Reference number  
RS 182: 2018  
© RSB 2018  
 
 
 RWANDA 
STANDARD  DRS  
182 
 
Second  edition  
2018 -mm-dd 
(Reaffirmed yyyy)  
Solid waste — Design for disposal sites  — 
Guidelines  
 
 
  DRS 182: 2018  
©RSB 2018 - All rights reserved                  ii 
 In order to match with technological development and to keep continuous progress in industries, 
standards are subject to periodic review. Users shall ascertain that they are in possession of the latest 
edition  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
© RSB 2018  
All rights reserved. Unless otherwise specified, no part of this publication may be reproduced or utilized 
in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying and microfilm, without 
prior written permission from R SB. 
Requests for permission to reprodu ce this document should be addressed to : 
Rwanda Standards  Board  
P.O Box 7099 Kigali -Rwanda  
KK 15 Rd, 49  
Tel. +250 788303492  
Toll Free: 3250  
E-mail: info@rsb.gov.rw  
Website: www.rsb.gov.rw   
ePortal: www.portal.rsb.gov.rw   DRS 182: 2018  
iii                ©RSB 2018 - All rights reserved  
 Contents  Page 
1 Scope  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ .............  1 
2 Terms and definitions  ................................ ................................ ................................ ..................  1 
3 Gene ral requirements  ................................ ................................ ................................ ..................  3 
3.1 Classification of landfills  ................................ ................................ ................................ .............  3 
3.2 Requirements for design  ................................ ................................ ................................ .............  5 
3.3 Closure  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ..........  7 
3.4 Gas control  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ .... 8 
3.5 Design drawings  ................................ ................................ ................................ ...........................  8 
3.6 Other requirements  ................................ ................................ ................................ ......................  9 
3.7 Industrial landfill requirements  ................................ ................................ ................................ . 10 
4 Land treatment facility  ................................ ................................ ................................ ...............  14 
5 Incinerator facility  ................................ ................................ ................................ .......................  15 
Annex  A ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ....................  16 
 DRS 182: 2018  
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 Foreword   
Rwanda Standard s are prepared  by Technical Committees and approved by R wanda Standards Board (RSB) 
Board  of Directors in  accordance with the procedures of RSB, in compliance with Annex 3 of the WTO/TBT 
agreement on the preparation, adoption and application of standards.  
The main task of technical committees is to prepare national standards.  Final Draft Rwanda S tandards adop ted 
by Technical committ ees are ratified  by me mbers of RSB Board of Director s for publication and gazettment as 
Rwanda Standards.  
RS 180 was prepared by Technical Committee RBS/TC 013, on Water and Sanitation .  
In the preparation of this standard, reference was made to the following standard:  
MS 730 , Solid waste disposal sites, guidelines for design  ― Code of practice  
The assistance delivered from the above source is hereby acknowledged with thanks . 
This second  edition cancels and replaces the first . edition (RS  182: 2013 ), which has been  technically revised.  
 
  DRS 182: 2018  
v                ©RSB 2018 - All rights reserved  
 Committee membership  
The following organizations were represented on the Technical Committee on Water and Sanitation  (RSB/TC 
013) in the preparation of this standard.  
Bugesera District  
Gakenke District  
Gisagara District  
Huye District  
Integrated Polytechnics Regional Centre Kigali (IPRC Kigali)  
Kamonyi District  
Kicukiro District  
 Ministry of Disaster Management and Refugee Affairs (MIDIMAR)  
Ministry of Environment (MoE)  
Ngoma District  
Nyagatare District  
Nyamasheke District  
Nyarugenge District  
Ruliba Clays Ltd  
Rulindo District  
Rusizi District  
Rutsiro District  
Rwanda Fish Sector (RFS)  
Rwanda Utilities Regulatory Authority  
SULFO Rwanda industries  
Water and Sanitation Corporation (WASAC)  
Rwanda  Standards Board  (RSB) – Secretariat  
 DRS 182: 2018  
1                ©RSB 2018 - All rights reserved  
 Solid waste — Design for disposal sites — Guidelines  
1 Scope   
This standard prescribes guidelines for design of solid waste disposal sites taking the form of landfill, land 
treatment and incineration facilities.  
