EWC Code
Landfill leachate
EUR-Lex Commission Decision 2000/532/EC — Official Journal L 226, 06/09/2000Annual Volume
50 million m³/year EU landfill leachate
Valorisation Range
€400M leachate treatment market
Primary Route
On-site biological + physico-chemical treatment
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Get contacts for EWC 19 07EWC 19 07 covers landfill leachate: the liquid that percolates through waste and collects at the base of landfill cells. Entries: 19 07 02* (landfill leachate containing dangerous substances) and 19 07 03 (landfill leachate not containing dangerous substances). Hazardous classification depends on landfill type, waste type deposited and leachate composition.
Leachate from active municipal waste landfills contains dissolved organic carbon, ammonium nitrogen, heavy metals, chlorides and inorganic salts. Young leachate (first 5 years) is typically high in BOD, COD and VFAs (volatile fatty acids) from active anaerobic degradation. Mature leachate (after 10+ years) shifts to humic-dominated, lower BOD but persistent organics and metals. Composition changes continuously over landfill lifetime.
Leachate from hazardous waste landfills contains contaminants specific to deposited waste — heavy metals, chlorinated solvents, aromatic hydrocarbons, inorganic salts. These leachates are classified 19 07 02* and require specialist treatment. On-site treatment is most common; some sites tankage leachate to off-site industrial wastewater treatment plants.
Typical Generators
Established valorisation pathways for EWC 19 07, ranked by economic value and market depth. On-site biological + physico-chemical treatment is the primary route.
Leachate treated on-site by activated sludge (ammonia nitrification/denitrification), coagulation/flocculation (heavy metal removal), membrane filtration (reverse osmosis for dissolved organics) and UV disinfection. Treated effluent discharged to watercourse or sewer under permit.
Small landfill sites tankage leachate by road tanker to municipal or industrial wastewater treatment plant for co-treatment. Pre-treatment to remove ammonia spikes and inhibitory substances may be required. Discharge agreement with WWTP operator required.
Leachate recirculated back through active waste mass in bioreactor landfill design. Enhances biodegradation rate, reduces leachate treatment demand over time and accelerates landfill gas generation. Permitted approach in several MS under site-specific IED conditions.
These are the established routes for EWC 19 07. Which one your stream qualifies for depends on its composition, volume and region.
Get the ranked options for your streamPrimary & secondary off-takers
Specialist hazardous leachate treatment for high-strength landfill leachates
Municipal WWTPs accepting pre-treated landfill leachate for co-treatment
Landfill operators managing on-site leachate collection and treatment
Water companies monitoring groundwater quality near landfill sites
Source: NACE Rev.2 — Eurostat, 2008
Key legislative frameworks governing EWC 19 07 classification, transport, and treatment.
Landfill Directive requires leachate collection systems for all new landfill cells and retrofit where technically feasible for existing cells. Leachate must be treated before discharge. Monitoring of leachate quality, groundwater quality and surface water required. Post-closure care obligations continue until competent authority satisfied no further leachate risk.
Leachate collected from landfill base drainage is a waste and must be classified and managed accordingly. Transfer of leachate to off-site treatment facility requires waste transfer note and consignment note (hazardous leachate). Landfill leachate excluded from WFD sewage sludge framework.
Where leachate treatment occurs on-site at IED-regulated landfill, the treatment facility may itself be subject to IED ELVs for discharge to water. COD, BOD, ammonium nitrogen, heavy metals and AOX typically in permit conditions. BAT for leachate treatment described in LF-BREF.
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Waste-stream pages and resources connected to EWC 19 07 valorisation.
Explore EU waste flows — Waste Atlas
Visualise 17 years of E-PRTR industrial facility data. See how EWC 19 07 and related waste streams flow across European industries and sectors.
Source: EUR-Lex Commission Decision 2000/532/EC · NACE Rev.2 — Eurostat 2008
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