Born: 03.02.1945

Born: 03.02.1945Education: Study of Chemical Engineering at TU Graz, 1971: Dipl.-Ing., 1974: Dr.techn.1975/76: Guest Scientist at NIST (NBS), Washington D.C., USACareer: 1978-1993: Professor for Environmental Chemistry at Technical University (TU) BerlinSince 1993: Professor for „Waste Treatment & Landfill Technology“ at Montanuniversitaet LeobenHead of IAE-InstituteMemberships & Assignments:Member of the Environmental AdvisoryBoard of the Austrian Government (WASA)Certified Expert Witness & ConsultantMember of the EU-Baia Mare Task Force Team

Lorber, 21.04.23, Folie 1

O.Univ.Prof.Dipl.-Ing.Dr.techn. Karl E. LorberKarl E. Lorber

Institute for Sustainable Waste Management &

Technology (IAE)Montanuniversitaet LeobenPhone: +43 (0)3842/402-

5101E-Mail: [email protected]

A-8700 LeobenTel. +43 (0) 3842 402-5101

iae.unileoben.ac.at

Franz-Josef-Straße 18Fax +43 (0) 3842 [email protected]

ALMÁSFÜZITÖ RED MUD POND VII

O.Univ.Prof.Dr.-Ing. Karl E. Lorber

Lorber, 21.04.23, Folie 2

ASSESMENT OF RISK POTENTIAL

Contamination of surrounding environment by leachate and air borne dust from pond.

Red mud spill by dam failure (breach).

Additional risk due to disposal of „composted“ hazardous wastes.

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STATE OF ART FOR LANDFILL DESIGN

Risk-Minimisation by MULTI-BARRIER ConceptHydrogeological Barrier:→ Proper site selection with safety criteria(i.e. low risk area with impermeable underground).Technical Barrier:→ Technical measures and installations(i.e. base liner system, leachate collection and treatment, capping system, etc.).Internal Barrier:→ Landfilling of non-reactive waste after pretreatment and inertization.Monitoring

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ALMÁSFÜZITÖ: High Risk Site

due to non-existing Barrier SystemsPhotodocumentation:

Observed exit of Red Mud at Embankment Dam Slope and percolating alkaline leachate at Dam Foot.

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RED MUD POND VII ALMÁSFÜZITÖ

Existing Site-specific Risks:Location on Bank of River in flood areaLocation within earthquake prone regionLocation with permeable underground of River Sediments (sands & gravel)

No Base-Liner SystemNo Leachate Collection SystemNo Capping System (only partially covered)Questionable Dam Stability

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RED MUD POND VII ALMÁSFÜZITÖ

Red Mud is not an inert Material

high alkalinity (˞ pH 11-12) contains soluble compounds (e.g. Na, F,

As, V, Cr, etc.) has thixotropic properties

CONCLUSION: Rehabilitation of Pond VII is a must!

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Additional Waste-specific Risk Potential

→ Covering (Capping) of ALMÁSFÜZITÖ Red Mud Pond VII with „Composted Hazardous Waste“

Local Authority has issued licence (392-6/2010) for capping of Red Mud Pond VII whith layer of pretreated Hazardous and Non-Hazardous Wastes.

Pretreatment Process:Aerobic biological treatment by „compostation“

to convert Waste into „Artificial Soil“ used for covering Pond VII surface.

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Hazardous Waste: Long list of wastes (161 EWC Code Numbers), 132,000 t/a.

Non-Hazardous Waste: Alltogehter 244 EWC Code Numbers, 280,000 t/a.

Liste of Waste also contains many inorganic substances.

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STATE OF ART FOR HAZARDOUS WASTES

→ CHEMICAL-PHYSICAL (CP)-TREATMENT

Aerobic biological treatment („compostation“) of Hazardous Waste is not at all recognized as sustainable Methode or not feasible for inorganic wastes (e.g. Aluminium dross).„Composting“ of Hazardous Wastes in ALMÁSFÜZITÖ is based on DILUTION with SOIL-like materials and has to be considered as high risk methode.

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PROOF:IR-camera pictures taken from compost prisms are showing no biological activity.Analyzed samples are having totally different composition compared to compost (e.g. TOC: 2-7.5 % only, but high values for the parameter AOX and evaporation residue).

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CONCLUSION Red Mud Pond VII at ALMÁSFÜZITÖ already is

a HIGH RISK SITE because of unfortunate local conditions and the lack of Technical Barrier Systems.

The aerobic biological treatment (or: compostation) of hazardous wastes is not at all a recognized methode and has to be considered as risky and non-sustainable.„DILUTION OF POLLUTION IS NO SOLUTION“

Covering of the ALMÁSFÜZITÖ Red Mud Pond VII with „composted Hazardous Wastes“ definitely will further increase the high risk potential of the location and therefore endanger the surrounding environment.

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