Renovation of the Hausham landfill: An open-ended end!

Renovation of the Hausham landfill: An open-ended end!

In Hausham, a district of Miesbach, the old landfill sits beautifully and peacefully in the countryside, but its history is anything but unproblematic. Waste from several decades is stored here on an area of ​​165,000 square meters. From mud and tailings from the former Hausham mine to household waste from the entire district – the landfill has been through a lot. Waste was still being dumped until 1966, and even today there is a lot of waste underground that produces gases. These gases are flared in a controlled manner to ensure safe disposal Mercury reported.

The surface structure of the landfill has changed: today it is covered with grass and colorful flowering meadows. Lizards have found a habitat here and goats graze peacefully in the pastures. But the peace is deceptive, because the renovation phase of the landfill is coming to an end, but what the public accessibility will look like remains unanswered. The unstable subsoil creates additional challenges, while leachate has to be drained into the sewage treatment plant, which further increases costs.

History of waste disposal

The approach to waste disposal has changed drastically over the centuries. In the Middle Ages, waste was often simply thrown onto the streets or disposed of in dung heaps, which led to significant hygiene problems. It was only in the 20th century that systematic and regulated waste disposal came about through the Waste Disposal Act of 1972 and the closure of illegal landfills. This law was a response to the increase in environmental impacts caused by inadequately sealed soils in old landfills, such as Planet knowledge explained.

In recent years, waste management technologies have evolved. Modern landfills use high-quality materials for sealing, and seepage problems are actively addressed through innovative drainage systems. In Hausham, for example, a new drainage system is being installed on the eastern mountain slope in order to efficiently solve the seepage water problem. Vivo has invested a considerable 16.3 million euros in the final cover to ensure the sustainable handling of waste.

The path to waste separation

Waste separation has developed over centuries and has always been influenced by health concerns and increased environmental awareness. How we-love-recycling According to reports, Germany produces around 340 million tons of waste every year, and a large amount of waste is now recycled. Thanks to new laws and a growing awareness of the importance of effective waste management, we are now able to recycle and process a large proportion of waste.

The decommissioning phase of the landfill is expected in 2026 or 2027 and could take several decades. Aftercare is estimated to last 30 to 50 years before the technical buildings can be finally closed and dismantled. Even though the landfill has come a long way, addressing the issue of waste and its disposal remains a relevant issue for the region and beyond.