Landfill Disposal
At the landfill (a site consisting of one or more properly waterproofed cells, which prevents infiltration into the soil and groundwater), unsorted waste is deposited daily and covered with soil to prevent exposure to air, unpleasant odours, the spread of insects, or other disease vectors.
In an integrated management system, landfill disposal is the last option used, resulting from an environmental protection plan that includes monitoring the proper drainage of leachate and biogas (gases from the biodegradation of waste mass), which is sent for energy recovery or incineration, control of groundwater/surface water and topographical changes.
When it reaches its capacity limit, the landfill undergoes a rigorous closure and landscaping process, and can subsequently become a green space or leisure park for the enjoyment of the population, complying with good safety and environmental conditions.
The landfill process also includes the following facilities:
- Leachate Treatment Plant
The water resulting from the decomposition of waste deposited in landfills, after being collected, is treated at the Leachate Treatment Plant using a ‘reverse osmosis’ system and is used to wash Algar vehicles and pavements.
- Transfer Station
The Transfer Station is a facility that receives waste from locations further away from landfills. Its purpose is to improve the efficiency of transporting waste generated in municipalities that are far from the treatment facility, thus fulfilling the objective of optimising circuits and working with local authorities to optimise costs in an agile manner.
ALGAR has eight transfer stations located in the municipalities of Albufeira, Alcoutim, Aljezur, Castro Marim, Lagos, Loulé, Tavira and Vila do Bispo, where unsorted waste delivered by the municipalities is received. This waste is compacted and transported to landfill sites.