Waste site audit

The following set of site audit criteria can be the basis for your own audits of landfill sites.

Environmental permit requirements

• Check the site’s Environmental Permit. Is the operator in compliance with the main criteria and is all paperwork up to date?
• Can the operator demonstrate that staff on site are competent as required in the Regulations, e.g. can they provide evidence of Certificates of Technical Competence from the Waste Management Industry Training and Assessment Board (WAMITAB) for key personnel? (See environmental competence).

Site history and location

• What was the previous purpose of the site? e.g. limestone quarry, brick pit?
• Describe the location and surrounding area:
  • Where is the nearest river or surface water?
  • Is the site in a hill or valley, and where will any rainwater run off drain to?
  • How close are the nearest dwellings?
  • What is the condition and layout of connecting roads?

Site layout

• Describe the layout including location of landfill areas, weighbridge, water and gas treatment facilities, parking areas, wheel wash, etc..
• A copy of a site plan may be the best way of expressing this.

Groundwater contamination potential

• What kinds of wastes are taken in?
• How is rainwater diverted away from or around the site?
• What measures are in place to prevent accidental spillages entering groundwater?

Leachate collection

• What plant and procedures are in place to deal with leachate? e.g. onsite sewage treatment works, removal of leachate by tanker?

Gas collection

• What arrangements are in place to collect and safely treat landfill gas?
• When does flaring occur?
• Does the site use methane for energy generation?

Cell management

• Is the landfill operation being managed in a systematic way? e.g. is adequate top cover used and are cells covered nightly? is water content managed correctly?

Pest control

• Describe arrangements for controlling pests such as rodents, birds, insects.

Odour control

• What precautions are in place for dealing with odour? e.g. cover, management of incompatible materials, water balance, de-odorising chemicals (last resort)?

Laboratory Facilities

• Are there adequate facilities for the systematic analysis of incoming materials?

Traffic

• Does the site manage its traffic issues well? Include congestion on public roads, wheel washing facilities, etc..

Health and safety

• Check health and safety issues including reporting of incidents and accidents (see implementing an environmental management system and accidents).