Featured Project Profile: Biological Leachate Treatment in Sequencing Batch Reactor SBR Tank Systems

BUCKDEN LANDFILL SITE LEACHATE TREATMENT PLANT

Operator: Waste Recycling Group Limited
Location: Near Peterborough, East Anglia, UK
Operational: 1995 to date

This twin tank design treats old leachate from the pre-WRG initial site cells, containing low levels of herbicide and pesticide residues.

Extensive use of Australis phragmites reed beds in conjunction with ozonation produces an effluent which consistently betters the tight toxicity based discharge consent applied by the Environment Agency for discharge to the nearby river.

Right: Aerial view of
leachate treatment works.

Left: View of the fabric roofed aeration tanks.
 

Below: Ozonation Plant.


Right: Buckden - river outfall


Below: Toxicity testing in progress, shows healthy fish swimming in the neat leachate prior to discharge.


The high level of confidence in this process, built-up over a long period, held by the Regulatory Authority,
means that the EA no longer require this form of testing, allowing a lower cost microbiologically based toxicity test to be used instead.