Unauthorized landfills of the city of Tobolsk and Tobolsk district as a source of environmental pollution

Abstract

The paper presents the results of comprehensive research of unauthorized landfills in Tobolsk district of Tyumen region, Russia. As a result of the research, fifteen unauthorized landfills of municipal solid waste (6 landfills with the total area of 1,378.33 m2 within the city limits and 9 landfills with the total area of 4,679.64 m2 in the district) were found. A sketch map with the landfills’ coordinates was drawn up. The study was carried out to evaluate the composition and morphological structure of the MSW landfills. Heavy metals were found in the soils of the unauthorized landfills, namely zinc (11.2–54.3 mg/kg), cadmium (0.1–3.1 mg/kg), and lead (5.0–18.1 mg/kg). In terms of toxicity, these metals belong to hazard class I. Unauthorized landfills are sources of environmental pollution in urbanized areas.