First proposal of a methodology for a preventive assessment of the acoustic impact of advanced landfills

In this paper, the results of a preliminary study on the environmental noise pollution of a technologically advanced landfill to be realized in Sicily (Italy) are presented. The investigation has been carried out analysing, at the beginning, a simulating model suggested by the European Community. The method makes reference to the ISO 9613-2:1996 standard, which suggests a general method of calculation to assess the attenuation of sound during propagation outdoors. The simulation has pointed out the troubles in carrying out the noise pollution assessment of an advanced landfill, where several and different kinds of sound sources are present at the same time; it isn’t always possible, for example, to find in scientific literature the spectra of all different sound. In this respect, the paper intends to provide an useful subject for discussion in order to achieve guidelines to be used in the assessment of acoustic impact of typical processes which occur in advanced landfills. Finally, an “area sound source”, which characterizes the landfill, is defined, in order to carry out an acoustic impact assessment in a more fast and simple manner.