GB 16889-2024Standard for pollution control on the landfill site of municipal solid waste (English PDF)

3.1 municipal solid waste

Solid waste generated in daily life or in activities providing services for daily life, and solid waste deemed to be municipal solid waste by laws and administrative regulations.

3.2 municipal solid waste landfill site

A facility for the landfill disposal of municipal solid waste composed of a number of disposal cells and structures. Landfill in this standard always means a municipal solid waste landfill.

3.3 liner

A layer of natural and/or synthetic materials placed at the bottom and on the side slopes of a landfill to prevent pollution by seepage.

3.4 natural foundation layer

The foundation layer below the liner, consisting of undisturbed soil.

3.5 natural clay liner

A liner formed by mechanically compacting treated natural clay.

3.6 single composite liner system

A liner consisting of one synthetic material liner and a clay liner.

3.7 double composite liner system

A liner consisting of two synthetic material liners and a clay liner.

3.8 independent landfill partitioning

An independent landfill cell with its own leachate collection and drainage system, isolated from municipal solid waste.

3.9 equalization basin

A structure placed ahead of the leachate treatment system that equalises and stores leachate, or also pre-treats it.

3.10 operation period

The period during which landfilling is carried out.

3.11 maintenance and management period after landfill closure

The period after closure during which maintenance, pollution control and environmental management continue until the landfill has stabilised.

3.12 existing municipal solid waste landfill

A landfill built and in operation, or whose environmental impact assessment was approved, before the date this standard came into force.

3.13 new-built municipal solid waste landfill

A new, rebuilt or extended landfill whose environmental impact assessment is approved from the date this standard came into force.

5.1 General provisions

5.1.1 According to local natural conditions and the characteristics of the waste, the landfill shall be provided with: weighing facilities, a waste dam, a liner system, a leachate collection and drainage system, a leachate treatment system, flood control, separation of rainwater and leachate, groundwater drainage, landfill gas drainage and treatment, cover and closure systems, environmental monitoring facilities, emergency facilities and other utilities.

5.1.2 Rainwater and leachate shall be kept separate. A rainwater collection system shall collect and discharge rainwater from the catchment that could flow towards the landfill area and rainwater in unfilled areas that has not touched waste. This rainwater shall not be mixed with leachate.

5.1.3 The bottom of the foundation layer of the landfill area shall be at least 3 m above the highest annual groundwater level. Where the distance is less than 3 m, a groundwater drainage system designed to GB 50869 shall be built.

5.1.4 The landfill shall be enclosed by walls or fences, with litter screens, safety protection and firebreaks at the boundary of the landfill area and other necessary locations.

5.2 Design of the liner system

5.2.1 A single or double composite liner system shall be selected according to the geology of the natural foundation layer and the conclusions of the environmental impact assessment.

5.2.2 Where the saturated hydraulic conductivity of the natural foundation layer is not more than 1.0 x 10^-5 cm/s and its thickness is not less than 2 m, a single composite liner may be used, provided that: a) the synthetic liner is high density polyethylene (HDPE) geomembrane not less than 2.0 mm thick; b) beneath it lies a natural or modified clay liner not less than 0.75 m thick with a compacted saturated hydraulic conductivity of not more than 1.0 x 10^-7 cm/s.

5.2.3 Where the saturated hydraulic conductivity of the natural foundation layer exceeds 1.0 x 10^-5 cm/s, or its thickness is less than 2 m, a double composite liner shall be used, provided that: a) the synthetic liners are HDPE geomembrane, the primary liner not less than 2.0 mm and the secondary liner not less than 1.5 mm thick; b) beneath them lies a natural or modified clay liner not less than 0.75 m thick with a compacted saturated hydraulic conductivity of not more than 1.0 x 10^-7 cm/s; c) a leak detection layer of fine gravel, geocomposite drainage net or similar material is placed between the two liners to collect, drain and detect liquid passing through the primary liner.

5.2.4 The saturated hydraulic conductivity of clay liners shall be measured by the falling head permeability test of GB/T 50123. HDPE geomembrane shall meet CJ/T 234.

