Dioxin contamination after a hypothetical accidental fire in baled municipal solid waste storage

Landfill management usually entails dealing with the production of leachate and the formation of biogas, with the related environmental and public health concerns. One element that tends not to be investigated, is the risk of a fire with the consequent emission of toxic substances, especially dioxins. This study focuses on the case of an existing landfill in which the waste is placed in cylindrical wrapped bales, and where for the purposes of this study, the burning of the waste mass was hypothesized. The Austa12000 model system was used in order to estimate the average air concentrations and the deposition values of PCDD/F.The analysis showed that a landfill may be at risk in terms of fire potential with the consequent release of dioxins. Storage in bales, for various reasons, increases this risk. The analysis of the effects show that the environment and public health would be very seriously compromised. The recovery of the chosen landfill is therefore necessary, especially given the potential dioxin release. The presented analysis wants to be a warning for decision makers who could choose to implement large bale storages without an adequate attention to fire prevention.