2 Terms and definitions  
For the purposes of this standard, the following terms and definitions apply  
2.1 
active area  
that portion of a facility where solid waste recycling, reuse, treatment, storage, or disposal operations are being 
conducted  
2.2 
closed facility  
any facility that no longer receives solid waste and has complete d an approved closure plan, and any landfill  on 
which an approved final cover has been installed  
2.3 
garbage  
discarded animal and vegetable wastes resulting from the handling, preparation, cooking and consumption of  
food, and of such a character and propor tion has the ability to  attract or provide food for vectors.   Garbage does 
not include sewage and sewage sludge  
2.4 
generator  
conditionally exempt small quantity generator in a calendar month, if it generates no more than 100 kg of  
hazardous waste in that month  
2.5 
hazardous waste  
any waste or combination of wastes which pose a substantial present or potential hazard to human health or  
living organisms because they are lethal, non-degradable  and persistent in nature and requires spe cial 
precaution in its storage, collection transportation, treatment and disposal. Hazardous waste includes  
explosives, flammables, volatile, radioactive, toxic and pathological waste   
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 2.6 
industrial solid waste  
solid waste emitted at the level of the indus tries, except the  construction sector that mostly emits mineral waste 
that is considered to be internally managed as  embankment by the companies, the largest part of this waste is 
non-hazardous but a significant part could  be hazardous  
2.7 
inert waste  
non-combustible, non-hazardous  solid wastes that retain their physical and chemical structure under  expected 
conditions of disposal, including resistance to biological or chemical attack  
2.8 
landfill  
disposal facility where solid waste is placed in or on the l and and which is not a land treatment facility or  surface 
impoundment  
2.9 
municipal solid waste  
household waste, nonhazardous commercial solid waste, and non -hazardous sludge  
2.10 
petroleum contaminated soils  
soils that have been contaminated with either diesel or gasoline or both  
2.11  
solid waste disposal facility  
facility or part of facility at which solid waste is received from on -site or off -site sources and intentionally  placed 
into or on land and at which waste, if allowed by permit, shall remain af ter closure. Solid waste  disposal facilities 
include landfills, incinerators, and land treatment areas  
2.12  
yard waste  
vegetative matter resulting from land scraping, land maintenance, and land clearing operations including  grass 
clippings, prunings, and other discarded material generated from yards, gardens, parks, plastic,  processed 
wood, sludge, septage, or manure  
2.13  
land treatment  
process that involves use of natural, biological, chemical and physical process in the soil to transform  organic 
contami nants of concern  DRS 182: 2018  
3                ©RSB 2018 - All rights reserved  
 3 General requirements  
3.1 Classification of landfills  
3.1.1  Class I landfill  
3.1.1.1  A non -commercial landfill or a landfill solely under contract with the local government taking municipal 
solid waste generated within the boundaries of the local gov ernment that is permitted by the competent authority 
to receive for disposal:  
a) municipal solid waste;  
b) any other non-hazardous  solid waste, not otherwise limited by rule or solid waste permit; and 
c) in conjunction with municipal solid waste or other non-hazard ous solid waste, waste from conditionally 
exempt small quantity generator of hazardous waste . 
3.1.1.2  A class I Landfill shall receive, on a yearly average more than 20 tons per day .  
3.1.2  Class II landfill  
3.1.2.1  A non -commercial landfill or a landfill solely  under contract with the local government taking municipal 
solid waste generated within the boundaries of the local government that is permitted by the competent authority 
to receive for disposal;  
a) municipal solid waste;  
b) any other non-hazardous  solid waste,  not otherwise limited by rule or solid waste permit; and  
c) in conjunction with municipal solid waste or other non-hazardous  solid waste, waste from conditionally 
exempt small quantity generator of hazardous waste.  
3.1.2.2  A class II Landfill shall receive, on a yearly average 20 tons, or less, of solid waste per day.  
3.1.3  Class III landfill  
A non -commercial landfill that is permitted by the competent authority to receive for disposal only industrial solid 
waste.  
3.1.3.1  Class IIIa landfill  
An industrial solid waste landfill that is not open to the general public and shall accept:  
a) any non-hazardous  industrial waste;  
b) waste that is exempt from hazardous waste; and  
c) conditionally exempt small quantity generator hazardous waste.   
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 3.1.3.2  Class IIIb landfill  
An industrial solid wast e landfill that is not open to the general public and shall accept any non-hazardous  
industrial solid waste except:  
a) waste that is exempt from hazardous waste regulations; and  
b) conditionally exempt small quantity generator hazardous waste.  
3.1.4  Class IV landfill  
3.1.4.1  A non -commercial landfill that is permitted by the competent authority to receive for disposal only:  
a) construction/demolition waste;  
b) yard waste;  
c) inert waste; and  
d) waste tires and materials derived from waste tires; and  
e) petroleum contaminated soils.  