5.2.5 Materials used instead of synthetic or clay liners shall have at least equivalent water-tightness.

5.2.6 Independent landfill cells receiving fly ash from municipal solid waste incineration or residues from medical waste incineration (fly ash and bottom ash) shall meet the double composite liner requirements of 5.2.3.

5.2.7 The landfill shall be able to monitor liner leakage so that leaks are detected in time, by one or more of: liner leak monitoring equipment, groundwater monitoring wells, a leak detection layer.

5.3 Design of leachate collection, drainage and treatment systems

5.3.1 A leachate collection and drainage system shall be provided, designed so that the leachate head on the liner does not exceed 30 cm during operation, closure and post-closure maintenance and management.

5.3.2 A leachate equalization basin shall be provided, lined to a standard not lower than that of the landfill area. Its capacity shall be calculated to GB 50869.

5.3.3 Leachate treatment facilities shall be built according to local conditions and leachate generation, so that leachate is treated to the standard throughout operation, closure and post-closure maintenance and management.

5.3.4 Where leachate treatment facilities are built, the equalization basin shall be enclosed under negative pressure suction, with the extracted gas treated to the standard by chemical absorption, biological or adsorption deodorisation. The enclosure design shall allow for rainwater drainage, gas venting and removal of sludge from the basin floor.

5.4 Design of landfill gas drainage and treatment systems

5.4.1 A landfill gas drainage system shall be provided.

5.4.2 Landfills with a design capacity of not less than 2.5 million tonnes and a waste depth exceeding 20 m shall build landfill gas utilisation or flare facilities, giving priority to efficient utilisation.

5.4.3 Smaller landfills without the conditions for gas utilisation shall use a semi-aerobic landfill process that effectively reduces methane generation and emission, or treat landfill gas by flaring, biocovers or biofilters. Where the semi-aerobic process is used, the leachate drainage pipes shall be connected to the vertical gas vents and open to the atmosphere, and their outlets shall be kept above the leachate level in the equalization basin or collection well.

5.5 Construction and acceptance requirements

5.5.1 The construction plan shall include quality assurance and quality control measures, and define pollution control measures during construction and the responsibilities of the parties.

5.5.2 Clay liners shall be constructed to CJJ 176. HDPE geomembrane laying and welding shall comply with CJJ 113. After construction of the landfill area, the integrity of the HDPE geomembrane shall be tested to CJJ/T 214.

5.5.3 After the synthetic liner is laid, effective engineering measures shall prevent the liner and geotextile in unfilled areas from direct exposure to sunlight.

5.5.4 The environmental protection completion acceptance shall cover liner integrity, the leachate collection and drainage system, the leachate treatment system, the groundwater drainage system and the landfill gas drainage and treatment system, including their commissioning performance.

9.1 Control requirements for direct discharge of water pollutants

9.1.1 Existing and new landfills discharging water pollutants directly shall meet the limits of Table 2.

Table 2 Discharge limits for water pollutants, direct discharge: 1 colour (dilution ratio) 40; 2 chemical oxygen demand (CODCr) 100 mg/L; 3 biochemical oxygen demand (BOD5) 30 mg/L; 4 suspended solids 30 mg/L; 5 total nitrogen 40 mg/L; 6 ammonia nitrogen 25 mg/L; 7 total phosphorus 3 mg/L; 8 faecal coliforms 10 000 per litre; 9 total copper* 0.5 mg/L; 10 total zinc* 1 mg/L; 11 total mercury 0.001 mg/L; 12 total cadmium 0.01 mg/L; 13 total chromium 0.1 mg/L; 14 hexavalent chromium 0.05 mg/L; 15 total arsenic 0.1 mg/L; 16 total lead 0.1 mg/L; 17 total beryllium* 0.002 mg/L; 18 total nickel* 0.05 mg/L.

Items marked * are additional pollutants to be controlled where fly ash from municipal solid waste incineration is landfilled. Monitoring location for all items: discharge outlet of the leachate treatment facility.

9.1.2 In areas where land development density is already high and environmental carrying capacity is weakening, or where environmental capacity is small and the ecological environment fragile, so that serious pollution is likely and special protection is needed, such as key groundwater pollution control zones, landfill discharges shall be strictly controlled and direct discharges shall meet the special limits of Table 3. The geographical scope and timing of the special limits are set by the ecological and environmental department of the State Council or by provincial people's governments.

