Techno-Economic Assessment of Full-Scale MBR + NF Application for Young and Intermediate Leachate Treatment

Leachate treatment represents a challenge for landfill managers due to its high pollutant load and complex composition, which evolve in space and time. If not properly treated, landfill leachate threatens human health and the environment. Despite extensive laboratory-scale studies on treatment processes, economic assessments are less numerous in literature. To fill this gap, this study performs a techno-economic evaluation of a full-scale leachate treatment facility in Hamici landfill, Algeria. Leachate characteristics, treatment performance, and associated costs are analyzed from 2015 to 2023. The treatment chain comprises a membrane bioreactor (MBR) and nanofiltration. The plant has an influent capacity of 80 m3 day–1. In the evaluated period, the leachate flow rate ranged from 7400 to 13 300 m3 year–1, and the organic matter load varied between 7800 and 21 500 mg L–1 of chemical oxygen demand (COD). The MBR plant maintained a satisfactory removal efficiency >97% for most of the monitored pollution parameters. The capital expenditure (CapEx) was estimated at $1 260 000, the operating expenditure (OpEx) ranged from $12 to $16 m–3 (or $0.75–1.38 kg–1 COD), and the total cost (TC) was estimated at $17–23 m–3. This study offers a template for landfill facilities with similar treatment configurations. Our findings contribute to the existing literature by providing leachate treatment cost data. Cost data allow for medium- and long-term budget predictions and the optimization of operating conditions, considering that leachate generation continues for several years after landfill closure.