Comparative Life Cycle Assessment of Traditional Treatment Methods for Municipal Solid Waste Leachate

The aim of the study was to evaluate the environmental implications of traditional treatment methods for MSW leachate in order to support decision-making, life cycle assessment (LCA) is deployed. This study describes a three-step phase for the comparative assessment of both stabilization ponds and constructed wetlands methods. An LCA assesses the environmental impact of the treatment methods throughout its existence cycle. A cradle-to-grave LCA model was applied to analyse which treatment method had the most environmental impact. Using midpoint LCIA techniques, the environmental impact of 1000m3 of municipal solid waste leachate was assessed. Data for this study were sourced from published literature, internet searches, and the eco- invent database integrated into the OpenLCA 2.3.1 software. The study focused on five impact categories: climate change (GWP), freshwater ecotoxicity, freshwater eutrophication, terrestrial acidification and particulate matter formation. The study reveals that the stabilization pond has values of 1.38E-05 kg CO2-Eq, 1.44E-05kg 1,4 DCB-Eq, 1.33E-05 kg P-Eq, 4.17E-05kg SO2-Eq and 4.36E-05 kg PM10-Eq respectively for its impact categories and constructed wetland has a value of -1.03E- 05kg CO2-Eq, -1.83E-05kg 1,4 DCB-Eq -1.66E-05kg P-Eq, -1.44E-05kg SO2-Eq and -3.65E-05kg PM10-Eq also for each impact category respectively. Based on these findings, the comparative life cycle assessment reveals that constructed wetlands are a more efficient treatment method and have a smaller land footprint but require higher energy inputs and maintenance. Stabilization ponds, while cost-effective and simpler to operate, generate higher greenhouse gas emissions, require significantly more land for the same treatment capacity and more negative impact in the environment, constructed wetlands meet the sustainability development goals.