The main objective of the RELEACH project is to demonstrate and disseminate the technical and economical feasibility of decreasing the overall environmental impact of waste management by adopting new landfill leachate treatment strategies based on the use of different existing technologies, mainly membrane separation processes, with the final aim to reduce as much as possible the concentrate stream produced in landfill leachate management.

The specific objectives of the project are:

  • To demonstrate the feasibility and promote the implementation of the innovative landfill leachate management methodology. The new process is divided in the following main steps: ultrafiltration, nanofiltration, reverse osmosis and electrodialysis reversal, and will be specifically designed to diminish the generation of concentrate when treating old landfill leachates and, consequently, decrease noticeably the environmental impact of waste management, being in line with the objectives of the Waste Framework Directive (2008/98/EC) and the Landfill Waste Directive (1999/31/EC).
  • To use a recovered waste as the main part of the process. The NF and RO steps will use regenerated membranes following the procedures developed by TYPSA in the REMEMBRANE project (LIFE11 ENV/ES/00626).
  • To disseminate the obtained results and transfer the knowledge acquired regarding the landfill leachate management using the new methodology developed. Dissemination activities are a key point to promote the implementation of the new methodology to other areas with the same problem.
  • To quantify and disseminate the environmental benefits and the economical impact of the new methodology compared to the currently applied technologies.
  • To decrease the waste disposal in landfills and diminish the use of natural resources by minimizing the amount of concentrate to be treated.
  • To increase the awareness related to the environmental problem caused by waste landfill disposal and waste management.
  • To promote the implementation of environmental policies and strategies for quantifying and minimising the environmental impact of waste management