The interim use module includes a fast screening to assess the possibilities for implementation of several interim uses on the selected landfill site. The ELIF Interim Use module can be used to quickly explore several Interim Use solutions for a given landfill. The module gives the user a global view of the suitability of each interim use thanks to a green/orange/red traffic light scoring based on most relevant criteria. Some advices are also provided to complement this information. An indicative ranking of the different types of interim use (i.e. solar panels, agroforestry, biomass, infrastructure development, recreational project) is also given. This module is designed to require a limited amount of data that can be directly linked to the main ELIF (Enhanced Landfill Inventory Framework) part and highlight the potential limits or difficulties of each interim use The output of the module is structured in terms of a ‘lighting scoring’:
- Green light: the landfill is suitable for the specific interim use;
- Orange light: the landfill is suitable for the specific interim use, provided that sever conditions are met;
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Red light: the landfill is not suitable for the specific interim use.
The interim use module can be accessed through the ELIF - version 1.26.
Further analysis of interim uses: biomass production or afforestation
The interim use (IU) module gives the user a first idea on the possibilities for interim uses on a certain landfill. Based on the output of the IU module, a further assessment can be performed for the interim use types that come forward as the most promising for a specific landfill.
When the output of the IU module gives promising results for the production of biomass on the landfill site, the results of the New-C-Land Interreg project can be consulted. The New-C-Land project created a website where producers/users of biomass and owners of contaminated sites (including landfills) can connect. The website 'sites for biomass' contains a map that visualises all registered abandoned sites that have a potential for biomass production, as well as biomass users. This stimulates the development of local biomass sectors in cross-border areas. The information is accessible for Belgium and the North of France.
When afforestation or nature development comes forward as the most suitable interim use, the Afforestation Decision Tree can be used to assess the feasibility of afforestation, based on the characteristics of the landfill. After performing a preliminary soil investigation, a soil expert should be able to ascertain if nature (re)growth (in particular afforestation) is possible and under what conditions. For this screening, a decision tree can be followed by taking various criteria into account. Ideally, the screening can be performed on the basis of a desk study and the data that has already been included in a report of an exploratory soil investigation, without additional fieldwork or research efforts. Aspects that are important to develop such scheme, are the characteristics of the landfill itself and criteria related to forest planting and forest development in the longer term. It should be noted that this decision tree does not intendto already make choices in tree and shrub species, planting schemes, management or maintenance. However, it tries to provide as many elements as possible in order to be able to make the right choice.
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