Application of risk analysis to landfills in Italy: Developed and tested methodology at provincial level

Abstract

In the Italian authorization procedure for the construction of a landfill, the risk analysis (RA) is mandatory in case of request for derogation from the current legislation (Ministerial Decree (D.M.) 27 September 2010) in order to demonstrate that there is no risk for the environment. This paper describes the experience of the Province of Brescia, public body appointed for giving authorizations for new landfills, and its collaboration with the University of Brescia for the specific topic of RA applied to landfills. The research was undertaken because a lack of complete and specific indications about the application of such methodology to landfills has been identified. In particular, the province of Brescia faced the issue of verifying the proper application of such methodology in relevant cases. After referring to the legal and technical framework, including the current national legislation and a summary of the technical documents available for the topic (guidelines and instructions by technical bodies), the paper outlines the technical-preliminary approach applied by the Province of Brescia. This is complemented by a description of the methodological approach followed for RA for groundwater and for gaseous emissions, with a focus on biogas, together with the presentation of the results for three relevant case studies. The critical aspects that were faced and the proposal to overcome them, which are under discussion with the responsible bodies, are described as well.