What is the purpose of leachate monitoring at landfills?

Leachate monitoring at landfills is a critical component of environmental protection and waste management. The primary purpose of this monitoring is to track the release of hazardous substances from the landfill into the surrounding environment, particularly groundwater and surface water.

Leachate is the liquid that percolates through waste materials and can dissolve harmful chemicals and contaminants present in the waste. Effective monitoring allows landfill operators and environmental regulators to detect the presence of hazardous substances, assess their concentrations, and determine the potential impact on human health and the environment. By identifying these contaminants early, appropriate measures can be taken to mitigate risks, such as enhancing containment systems or initiating cleanup efforts.

In contrast to the other options, increasing waste production, regulating non-hazardous waste disposal, or promoting recycling efforts do not capture the primary environmental safety focus of leachate monitoring. The monitoring is specifically designed to ensure that harmful substances do not escape the landfill and to protect public health and the environment, making tracking hazardous substance release its essential and central purpose.