Methodology for Municipal Landfill Sites Selection

Probably the most important first stage in the development of a new sanitary landfill* is the selection of the site to be used. The inappropriate selection of a site can contribute to the bad image and reputation affecting landfill operations. Landfill site selection is a step-by-step process, in which environmental, engineering and economic criteria are applied successively. Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) constitutes the first and most crucial stage in this selection process, aiming to quantify the impacts according to the natural characteristics of the sites. A method is presented to facilitate the proper selection of a landfill site for municipal waste. The method follows specific principles, called "selection criteria", the aim of which are to compare the considered sites to a hypothetical "ideal one". As a result the more a site matches the ideal and fulfils the criteria requirements, the more suitable it is as a landfill site. A case study for Athens, Greece is presented in an Appendix.