Feasibilities and perspectives for landfill mining in Lithuania

Abstract

Despite that mechanical-biological treatment and incineration as municipal waste treatment methods are already under starting positions, the landfilling leaves still a main MSW disposal method in Lithuania. Currently 11 modern regional landfills are exploited, and all in Lithuania acted district and township landfills and dumps have been closed and rehabilitated. The expected total amount of formerly landfilled recyclable fractions is about 645 Mt.
For EU funds closed and rehabilitated local landfills can not be in principle "touched". However the used and eventually almost already fullfilled regional MSW landfills have the additional inducement for restoration by landfill mining. Also the mining of special landfills for construction and demolition waste becomes already the practical character.