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Environmental assessment of sanitary landfill site facility in Vientiane Capital, Lao People’s Democratic Republic (PDR)
Thesis Abstract:
Increasing volume of solid waste is one of the emerging issues that currently confronts Lao PDR. To address the issue, Lao PDR has been employing landfill as final disposal site for its solid waste. This study examined the performance of the new Vientiane landfill particularly on the criteria used in the selection of site, amount
and type of waste generated and accommodated, and impact on the physical and social environment. The decree on Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) was only implemented in 2010 after the construction of facility in 2008. Results of the assessment were used in formulating proposed strategies that can contribute to the improvement of the operations of the existing landfill.
Location of the Vientiane landfill complies with the engineering criteria, but the plans and design of the landfill failed to incorporate some critical components adversely affecting the operations. About 40 percent of waste generated was collected and disposed into the landfill. The remaining waste were sold for recycling, burned, and dumped illegally. The soil quality was affected by sewerage overflowed to the rice field and contributed to the high level of pH, nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. The water quality of Houay Thupthai Creek exceeded the Lao water quality standard. The fecal coliform count of the groundwater exceeded the maximum level of standard values. The households adjacent the landfill and waste pickers indicated a positive increase in income from livelihood related to the operations of landfill, but decrease in the number of respondents affected by waste-related diseases.
An environmental performance report and management plan of the landfill should be prepared as bases for the implementation of the facility operation and monitoring and evaluation of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment.