CHANGES IN BARRIER SYSTEMS AND LEACHATE TREATMENTTECHNOLOGIES FOR LANDFILLS IN JAPANT. HARADA1, Y. NISHIMURA2, T. OSHIKATA2, T. FURUICHI2, and M.HANASHIMA2
1 project Engineering Civil Products, Bridgestone Corporation,
1, Kashio-Cho,Totsuka-Ku,Yokohama 244-8510,Japan
2 The landfill systems & technologies research association of Japan (LSA, NPO)
401 Chateau Takanawa, 3-23-14 Takanawa, Minato-ku, Tokyo 108-0074, Japan

ABSTRACTAs a part of research activities by “The Landfill Systems & Technologies Research Association of Japan, NPO(LSA, NPO)”, a series of studies on the history of landfill system technologies in Japan has been carried out toclarify how the technologies should be and to contribute to the progress of them. In these studies, changes in laws
and regulations on the waste management, landfill structure, etc. and social backgrounds of applying the related
technologies are put in order from a historical viewpoint. In this paper, changes in the law, the social problems, thebarrier systems and leachate treatment technologies for landfills in Japan are reported. In consequence of thecomparison between social backgrounds and history of adopting landfill system technologies, it has been cleared thatthe changes in barrier systems and leachate treatment technologies were closely related to the occurrence of social
problems on landfill structure.

Keywords: history of landfill system, barrier, leachate treatment technology, laws and ordinances, social conditions

INTRODUCTION

effectively. Through the field experiments for aerobic

It is not too much to say that the history of landfill

landfill, Dr. Hanashima developed the semi-aerobic

system technologies in Japan was first made by Dr.

landfill structure peculiar to Japan and the results of his

Hanashima (Professor Emeritus of Fukuoka University,

studies led Japanese landfill systems and technologies

Japan) who started a research on the landfill disposal of

to be established.

waste in the middle of 1960’s. Dr. Hanashima paid his

As a matter of course, such studies have been pushed

attention to an environmental pollution problem

forward based on social requests, and the technology

derived from waste landfills and started the research

has progressed as a result of them. However, there are

and development of landfill technology to reduce

few reviews which reported the technical progress

pollutive level of leachate by utilizing microorganisms

systematically with a social background of the time.

for decomposition of organic wastes

Therefore, on the basis of conventional results ofin landfillsresearch and a social trend, a series of studies, which

In 1956, it was declared in a White Paper onreview the changes in laws and regulations pertaining

Japanese Economy that the postwar revival was overto final disposal sites, in landfill technologies and inand the times when Japanese economy accomplished asocial background related to them, has been carried out

big change began. The Metropolitan Expressway,by the research group of the LSA, NPO.

Tomei Expressway and the Tokaido Shinkansen wereThis paper reports a part of the results of these

constructed to be ready for the Tokyo Olympics held instudies. The changes in laws and regulations for final

1964, and Japanese population rose above 100,000,000

disposal sites in Japan and social conditions andin 1966. On the other hand, the outbreak of a rare

problems, that were thought to have provided thedisease in Minamata in 1956 and the intensification ofoccasion for the change, are described here. The

the Yokkaichi pollution that began with increase of anchange in hydraulic barrier playing an important role inasthmatic of 1960 became big social problems. Also,

landfill systems is also reviewed, and from the result of

the pollution caused by insanitary waste landfills

the investigation by questionnaires to the members ofstarted attracting public attention.

the LSA, NPO, the first cases where various barrier

In such a high economic growth and the pollution

systems were used for landfills in Japan are reported

issue that occurred thereby, a study on an aerobic

including social problems related to them.

landfill structure that aimed at improvement of

The studies on the leachate treatment technologies

insanitary landfills was started in 1966 by the researchwere also initiated in the middle of 1960’s. And thegroup led by Associate Prof. Hanashima of Fukuoka

basic technologies for leachate treatment that combines

University (presently Professor Emeritus), and “a study

the biological and physiochemical treatments wereon aerobic landfill disposal technology” was performed

established before the time when the Joint Order was

as a research sponsored by the Ministry of Health andissued in 1977. After that, various advanced treatment

Welfare in 1973. In this study, it was confirmed thattechnologies are added with change of waste and it has

the pollutive level of leachate was improved as a resultcontinued up to now. The details of these matters areof natural aeration promoted by the large-diameter

also reported in this paper.

drainage pipe. This was an opening of a Japaneseoriginal semi-aerobic landfill structure, and based on

CHANGES IN LAWS, ORDINANCES AND

these results of the research, a final waste disposal site

SOCIAL CONDITIONS RELATED TO FINAL

with the semi-aerobic landfill structure was completed

DISPOSAL SITE AFTER THE WORLD WAR 2

first in Fukuoka City in 1975.
Reflecting such a tendency of the times, “Waste“Public Cleansing Law” was promulgated in 1954
after about 50 years since “Filth Cleansing Law” thatwas the first law relating to waste disposal in Japan wasestablished. This law provided that hygienic disposal offilth was placed under the responsibility of cities,
towns and villages from the viewpoint of publicsanitation maintenance.

Management and Public Cleansing Law” (hereinafter
called as “Waste Management Law”) which took placeby radically amending “Public Cleansing Law” wasenacted in the Diet of 1970 when 14 pollution related
laws were established and/or revised, and a standard
for final disposal site was prescribed by the Cabinet
Order and the Regulations of “Waste Management
Law” in the following years.

In 1972, “Japanese Islands Remodeling Idea”, that was

In the 1990’s, with the news that the leakage ofgoing to solve depopulation and congestion and aleachate might occur by the damage of geomembrane

pollution issue at the same time by linking the Japaneseliner in regional solid waste disposal site of Yatozawa

Islands in a high-speed transportation network andin Hinode Town, the strong opposition movements bypromotingwasresidents broke out against the construction of a new

announced by Mr. Tanaka, the then Minister oflandfill site in each place of Japan. Furthermore, theInternational Trade and Industry, but the first oil crisis

illegal dumping of industrial waste represented by thehappened in the next year, and the Japanese economic

one at Teshima Island in Kagawa Prefecture became agrowth suddenly slowed down thereby. On the otherbig social problem, so that distrust of inhabitants forhand, Vietnam War terminated in 1975, and it was thelandfills spread out in all over Japan.

industrializationofadistrict,time when the light and the shade were divided clearly.

In response to those series of problems, the Waste

In such tides of the times, Japan gradually changed

Management Law and the Joint Order were amended

from the age of high economic growth into the age ofdrastically in 1997 and 1998, respectively. By theseenvironmental protection, and the Waste Management

amendments, reinforcement of lining systems and

Law was partially amended in 1976 in order to advanceclarification of technical standard for landfill structure

the measures preventing environmental pollution

were performed, including the obligation to apply the

induced by waste disposal and treatment facilities. In

double liner systems for the controlled type landfill.

accordance with this amendment, “Order Determining

Furthermore, “Guidelines for the functions of landfill”

Engineering Standards Pertaining to Final Disposal

was established in 2000 instead of the conventional

Site for Municipal Solid Wastes and Final Disposal

guidelines in which the structural system of landfill had

Site for Industrial Wastes” (here in after called as

been mainly prescribed.

“Joint Order”) by the Prime Minister's office / theMinistry of Health and Welfare was promulgated in thenext year, and it was required to install barrier system
and leachate treatment facility. In addition, “Landfill
Guidelines” was incorporated in “Commentary on
Waste Treatment Facility Structure Guidelines” ofpublication in 1978 and established alone in the nextyear.

The structures of double liner system, consisting of
combinations of geomembrane and compacted clay
layer or watertight asphalt concrete and double
geomembrane liner, were shown in “Revised Joint
Order” of 1998. Therefore, the change of technology insoil liner and geomembrane liner and those applying

However, with the news on the polluted water
outflow

CHANGES IN BARRIER SYSTEM

accident

causedbythedamageofgeomembrane liner in Tobuki landfill site of Hachioji
City in 1986, “Landfill Guidelines” was revised in1988 to aim at advance of leachate treatment facilities,
substantiality of barrier systems and a thorough landfill
management,

and“Commentary

Guidelines” was published in 1989.

onLandfill

examples are described below.
Soil Liner
Change of Seepage Control Work by cohesive soil:
Low permeability of cohesive soil was utilized fromthe ancient times. Large-scale earth dam for water
reservoir was already constructed by using clayey soilat the birthplace of ancient civilization before Christ.
In Japan, it is said that the oldest reservoir with earth
dam is Sayama Pond in Osaka, and it is thought that itwas constructed in the first half of the seventh century.

regional association of integrated administration in

After that, many large-scale reservoirs for agriculture

Kagoshima Prefecture in 1986.

represented by Man-no Pond in Kagawa Prefecture,

On the other hand, as for the applicability to barrierthat was assumedly constructed in 704, were made bysystemearth dam form. However, the embankment constructed

permeability, many studies were carried out in Sweden,

by cohesive soil in these reservoirs did not have clear

Germany and Canada from about 1980, and it was put

positioning as seepage control structure. The use of

to practical use. The study on bentonite-sand mixture

clayey soil as low permeable materials, which has a

was started from the end of 1980's in Japan, but it wassignificance of engineering and the long history, is forintended for underground disposal of low-level

impervious core of zoned embankment dam. As for theradioactive waste at first. The study on the applicability

earth dam, it is not clear when zoned embankment dam

to barrier system of bentonite mixture soil has been

was constructed first in Japan because it was

carried out from middle of 1990's. The representative

considered to be the same as homogeneous type to all

result of using it to practical landfill was that inappearances, however, it seems to have been alreadyregional solid waste disposal site of Futatsuzuka in

used for a reservoir in the first half in the 17th century.

Hinode Town, of which construction was started in

In contrast, the rock fill dam with impervious zone

1995. After that, bentonite mixted soil has been widely

consistingused as a clay liner of double liner system provided inofclayeymaterials,

which

was

a

comparatively new type, was constructed first inofbentonite

mixed

soil

havinglower

the Revised Joint Order.

western United States in the middle of the 19th century,and Obuchi Dam in Gifu Prefecture, Japan completed
in 1952 is the oldest case in Japan.

Geomembrane Liner
Synthetic rubber sheet or synthetic resin sheet is
widely used as roofing sheet of a building and as

Application to landfill: Disposal of municipal waste

barrier of water retention reservoir or waste water pondin America and European countries at the old times

since it was used for underground waterproofing in

was performed using a natural hollow or an abandonedWest Germany in the latter half of 1930's. In Japan,

mine, so that the natural clayey soil layer existing

experimental constructions using synthetic rubber sheet

under or around the disposed waste functioned

were carried out in 1957 for roof waterproofing and innecessarily as hydraulic barrier. Also in Japan, inland

1967 for lining of a reservoir for agriculture. Then,

landfills in Tokyo after 1890’s were located at a swamp,

Japanese industrial standard for “Roofing sheets ofa valley, low land and a former rice field, and it can besynthetic polymer” (JIS A 6008) was established insaid that the sites where clay layer existed as natural

1969.

liner were selected.

On the basis of the use of rubber sheet for lining ofIn landfills, a general idea of barrier system was taken

agricultural reservoir, regulating reservoir, and so on, it

into account in 1970's, and compacted clay layer was

is said that the use of similar rubber sheet on the

widely used as barrier system in the U.S.A by applying

Nakata landfill site of Chiba City in 1977 was the first

the technology from the above-mentioned fill dam. In

case of application of barrier system to landfill in Japan.

Japan, compacted clay having thickness of 50cm was

After that, by the promulgation of the Joint Order inlaid as barrier system at the landfill of Hokusatsu

1977, the use of geomembrane as a barrier of landfillbecame common in the first half of 1980's. On thesubstances, and the acidic coagulating sedimentation

other hand, barrier system using geomembrane formethod of physicochemical treatment technologies waslandfill was prescribed in 1984 in the U.S.A. because

examined by COD reduction. Other methods that arecompacted clay was commonly used as landfill liner,used for the biological treatment include such as

and the use of geomembrane was obliged to landfill intrickling filtration method, contact aeration method and1988 in Germany. However, while the study on

rotary disk method. These methods also began to begeomembrane as a barrier for landfill had been started

gradually examined by leachate treatment. Since thefrom about 1980 in Europe and the United States, it

agricultural damage caused by leachate was a starting

was from about 1990 in Japan.

point, the leachate treatment technologies were

In Europe and the US, high-density polyethylene

examined not only with BOD reduction but also with(HDPE) sheet which has high resistance against

nitrogen reduction from the beginning. In 1975, thechemicals approved by such studies was widely used

activated carbon absorption method was employed as

for landfill from the beginning. In contrast, in Japan, on

an advanced treatment method for reduction of COD

the basis of the practical use for agricultural reservoirs,

and color removal from the leachate.

(ethylene-propylene-diene

As a time progresses, the composition of MSW

monomer: EPDM or thermoplastic polyolefin: TPO)

landfilled is shifting toward the incinerated residue andsheet and polyvinyl chloride (PVC) sheet were mainly

incombustibles.

used in 1980's. However, based on the results ofleachate also changed, and the rate of the organic

researchesofmaterials fell while mineralizing, it has complicatedgeomembranes and the developments of new products,

more. Therefore, the case which adopts a chelating

synthetic resin sheets made from various materials,

adsorption method as advanced treatment of heavy

such as HDPE and TPU (thermoplastic polyurethane),metals began to appear.

etc,

syntheticonrubberdurability

andweatherability

The contaminating component ofalso have come to be widely used from the beginning

The state subsidy for leachate treatment facilitiesof 1990’s, and such a variety in geomembrane liner

started to in 1977, and the number of introduction of

became one of the characteristics of landfill structures

institutions increased rapidly after it.
In the 1980s, the problem of scaling caused byin Japan.
CHANGES IN LEACHATE TREATMENT

calsium

containedinleachatehas

becomeTECHNOLOGIES

conspicuous at the MSW leachate treatment facilities.
When the leachate with high calcium content flows into

In the middle of 1960s, leachate treatment waswater treatment facility, it reacts with CO2 in the water

performed by applying a trial-and-error method using

and in the air to form CaCO3 that is deposited in the

sewage disposal technologies of those days. The

facility . There are two ways to prevent the formation

purpose of the leachate treatment was to reduce organicof calsium carbonate. One is calsium removal method

materials.

and other one is scale inhibition method. The ulating

Biological treatment technologies were consideredby reduction of BOD

sedimentation method which is one of calsium removal

substances and Nitrogenmethod was adopted as the leachate treatment processcontained in organic materials, then the activatedfor the first time in 1983. Furthermore, when the rate ofsludge method was adopted for reduction of BOD

content of the incineration ashes in the waste increasedmore, the highly concentrated chloride ion in leachate

LANDFILLS AND CHANGES IN LEACHATE

flowing out from MSV landfill is creating a problem.

TREATMENT TECHNOLOGIESThe problem with salt at the industrial waste landfill isalso appearing.

The first uses of various barrier systems and leachate

An example that the chloride ion has an adverse

treatment technologies for landfill in Japan, which wereeffect is the chemical damage to agricultural products

provided by questionnaire survey to the members of thein a downstream region. As the measure for this

LSA, NPO, are shown in Table 1 with the changes inproblem, the desalination equipment utilizing thelaws, ordinances, and regulations related to the final

electrodialysis method appeared in 1995, and thedisposal site.

desalination equipment utilizing the reverse osmosis
method was introduced in 1999.

From the result of the investigation, it has been
confirmed that the geomembrane liner was used first at

Existence of chlorinated hazardous substances such

Nakata landfill site of Chiba City in Chiba Prefecture

as dioxins in incinerated residue was pointed out inin 1977 when the Joint Order, which was the first

1983, and the pollution control measure for the publictechnical

waters that prevents the pollution with the leachate ofestablished. No precedent for constructing lining

the final waste disposal site was examined. Since

system could be obtained, therefore it can be said that

dioxins were poorly soluble, in 1997, it was

the history of barrier system for landfill in Japan started

presupposed that “the means for removal of aat that time. On the other hand, the first use of double

suspended substance is put into practice with leachate

liner system was the composite liner, which consisted

treatment equipment, and SS concentration of treatedof a geomembrane and a low-permeability compacted

water is made into 10 or less mg/L” in the “Guidelines

clay, in 1988. After that, other two types of the double

for occurrence prevention of dioxins concerning refuse

liner system, which is provided in the present standard

disposal”. Also, in 1997, as advanced technologies forin Japan, were constructed before 1998 when theremoval of dioxins, the coagulating membraneamendment of the Joint Order including the obligation

separation methods were offered. While they are

to apply the double-layer liner systems was made.

standardforlandfills

inJapan,

wasbasically used to deal with SS type dioxins, theIn consequence of the comparison between social

introduction of membrane separation technologies thatbackgrounds and history of constructing landfill liner

are able to reduce the SS to nearly undetectable levels

shown in Table 1, it has been cleared that the changes

is an effective way to solve the problem. On the otherin lining systems, especially in double liner systems, inhand, the research and development for dealing withJapan were closely related to the occurrence of social

soluble dioxins were examined, and the method

problems on landfill structure.

including the accelerated oxidation process (the AOP

About leachate treatment, activated sludge method

method) using powerful oxidizers, such as ozone andand coagulating sedimentation method were used firstultraviolet rays (UV), was introduced in 1998.

in Fukuoka City in 1968. Then, various processing
technology is developed and applied in accordance

RESULTS OF INVESTIGATION INTO THE
FIRST USE OF BARRIER SYSTEM FOR

with the processing purpose.

Table 1 Changes in Laws, Ordinances and Regulations Rerated to Landfill and the First uses of Various
Barrier Systems and Leachate Treatment Technologies
Year

Laws, Ordinances, etc.
Related to Landfill

First uses of barrier System and Leachate Treatment Technology
Barrier System(DL) means Double Liner

Leachate Treatment Technology

1954 Promulgation of “Cleansing Law”
1966 Beginning of the study on an aerobic
landfill structure
1968

Activated sludge method andCoagulating sedimentation
method (Fukuoka City)

1970 Promulgation of “Waste Management
and Public Cleansing Law” (Waste
Management Law)

Ammonia stripping method

1971 Promulgation of the cabinet order andthe regulations of “Waste Management
Law”
1975

Trickling filtration method(Fukuoka City)

1977 Promulgation of “Order Determining
Engineering Standards Pertaining toFinal Disposal Site for Municipal Solid
Wastes and Final Disposal Site forIndustrial Wastes” (Joint Order)

Sand filtration method andActivated carbon adsorption
method(Fukuyama City)
EPDM Sheet(Nakata landfill site, Chiba City)
PVC Sheet (Mie Prefecture Environ- mental
Conservation Agency)

1978 Publication of “Commentary on Waste
Treatment Facility Structure Guidelines”

Chelate adsorption method(removal of heavy metal)(Ayabe City)

1979 Establishment of “Guidelines for Landfill”
1980

Watertight Asphalt Concrete(Tokyo Administrative Association of
Municipal Waste Disposal Site)

1982

TPO Sheet (Chuno Regional Associa- tionof Integrated Administration in Gifu
Prefecture)

1983

Lime soda method (Calcium
removal) (Niihama City)

1986 News on the polluted water outflow
accident in Tobuki landfill site

Compacted Clay (Hokusatsu Regional
Association of Integrated Administra- tionin Kagoshima Prefecture)

1988 Revision of “Landfill Guidelines”

HDPE Sheet (Imafuku landfill site, Miyazu
City)(DL) Compacted Clay (Kohoku Regional
Association of Integrated Administra- tionin Shiga Prefecture)

1989 Publication of “Commentary on Landfill Guidelines”
1990

LDPE Sheet (Tsukui District Regional
Association of Integrated Administra- tionin Kanagawa Prefecture)(DL)Watertight Asphalt Concrete(Uwajima City, Ehime Prefecture)

1992 News on the possibility of the leakageof leachate in Yatozawa landfill site(DL)Geomembrane (Hadano-Isehara Administrative Association for Environ- ment
and Sanitation)

1993

TPU Sheet (Shintoku Town, Hokkaido)

1995(DL)Bentonite Mixture Soil
(Tokyo Santama Area Regional Association of Waste Disposal)

1996(DL) Cement Stabilized Soil (Miyakonojyo
City)Electrodialysismethod(DesalinizationTreatment)
Carrier method

1997 Guidelines for occurence prevention ofdioxins concerning refuse disposal

Membrane Separation method(Removal of dioxins)

1998 Amendment of the Joint Order

Accelerated oxidation method

1999

Reverse osmosis method

2000 Establishment of “Guidelines for the
Functions of Landfill”

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Harada, T. Et al.(2007): Changes in subsurface liner
sysytems and leachate treatment technologies forThis report has summarized a part of the findings ofa study conducted by the research group organized at
the LSA, NPO. The writers thank for contributions of
the following members constituting the group. ( Sotaro
HIGUCHI, Minoru ISHIBASHI, Sayaka NAKAO,
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