NOTE 1 Petroleum contaminated soils that are not a hazardous waste sh ould be accepted for disposal at a class I, II, III 
and V landfill;  
NOTE 2 Petroleum contaminated soils containing less than the following constituents (benzene, 0.03 mg/kg, 
ethylbenzene, 13 mg/kg, toluene, 12 mg/kg, xylenes, 200 mg/kg) are otherwise not a hazardous waste and should  be 
accepted for disposal at a Class IV or VI la ndfill:  
f) dead animals;  
3.1.4.2  Dead animals shall be managed and disposed in a manner that minimizes odours and the attraction, 
harbourage, or propagation of insects, rodents, birds, or other animals. Dead animals shall be disposed at the active working  
face of a permitted landfill or in a separate trench specifically prepared to receive dead animals. If dead animals are disposed  
at the active working face of a permitted landfill, the carcasses shall be placed at or near the bottom of the cell and 
immediatel y covered with a minimum of 61 cm thick of other waste. If dead animals are disposed in a separate trench, the 
carcasses shall be completely covered with a minimum of 15 cm of earth at the end of the working day the carcasses are 
received.  
3.1.5  Class V landfill  
A commercial non-hazardous  solid waste disposal facility that is permitted by the competent authority to receive 
for disposal:  
a) municipal solid waste;  
b) any other non-hazardous  solid waste, not otherwise limited by rule or solid waste permit, and  
c) in conjunct ion with municipal solid waste or other non-hazardous  solid waste, waste from a conditionally 
exempt small quantity generator of hazardous waste.  DRS 182: 2018  
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 3.1.6  Class VI landfill  
A commercial non-hazardous  solid waste landfill that is permitted by the competent authority  to receive for 
disposal only:  
a) construction/demolition waste, excluding waste from a conditionally exempt small quantity generator of 
hazardous waste;  
b) yard waste;  
c) inert waste;  
d) dead animals, upon meeting the requirements of 3.1. 4f; 
e) waste tires and materials  derived from waste tires; and  
f) petroleum contaminated soils, upon meeting the requirements of 3.1. 4e. 
A Class VI landfill shall not receive for disposal hazardous waste, garbage, municipal solid waste, and industrial solid wast e. 
3.2 Requirements for design  
3.2.1  General requirements  
3.2.1.1  The landfill shall be designed so as to prevent run -on of all surface waters resulting from a maximum 
flow of a 100 -year storm into the active area of the landfill.  
3.2.1.2  The landfill shall be designed so as to collect and treat the run -off of surface waters and other 
liquids resulting from a 25 -year storm from the active area of the landfill.  
3.2.1.3  If the owner or operator of a landfill has received a storm water permit as issued by water quality 
authorities and is meetin g the requirements of the permit, the landfill shall be exempt, upon approval of the 
competent authority from the run -on and run -off control requirements of 3.2.1 and 3.2.2.  
3.2.2  Leachate collection systems requirements  
3.2.2.1  An owner or operator of a landfil l required to install liners shall:  
a) install a leachate collection system sized according to water balance calculations or using other accepted 
engineering methods either of which shall be approved by the competent authority;  
b) install a leachate collection s ystem so as to prevent no more than 30 cm depth of leachate developing at 
any point in the bottom of the landfill unit; and  
c) install a leachate treatment system of a pretreatment system, if necessary, in the case of discharge to a 
municipal water treatment plant.  
3.2.2.2  The returning of leachate to the landfill or the recirculation of leachate in the landfill shall be done 
only in landfills that have a composite liner system or an approved equivalent liner system.   
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 3.2.3  Liner designs requirements  
An owner or oper ator of a landfill shall use liners of one of the designs provided in 3.2.3.1 and 3.2.3.2.  
3.2.3.1  Standard design  
3.2.3.1.1  The design shall have a composite liner system consisting of two liners and the associated liner 
protection layers and a drainage system fo r leachate collection.  
3.2.3.1.2  An upper liner shall be synthetic material with a thickness of at least 1.5 mm.  
3.2.3.1.3  The design shall have a lower liner of at least 60 cm thickness or compacted clay or other soil 
material with a permeability of no mo re than 1 x 10-9 cm/sec having the bottom Liner sloped no less than 2 % 
and the side liners sloped no more than 33 %, except where construction, and operational integrity can be 
demonstrated at steeper slopes, with the synthetic liner installed in direct a nd uniform contact with the 
compacted soil component.  
3.2.3.2  Alternative design  
3.2.3.2.1  The Competent authority shall approve an alternative liner design, on a site -specific basis, if it can 
be documented that, under the conditions of location and hydrogeology/ geotechnics, the groundwater 
monitoring requirements shall be met.  
3.2.3.2.2  When approving an alternative liner design, the competent authority shall consider the following 
factors:  
a) the hydrogeologic/geotechnics characteristics of the facility and surroun ding land;  
b) the climatic factors of the area; and  
c) the volume, physical and chemical characteristics of the leachate.  
