fine mist into the air, humidifying and trapping dust particles and neutralising unpleasant odours. Integrating these technologies within waste management operations can significantly contribute to improving air quality and reducing negative impacts on health and the environment.

FOCUS: BENEFITS FROM THE USE OF DUST SUPPRESSION CANNONS IN LANDFILLS

Dust control: Landfills can generate large amounts of dust due to the movement of material, waste dumping operations and atmospheric conditions. Spray cannons spray water in the form of a fine mist into the air, which humidifies and weighs down the dust, reducing its dispersion into the surrounding environment.
Odour control: Landfills can emit unpleasant odours due to the decomposition of organic waste. Sprayers can be used to diffuse odour-neutralising substances or simply to reduce the odour by diluting the surrounding air with clean water.
Fire Prevention: Under certain conditions, landfill waste can become flammable and cause fires that are difficult to extinguish. Keeping the material damp with spray cans can reduce the risk of fires and help control them if they occur.
Temperature controlHigh heat levels can accelerate the decomposition process of organic waste and potentially increase the risk of fire. Using spray cannons to keep the environment humid can help control the temperature and slow down decomposition.

Overall, the use of spray cannons in landfills aims to improve the environmental management and safety of operations, reducing negative impacts on human health and the environment.

Below is a photo gallery of some of our experience in the waste management sector: