Development of a Resource Classification Framework for Old Landfills in Flanders (project Reclaf)

Within the project RECLAF (Resource Classification Framework for Old Landfills in Flanders) the resource recovery potential of approximately 2,000 historic landfills in Flanders is prospected. The research project’s goal is to systematically provide information for the future management of these former landfill sites, e.g. whether the sites are to be mined or not and under which conditions. Therefore, a consistent and practical classification framework including an evaluation tool is tailored to the specific Flemish situation. Similar to techniques used in the mining industry, this tool is capable to prioritize potential extraction projects by labeling the landfilled materials as either ‘reserves’ (current economic extraction confirmed) or ‘resources’ (reasonable prospects for economic extraction in the foreseeable future) or none of both, and to reveal critical factors for the classification of the project. In the presented case study the socioeconomic viability of mining an old landfill close to Antwerp is evaluated. In a first step, relevant material and energy flows are quantified in a Material Flow Analysis. In a second step, a Discounted Cash Flow analysis is performed from a public entity’s perspective, considering direct monetary effects (i.e. costs for excavating, transporting, processing materials and the disposal of residues, revenues for selling secondary products and avoided aftercare costs) as well as some selected non-monetary or indirect financial effects. Potential greenhouse gas emission savings of a landfill-mining project compared to a “Do-Nothing” scenario are monetized via a hypothetical CO2 tax. Further, the prevented pollution of soil, ground and surface water due to landfill mining is included via avoided aftercare costs. In addition, after selling the clean regained land, revenues from annual land tax are incorporated as indirect financial long-term effects for municipalities.