3.2.4  Small landfill design requirements  
3.2.4.1  Subject to the location requirements of 3.2.3.2.1  and the performance requirements for ground wat er, 
air quality and explosive emissions and surface waters, a Class II landfill shall be exempt from the liner, leachate 
collection system, and ground water monitoring requirements.  
3.2.4.2  A class II landfill shall be approved only if:  
a) there is no evidence of existing ground water contamination;  
b) the landfill serves a community that has no practicable waste management alternative as determined by the 
competent authority; and  
c) the landfill is located in an area, which receives less than 1 000 mm of ann ual precipitation.  DRS 182: 2018  
7                ©RSB 2018 - All rights reserved  
 3.2.4.3  A class II landfill shall lose the exemptions of the small landfill design if at any time the landfill receives 
more than 20 tons of solid waste per day, based on an annual average, or has caused ground water 
contamination  
NOTE  The small landfill design applies only to a Class II landfill.  
3.3 Closure  
At closure, an owner or operator of a Class I, II, IIIa, IVa, and V landfill shall use one of the following designs for 
the final cover.  
3.3.1  Standard design  
3.3.1.1 The standard design of t he final cover shall consist of two layers:  
a) a layer to minimize infiltration, consisting of at least 45.7 cm of compacted soil, or equivalent, with a 
permeability of 1 x 10-9 cm/se or less, or equivalent, shall be placed upon the final lifts; and  
b) in no case shall the cover of the final lifts be more permeable than the bottom liner system or natural sub -
soils present in the unit.  
3.3.1.2  The grade of surface slopes shall not be less than 2 %, nor the grade of side slopes more than 
33 %, except where const ruction integrity and the integrity of erosion control can be demonstrated at steeper 
slopes; and  
3.3.1.3  There shall be a layer to minimize erosion, consisting of:  
a) at least 15 cm of soil capable of sustaining vegetative growth placed over the compacted so il cover and 
seeded with grass, other shallow rooted vegetation or other native vegetation; or  
b) other suitable material, approved by the competent authority.  
3.3.2  Alternative design.  
3.3.2.1  The competent authority shall approve an alternative final cover desig n, on a site specific basis, it 
can be documented that:  
a) the alternative final cover achieves an equivalent reduction in infiltration as specified by the standard design 
in 3.3.1.1 above; and  
b) the alternative final cover provides equivalent protection from wind and water erosion.  
3.3.2.2  If a landfill has been constructed using an approved alternative landfill design, including a waiver, 
or exemption, from the liner or ground water monitoring requirements, the competent authority shall require, on 
a site spe cific basis, the landfill closure to be stringent design than the standard design specified in 3.3.1  to 
protect human health or the environment.  
3.3.2.3  In no case shall any modification be made to the final cover, as placed and approved at closure by 
the competent authority, unless that modification :  
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 a) is a necessary repair of the approved final cover;  
b) maintains or improves the effectiveness of the final cover; and  
c) is approved by the competent authority.  
3.4 Gas control  
3.4.1  An owner or operator shall design e ach landfill so that explosive gases are monitored quarterly. Thus 
an owner or operator of a disposal facility shall not allow concentrations of explosive gases generated by the 
facility to exceed:  
a) twenty -five percent of the lower explosive limit for explo sive gases in facility structures, excluding gas control 
or recovery system components; and  
b) the lower explosive limit for explosive gases at the property boundary or beyond.  
3.4.2  If the concentration of these gases ever exceed the requirements set in 3.4. 1 the owner or operator 
shall:  
a) immediately take all necessary steps to ensure protection of human health and, within 24 hours or the next 
business day, notify the Competent authority;  
b) within seven days of detection, place in the operating record the explo sive gas levels detected and a 
description of the steps taken to protect human health; and  
c) within 60 days of detection, implement a remediation plan that has been approved by the competent 
authority, for the explosive gas release, place a copy of the plan in the operation record, and notify the 
competent authority that the plan has been implemented.  
3.4.3  Collection and handling of explosive gases shall not be required if it can be shown that the explosive 
gases will not support combustion.  
3.4.4  The Compet ent authority shall, on a site -specific basis, waive the requirement of monitoring explosive 
gas at a Class II landfill. The waiver shall be granted after:  
a) considering the characteristics of the landfill and the waste stream accepted;  
b) taking into account c limatic and hydrogeological conditions of the site; and  
c) the Competent authority shall revoke any waiver from the requirement of monitoring explosive gases if the 
lack of monitoring explosive gases at the landfill presents a threat to human health or the environment;  
d) the requirement to monitor explosive gases inside buildings at a landfill shall not be waived; and  
e) a landfill that accepts no municipal waste is exempt from the gas monitoring requirement of 3.4.1.  