Table 3 Special discharge limits for water pollutants, direct discharge: 1 colour (dilution ratio) 30; 2 CODCr 60 mg/L; 3 BOD5 20 mg/L; 4 suspended solids 30 mg/L; 5 total nitrogen 20 mg/L; 6 ammonia nitrogen 8 mg/L; 7 total phosphorus 1.5 mg/L; 8 faecal coliforms 1 000 per litre; 9 total copper* 0.5 mg/L; 10 total zinc* 1 mg/L; 11 total mercury 0.001 mg/L; 12 total cadmium 0.01 mg/L; 13 total chromium 0.1 mg/L; 14 hexavalent chromium 0.05 mg/L; 15 total arsenic 0.1 mg/L; 16 total lead 0.1 mg/L; 17 total beryllium* 0.002 mg/L; 18 total nickel* 0.05 mg/L.

Items marked * are additional pollutants to be controlled where fly ash from municipal solid waste incineration is landfilled. Monitoring location for all items: discharge outlet of the leachate treatment facility.

9.2 Control requirements for indirect discharge of water pollutants

9.2.1 A landfill discharging water pollutants to a centralised wastewater treatment facility shall agree with its operator, in a legally binding written contract, the quality and quantity, discharge method, monitoring, information sharing, emergency response, liability for breach and dispute resolution. Centralised facilities include municipal and industrial wastewater treatment plants.

9.2.2 Treated leachate shall be discharged evenly and shall not affect the normal operation and performance of the centralised facility.

9.2.3 Leachate discharged to a centralised facility shall meet the following: a) it shall reach a municipal plant through the main sewer, through a dedicated pipe to the main sewer where direct connection is not possible, or as provided by national regulations where neither is possible; b) it shall reach an industrial plant through a dedicated pipe, or as provided by national regulations where no pipe can be laid; c) water pollutants shall meet the limits of Table 4.

Table 4 Discharge limits for water pollutants, indirect discharge: 1 colour (dilution ratio) 64; 2 CODCr 500 mg/L; 3 BOD5 350 mg/L; 4 suspended solids 400 mg/L; 5 total nitrogen 70 mg/L; 6 ammonia nitrogen 45 mg/L; 7 total phosphorus 8 mg/L; 8 total copper* 2 mg/L; 9 total zinc* 5 mg/L; 10 total mercury 0.001 mg/L; 11 total cadmium 0.01 mg/L; 12 total chromium 0.1 mg/L; 13 hexavalent chromium 0.05 mg/L; 14 total arsenic 0.1 mg/L; 15 total lead 0.1 mg/L; 16 total beryllium* 0.002 mg/L; 17 total nickel* 0.05 mg/L.

Items marked * are additional pollutants to be controlled where fly ash from municipal solid waste incineration is landfilled. Monitoring location for all items: discharge outlet of the leachate treatment facility.

9.3 Methane

The methane content above the landfill shall be less than 5%, and inside landfill buildings and structures less than 1.25%.

9.4 Air pollutants

Emissions of air pollutants, including odour pollutants, shall comply with GB 16297 and GB 14554.

10.1 General requirements

10.1.1 The landfill shall establish a self-monitoring system and programme in accordance with the law, the Regulations on the Administration of Pollutant Discharge Permits, the Measures for the Administration of Environmental Monitoring and HJ 819, monitor its discharges and their effect on surrounding environmental quality, keep original records, and publish self-monitoring results on the national pollutant discharge permit information platform.

10.1.2 Installation and maintenance of automatic monitoring equipment shall follow the law, the Measures for the Administration of Automatic Monitoring of Pollution Sources and the discharge permit.

10.1.3 Permanent sampling ports, sampling platforms and outlet signs shall be designed, built and maintained in accordance with environmental monitoring rules and technical specifications.

10.1.4 Monitoring method standards issued after this standard may also be used for the corresponding items where they are suitable.

10.2 Monitoring of water pollutant discharges

10.2.1 Sampling points and sampling methods shall follow HJ 91.1.

10.2.2 The discharge outlet of the leachate treatment facility shall be monitored online. Pollutants without an online monitoring specification shall be monitored manually at least once a month. Monitoring data shall be shared promptly with the ecological and environmental authority and with the operator of the centralised wastewater facility.

