2.3. Criteria for Landfill siting
Landfill siting is a difficult, complex, tedious, and
protracted process requiring evaluation of many different criteria (Chang,
Parvathinathanb, & Breden, 2008) since it has to combine social,
environmental, technical, and financial factors. Environmental factors are very
important because the landfill may affect the biophysical environment and the
ecology of the surrounding area ; (Kontos, Komilis, & Halvadakis, 2003);.
Economic factors must be considered in the siting of landfills, which include
the costs associated with the acquisition, development, and operation of the
site (Delgado, Mendoza, Granados, E. L., & Geneletti, 2008).
Social and political opposition to landfill siting have been
indicated as the greatest obstacle for successfully locating waste disposal
facilities (Lober, 1995) . The «not in my backyard» (NIMBY) and
«not in anyone's backyard» (NIABY) phenomena (Chang et al.,
2008);(Kao & Lin, 1996); (Erkut & Moran, 1991); (Kontos, Komilis, &
Halvadakis, 2003); (Lin & Kao, 2005) are becoming popular nowadays creating
a tremendous pressure on the decision makers involved in the selection of a
landfill site.
According to ENER, B. (2004), there are a number of criteria
for landfill site selection. These are environmental criteria, political
criteria, economical criteria, hydrologic and hydrogeological criteria,
topographical criteria, geological criteria, availability of construction
material and other criteria. Each criterion will be discussed briefly in the
next sections.
2.3.1. Environmental Criteria
2.3.1.1. Ecological value of the flora and fauna
The direct and indirect spatial use of a landfill will destroy
the actual vegetation and fauna. When making a decision, the ecological value
of the actual vegetation and fauna should be evaluated carefully for the
candidate area. Ecological value is based on diversity, naturalness and
characteristic feature.
2.3.1.2. Odour and dust nuisance
A new landfill should not be located within a distance of a
housing area because of the dust and odour emissions. Dependent of the local
wind direction and speed, the safe distance necessary to locate a landfill site
should be determined to prevent sensing dust and odour.
10
2.3.1.3. Nuisance by traffic generation
A new landfill will generate more traffic. How much more
traffic depends of the distance to the collection area, the kind of transport
and the use of transfer stations. Access roads passing through housing areas
will cause more nuisance than access roads through the open country side. So,
routing vehicle traffic through industrial, commercial or low density
population areas decreases the noise impacts of landfill related vehicles.
2.3.1.4. Ecological, scientific or historical
areas
Especially national parks and natural conservation areas and
also historical areas are not suitable for the location of a landfill.
2.3.1.5. Tourist/recreation areas
A new landfill should not be planned within an existing
recreational area or adjacent to it. However, a landfill is possible in some
kinds of recreation areas like car/motor racing. Also the final use of a
landfill can be planned as a recreational area.
| 