3.5 Design drawings  
3.5.1  Design drawings and as built drawings of any engineered structure, including landfill liners, leachate 
collection systems, and gas collection systems, shall be signed and sealed by a professional registered 
engineer.  DRS 182: 2018  
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 3.5.2  As built drawings shall be submitted to the competent au thority on or before 90 days following the 
completion of the engineered structure at the landfill.  
3.6 Other requirements  
An owner or operator shall design each landfill to provide for:  
a) fencing at the property or unit boundary or the use of other artificial or  natural barriers to impede entry by 
the public and large animals. A lockable gate shall be required at the entry to the landfill;  
b) monitoring ground water using a design approved by the Competent authority. The Competent authority 
shall also require monito ring of:  
1) surface waters, including run -off; and  
2) leachate.  
c) surface landfill gas movement and ambient air;  
d) weighing or estimating the tonnage of all incoming waste and recording the tonnage in the facility’s 
operation record;  
e) erecting a sign at the facility entrance that identifies at least the name of the facility, the hours during which 
the facility is open for public use, unacceptable materials, an emergency telephone number and other 
pertinent information;  
f) adequate fire protection to control any fires tha t shall occur at the facility, and this shall be accomplished 
by on -site equipment or by arrangement made with the nearest fire department;  
g) preventing potential harbourage in buildings, facilities, and active areas of rat and other vectors, such as 
insects , birds, and burrowing animals;  
h) minimizing the size of the unloading area and working face as much as possible, consistent with good traffic 
patterns and safe operation;  
i) approach and exit roads of all -weather construction, with traffic separation and traff ic control on -site and at 
the site entrance;  
j) communication, such as telephone or radio, between employees working at the landfill and management 
offices on -site and off -site to handle emergencies;  
k) an owner or operator of a Class IV or VI landfill shall des ign and operate the landfill to prevent the run -on 
of all surface waters resulting from a maximum flow of a 25 -year storm into the active area of the landfill;  
l) an owner or operator of a Class IV or VI landfill shall not accept any other form of waste excep t the wastes 
specified in 3.1.4; and 3.1.6; and  
m) the owner or operator of a Class IV or VI landfill shall prevent the disposal of unauthorized waste by 
ensuring that at least one person is on site during hours of operation and shall prevent unauthorized 
disposal during off -hours by controlling entry, i.e., lockable gate or barrier, when the facility is not open.   
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 3.7 Industrial landfill requirements  
3.7.1  Class IIIa  
A new Class IIIa landfill shall meet the location requirements below:  
3.7.1.1  Land use compatibility  
3.7.1.1. 1 No new facility shall be located within:  
a) 500 m of a national or government park, monument, or recreation area; designated wilderness or wilderness 
study area; or wild and scenic river area;  
b) ecologically and scientifically significant natural areas, inclu ding wildlife management areas and habitat for 
threatened or endangered species as designated;  
c) farmland classified o r evaluated as “prime”, “unique”, or of “government wide importance”;  
d) 1 km of:  
1) existing permanent dwellings, residential areas, and other in compatible structures such as schools 
or churches unless otherwise allowed by local zoning or ordinance; and  
2) historic structures or properties listed or eligible to be listed in the Government or National Register 
of Historic Places;  
e) refer to annex1 for si tting of an airport and bird hazard considerations. Unless the owner or operator 
demonstrates that the facility design and operation will not increase the likelihood of bird/aircraft collisions. 
Every new and existing disposal facility is subject to this r equirement. If a new landfill or a lateral expansion 
of an existing landfill is located within 8 km of an airport runway end, the owner or operator shall notify the 
affected airport and the national aviation authorities; or areas with respect to archaeolog ical sites.  
3.7.1.1.2  The following guidelines shall be followed:  
a) none of the areas within the landfill boundaries are part of the 10 -year groundwater recharge area for 
existing or pending water supply development;  
b) no private or public drinking, irrigation , or livestock water supply wells within 500 m down gradient of the 
landfill boundaries, unless alternative water supply sources are readily and economically available and the 
owner(s) gives written consent to the potential risk of well abandonment;  
c) no env ironmentally significant wetlands of important biodiversity or reproductive value are present within 
the potential area of the landfill cell development.  