10.3 Groundwater monitoring

10.3.1 Groundwater monitoring wells shall meet the siting requirements of HJ 164 and also: a) one background well upstream, at least two pollution surveillance wells downstream, and at least one pollution dispersion well on each side of the landfill; b) where there is a groundwater drainage system, one pollution monitoring well at the drainage pipe outlet; c) wells built and managed to HJ 164; d) additional wells as appropriate for large landfills.

10.3.2 Where aquifers are deep or wells are difficult to place, the number of wells may be set according to hydrogeological conditions and environmental risk.

10.3.3 Background groundwater quality shall be monitored before the landfill is used, and monitoring shall continue from the start of use.

10.3.4 Groundwater parameters: pH, total hardness, total dissolved solids, oxygen consumption (CODCr method), ammonia nitrogen, nitrate, nitrite, sulphate, chloride, volatile phenols, cyanide, arsenic, mercury, total chromium, hexavalent chromium, lead, fluoride, cadmium, iron, manganese, copper, zinc, nickel, beryllium and total coliforms.

10.3.5 During operation, the well at the drainage pipe outlet shall be sampled at least weekly, pollution dispersion and surveillance wells at least every two weeks, and the background well at least monthly. After closure, groundwater monitoring shall continue at least quarterly. Abnormal results shall be re-monitored within 3 days, with additional parameters as necessary.

10.4 Fly ash

Fly ash from municipal solid waste incineration meeting 6.3 shall be monitored to HJ 1134 before landfilling.

10.5 Methane monitoring

10.5.1 Methane sampling points above the landfill and inside buildings and structures shall be placed to GB/T 18772, and monitored at least daily.

10.5.2 Methane in air shall be measured with portable analysers meeting GB 13486 or equivalent. Enforcement monitoring shall use the method of HJ 604.

10.6 Air pollutant monitoring

10.6.1 Monitoring factors for fugitive odour emissions shall match the items controlled by GB 14554. Factors for other fugitive gas emissions shall be chosen to represent the characteristics of the landfilled waste.

10.6.2 Sampling points, sampling and methods shall follow GB 16297 and HJ 905, with the downwind side of the source as the main monitoring area.

10.6.3 During operation, odour pollutants and fugitive gases at the site boundary shall be monitored at least monthly and at least quarterly respectively. Abnormal results shall be re-monitored within one week.

10.6.4 Landfills with leachate treatment facilities shall monitor ducted odour emissions for the items controlled by GB 14554 at least quarterly, re-monitoring abnormal results within one week.

10.7 Methods for determining pollutant concentrations

Pollutant concentrations shall be determined by the method standards listed in Table 5.

Table 5 Method standards for pollutant concentrations: 1 colour HJ 1182; 2 CODCr HJ/T 70, HJ/T 132, HJ/T 399, HJ 828; 3 BOD5 HJ 505; 4 suspended solids GB 11901; 5 ammonia nitrogen HJ 195, HJ 535, HJ 536, HJ 537, HJ 665, HJ 666; 6 total nitrogen HJ 636, HJ 667, HJ 668, HJ 199; 7 total phosphorus GB 11893, HJ 670, HJ 671; 8 total mercury GB 7469, HJ/T 341, HJ 597, HJ 694; 9 total arsenic GB 7485, HJ 694, HJ 700, HJ 776; 10 total cadmium GB 7471, GB 7475, HJ 700, HJ 776; 11 total chromium GB 7466, HJ 700, HJ 757, HJ 776; 12 hexavalent chromium GB 7467, HJ 908; 13 total lead GB 7470, GB 7475, HJ 700, HJ 776; 14 total copper GB 7475, HJ 485, HJ 486, HJ 700, HJ 776; 15 total zinc GB 7472, GB 7475, HJ 700, HJ 776; 16 total beryllium HJ/T 59, HJ 700, HJ 776; 17 total nickel HJ 700, HJ 776; 18 faecal coliforms HJ 347.1, HJ 347.2, HJ 1001; 19 methane HJ 604.