Impact of landfilling of red mud waste on local environment - the case of Gorka

Despite stricter environmental regulations, degraded post-industrial areas continue to exist in Europe which pose a serious threat to the environment and health. An example of these high-risk areas are red mud dumps which are highly alkaline and often contain toxic elements. Worldwide approximately 2.7 billion tons of red mud have been stored. The present article describes the issues that have arisen in the case of an abandoned red mud dump located in Trzebinia (southern Poland). Identifying the changes taking place in the dump last years and the resulting effects on the environment made it possible to determine what action can be taken to minimize risks to the environment. During the 30-year existence of the excavation, studies on the infiltration of the dump by rainwater and groundwater were carried. In this period of time the infiltration resulted in the formation of a deep reservoir of highly alkaline leachate (pH > 13), which may have a negative impact on the water and soil environment. In 2000, the raising the level of leachate in the tank threatened to spill out into the surrounding area and pose a risk for human health. The response to this threat the pumping of excess of leachate, prevented an environmental catastrophe. Due to the fact that the chemical composition of the red mud waste could pose a potential threat to the environment due to leaching toxic substances from the waste, which may contribute to the contamination of the soil and water around the reservoir, analysis leachates in Gorka reservoir, soil around Gorka reservoir, water and sludge bottom in Balaton lake (located near landfill) were presented. Red mud remains a problem which can only be solved if the waste pile undergoes proper treatment. It could take place in the 2015 thanks to reclamation efforts part-financed by national and EU funding.