d) no known environmentally rare or endangered species breeding areas or protected living areas are prese nt 
within the site boundaries. If this criterion is not met, alternative habitats of comparable quality for relocation 
of the species would need to be available;  
e) no significant protected forests are within 500 m of the landfill cell development area;  
f) no op en areas of high winds;  DRS 182: 2018  
11                ©RSB 2018 - All rights reserved  
 g) no major lines of electrical transmission or other infrastructure (i.e., gas, sewer, water lines) are crossing 
the landfill cell development area;  
h) no underlying limestone, carbonate, fissured or other porous rock formations which would be incompetent 
as barriers to leachate and gas migration, where the formations are more than 1.5 m in thickness and 
present as the uppermost geologic unit above sensitive groundwater;  
i) no underlying underground mines which could be adversely affected by surface activities of land filling, or 
minable resources which could be rendered less accessible by land filling, unless the owner(s) gives explicit 
consent;  
j) no residential development within 250 m from the perimeter of the proposed landfill cell develo pment;  
k) no visibility of the proposed landfill cell development area from residential neighbourhoods within 1 km. If 
residents live within 1 km of the site; landscaping and protective beams would need to be incorporated into 
the design to minimize visibilit y of operations. Curving of the access road is recommended to avoid visibility 
of the active portions of the landfill from the main road;  
l) no perennial stream within 300 m down gradient of the proposed landfill cell development, unless diversion, 
culverting  or channelling is economically and environmentally feasible to protect the stream from potential 
contamination.  
m) no significant seismic risk within the region of the landfill which could cause destruction of drains or other 
civil works, or require unnecess arily costly engineering measures, otherwise side slopes may need to be 
adjusted to be gentler than the maximum of 2.5 %;  
n) no fault lines or significantly fractured geologic structure within 500 m of the perimeter of the proposed 
landfill cell development w hich would allow unpredictable movement of gas or leachate.  
o) no siting within a floodplain subject to 10 -year floods and, if within areas subject to a 100 -year flood, must 
be amenable to an economic design which would eliminate the potential for washout; an d 
p) avoid siting within 1 km of socio -politically sensitive sites where public acceptance might be unlikely (i.e., 
memorial sites, churches, schools) and avoid access roads which would pass by such culturally sensitive 
sites.  
3.7.1.2  Geology  
No new facility or later al expansion of an existing facility shall be located in a subsistence area, a dam failure, 
flood area, above an underground mine, above a fault, above a salt bed, or on or adjacent to geologic features 
which could compromise the structural integrity of th e facility.  
3.7.1.3  Seismic impact zones  
A new facility or a lateral expansion of an existing facility shall not be located in seismic impact zones unless 
the owner or operator demonstrates to the satisfaction of the Competent authority that all containment 
struct ures, including liners, leachate collection systems, and surface water control systems; are designed to 
resist the maximum horizontal acceleration in lithified earth material for the side.  
3.7.1.4  Unstable areas  
The owner or operator of an existing facility, a lat eral expansion of an existing facility, or a new facility located 
in an unstable area shall demonstrate to the satisfaction of the competent authority that engineering measures  
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 have been incorporated into the facility design to ensure that the integrity of  the structural components of the 
facility will not be disrupted. The owner or operator shall consider the following factors when determining whether 
an area is unstable:  
a) on-site or local soil conditions that shall result in significant differential settli ng; 
b) on-site or local geologic or geomorphologic features: and  
c) on-site or local human -made features or events, both surface and subsurface.  
3.7.1.5  Surface water  
No new facility or lateral expansion of an existing facility shall be located on any public land that i s being used 
by a public water system for water shed control for municipal drinking water purposes or in a location that could 
cause contamination to a lake, reservoir or pond.  
3.7.1.6  Floodplains  
No new or existing facility shall be located in a floodplain unless  the owner or operator demonstrates to the 
competent authority that the unit will not restrict the flow of the 100 -year flood, reduce the temporary water 
storage capacity of the floodplain or result in a washout of solid waste so as to pose a hazard to hum an health 
or the environment.  
3.7.1.7  Wetlands  
No new or existing or lateral expansion of an existing facility shall be located in wetlands.  
3.7.1.8  Ground water  
3.7.1.8.1  No new facility or lateral expansion of an existing facility shall be located at a site:  
a) where the bottom of the lowest liner is less than 1.5 m above the historical high level of ground water; or  
b) for a landfill that is not required to install a liner, the lowest level of waste shall be at least 3 m above the 
historical high level of ground water;  
c) if the aquifer beneath a landfill contains ground water which has a Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) of 10 000 
mg/l or greater and the landfill is constructed with a composite liner, the bottom of the lowest liner shall be 
less than 1.5 m above the historical high level of the ground water; and  
d) no new facility shall be located over a sole source aquifer.  
