Standard for Pollution Control of Domestic Waste Landfills (GB 16889-2024)

According to the national standards information public service platform, the national standard Standard for Pollution Control of Domestic Waste Landfills (GB 16889-2024) was officially released on July 24, 2024. It replaces the previous GB 16889-2008 and will be implemented from September 1, 2024.

As early as February 2022, the Ministry of Ecology and Environment publicly solicited opinions on revising the Standard for Pollution Control of Domestic Waste Landfills (GB 16889-2008). The draft for comment comprised 31 pages and revised the following seven aspects:

• Improved the siting requirements for domestic waste landfills;

• Refined the design and construction requirements for basic facilities of domestic waste landfills;

• Tightened the control requirements for greenhouse gas emissions;

• Adjusted the technical requirements for leachate entering centralized wastewater treatment facilities;

• Clarified the management requirements for fly ash from incineration entering landfills;

• Refined the pollution control requirements during the operation, closure, and post-closure maintenance and management of domestic waste landfills;

• Added technical requirements for the excavation and reuse of domestic waste landfills.

However, the most noteworthy clause is Article 9.3.2 of the draft, which stipulates that the concentrated liquid generated from leachate treatment shall be disposed of separately and shall not be re-injected into the domestic waste landfill or enter centralized wastewater treatment facilities. This provision overturns the currently common technical route for landfill concentrated-liquid treatment, triggering an increase in market demand for full-quantity leachate treatment projects and opening a new era of full-quantity leachate treatment.

The full text of Standard for Pollution Control of Domestic Waste Landfills (GB 16889-2024) is shown below: