Hazardous Wastes Input into Class I Landfills

This study documents 17 metal species discharged to Class I landfill sites. These sites receive a combined estimated daily volume of 2.3 × 10⁶ 1/day of hazardous wastes. The metal species are ranked according to their estimated daily total deposition: Na>Fe>Ca>Zn>K>Mg>C u>Cr>Ni>Pb>Ba>Mn>V>As>Cd>Be>Ag. Approximately 50% of the total volume of hazardous wastes sampled were generated by the petroleum industry. About 35% of the volume was equally divided between the chemical industry and industrial cleaning. The metal, food, and miscellaneous/unknown industries each contributed less than 10% of the total volume. Approximately 70% of the total volume was in the aqueous phase and 8% consisted of an organic liquid phase. The weight percent of 17 metal species in the soluble phase ranged from less than 10% to a maximum of 90%. The volume flow and concentration of soluble toxic metals pose a potential water quality problem.