3.7.1.8.2  Unless all units of the proposed facility are constructed with a composite liner or other equivalent 
design approved by the competent authority, the follo wing shall apply:  
e) a new facility located above any aquifer containing ground water which has a TDS content below 1 000 mg/l 
which does not exceed applicable ground water quality standards for any contaminant shall be permitted 
only where the depth to groun d water is greater than 30.5 m;  DRS 182: 2018  
13                ©RSB 2018 - All rights reserved  
 f) a new facility located above any aquifer containing ground water which has a TDS content between 1 000 
and 3 000 mg/l and does not exceed applicable ground water quality standards for any contaminant shall 
be permitted only  where the depth to ground water is 15 m or greater; or  
g) the applicant for the proposed facility will make the demonstration of ground water quality necessary to 
determine the appropriate aquifer classification.  
3.7.1.8.3 No new facility shall be located in  designated drinking water source protection areas or, if no source 
protection area is designated within a distance to existing drinking water wells or springs for public water 
supplies of 250 days ground water travel time. This requirement does not includ e on-site operation wells. The 
applicant for the proposed facility will make the demonstration, acceptable to the competent authority, of 
hydraulic conductivity and other information necessary to determine the 250 days ground water travel distance.  
3.7.1.9  Ground water exception  
Subject to the ground water performance requirements stated in 3.7.1.8 if a solid waste disposal facility is to be 
located over an area where the ground water has a TDS of 10 000 mg/l or greater, or where there is an extreme 
depth to ground  water, or where there is a natural impermeable barrier above the ground water, or where there 
is no ground water, the competent authority shall exempt the disposal site, on a site specific basis, from some 
design criteria and ground water monitoring.  
Grou nd water monitoring requirements shall be waived by the competent authority if the owner or operator of a 
solid waste disposal facility can demonstrate that there is no potential for migration of hazardous constituents 
from the facility to the ground water  during the active life of the facility and the post -closure care period. This 
demonstration shall be certified by a qualified ground -water scientist and approved by the Competent authority, 
and shall be based upon:  
a) site-specific field collected measuremen ts, sampling, and analysis of physical, chemical, and biological 
processes affecting contaminant fate and transport; and  
b) contaminant fate and transport predictions that maximize contaminant migration and consider impacts on 
human health and the environment . 
3.7.1.9.1  A new Class IIIa landfill that is proposed on the site of generation of the industrial solid waste of a 
lateral expansion of an existing Class IIIa  landfill, shall meet the location requirements with respect to geology 
(3.7.1.2) surface water ( 3.7.1.5), wetlands (3.7.1.7) and ground water (3.7.1.8).  
3.7.1.9.2  An existing Class IIIa landfill shall not be subjected to the location requirements of 3.7.1.  
3.7.1.9.3  An exemption from any location requirements of 3.10.1.1 except the standards for floo dplains and 
wetlands, shall be granted by the competent authority on a site specific basis if it is determined that the 
exemption will cause no adverse impacts to human health or the environment.  
3.7.1.9.4  No exemption shall be granted without application to the competent authority.  
3.7.1.9.5  If an exemption is granted, the landfill shall be required to have more stringent design, construction, 
monitoring program, or operational practice to protect human health or the environment.   
©RSB 2018 - All rights reserved                  14 
 3.7.2  Class IIIb landfills  
A new  Class IIIb landfill or a lateral expansion of an existing Class IIIb landfill shall be subject to the following 
location requirements:  
a) the requirement with respect to floodplains as specified in 3.7.1.6;  
b) the requirement with respect to wetlands as specifi ed in 3.7.1.7;  
c) the landfill shall be located so that the lowest, level of waste is at least 1.5m above the historical high level 
of ground water;  
d) for a lateral expansion of an existing Class IIIb landfill, an exemption from any location requirements of 
3.7.1.6, 3.7.1.7 and, that the landfill shall be located so that the lowest level of waste is at least 1.5 m above 
the historical high level of ground water, shall be granted by the Competent authority on a site specific basis 
if it is determined that the exe mption will cause no adverse impacts to human health or the environment;  
e) no exemption shall be granted without application to the Competent authority;  
f) if an exemption is granted, the landfill shall be required to have more stringent design, construction, 
monitoring program, or operational practice to protect human health or the environment;  
g) an existing Class IIIb landfill shall not be subjected to the location requirements 3.7.1.6 and 3.7.1.7. It shall 
also be exempted from the requirement to have it locate d so that the lowest level of waste is at least 1.5m 
above the historical high level of ground water;  
h) the owner or operator of a Class III landfill shall design the landfill to minimize the acceptance of liquids and 
control storm water run -on/run -off; and  
i) the owner or operator of a Class III landfill shall design the landfill to meet the applicable requirements of 
3.6. 
4 Land treatment facility   
This section applies to any facility that engages in the land treatment, land farming, or land spreading disposal 
of solid waste. It does not apply to:  
a) a facility that uses sewage sludge, wood waste or other primarily organic sludge in recycling operations.  
b) agricultural solid wastes resulting from the operation of a farm, including farm animal manure and 
agricultural r esidues;  
c) inert waste or demolition waste; or  
d) industrial solid waste facilities.  
4.1 The owner or operator of a land treatment disposal facility shall design the facility to provide interim 
waste storage areas that meet the requirements for piles.  
The facil ity shall have systems to collect and treat all run -off from a 25 year storm, and divert all run -on for the 
maximum flow of a 25 year storm around the active area.  DRS 182: 2018  
15                ©RSB 2018 - All rights reserved  
 4.2 The facility shall be designed to avoid standing water anywhere on the active area.  
4.3 The facility shall be designed to avoid slopes and other features that will lead to soil and waste erosion, 
unless contour plowing or other measures are taken to avoid erosion.  
4.4 The owner or operator shall monitor ground water  and keep records . 
4.5 The owner or operator shall control access to the facility by fencing or other means and erect a sign at 
the facility entrance that identifies at least the name of the facility, the hours during which the facility is open for 
public use, unacceptable materials , and an emergency telephone number. Other pertinent information shall also 
be included.  
5 Incinerator facility  
The incinerator facilities shall comply with relevant national standards on incineration.   
©RSB 2018 - All rights reserved                  16 
 Annex  A 
(Normative)  
 
 Table A.1 Land -use Guidelines for the Avoidance of Bird Hazards  
 
BIRD HAZARD CONSIDERATIONS ONLY  
The land uses tabulated below should not be 
considered as an exhaustive listing, but merely 
as examples of how various land uses may be 
graded in two areas,  A and B, surrounding an 
airport.  These areas are drawn up by describing 
two concentric circles (radii of 3 and 8 km,  respectively) around an airport, centred on the 
Airport Reference Point. Any land use that has 
the potential to attract birds to the airp ort 
vicinity should be the subject of a study to 
determine the likelihood of bird strikes to 
aircraft using the airport.  
Land -use guidelines  
_______________________________________  
Land Use                                Area A              Area B  
_______________________________________  
Agriculture  
Landscape nurseries*            YES                    YES    
Tree farming*                         YES                     YES  
Stock farming*                       YES                     YES  
Dairy farming*                       YES                     YES                
Sod farming                            NO                     YES  
Piggeries                                  NO                     YES  
Fruit tree farming                  NO                     YES 
Wildlife Sanctuaries  
   Bird sanctuaries                  NO                     NO  
   Game reserves                    ND                     NO        
Recreational  
Golf courses*                         YES                     YES  
Parks*                                     YES                     YES  
Playgrounds*                         YES                     YES  
Athletic fields*                      YES                     YES  
Riding trails*                          YES                     YES 
Tennis, lawn bowling*         YES                     YES  
Picnic and campgrounds     YES                     YES  
Riding academies                  NO                     YES  
Racetracks                              NO                     YES  
Fair grounds                           NO                     YES  
Outdoor theatres                  NO                     YES  
 
 
 
 
 
 _______________________________________  
Land Use                              Area   A               Area B  
__________________ _____________________  
 
Commercial*  
Offices                                      YES                      YES  
Retail sales                              YES                      YES  
Hotels and motels                  YES                      YES  
Restaurants                             YES                      YES  
Parking lots                             YES                      YES  
Indoor theatres                      YES                      YES  
Warehouses                            YES                      YES 
Shopping centres                   YES                      YES  
Service stations                      YES                      YES  
Cemeteries                              YES                      YES  
Drive -in restaurants               NO                      YES 
Food -processing plants         No                       YES  
 
Municipal Utilities*  
Water treatment                    YES                      YES  
Non -food garbage landfill     YES                      YES  
Food garbage disposal           NO                      NO 
__________________  
* These are general guidelines for planning and  land -
use zoning only. The avoidance of bird hazards 
during airport operations is another subject that can 
involve special controls to keep land free from food 
and shelter  for birds.  
 DRS 182: 2018  
17                ©RSB 2018 - All rights reserved  
 Bibliography  
[1] RURA Guidelines for solid waste management,2009  
[2] REMA, (2012) Practical tools on Solid Waste Management of Imidugudu, Small towns and Cities Landfill 
and composting Facilities.  
[3] ICAO, (2002) Airport Planning Manual Part 2 Land use and Environmental Control.  
[4] RURA (November 2009) Standard for management of waste disposal sites/landfills  
 DRS 182: 2018  
ICS 13.030.10  
 
 
©RSB 2018 - All right s reserved