Introduction

Do you ever wonder what happens to the cucumber scraps left in your garbage can? How do these things break down? These materials are usually disposed of in landfills, where they sit in piles and slowly decompose. The decomposing materials release methane gas and liquids; known as leachate. Leachate contains a mixture of contaminants including heavy metals, and toxic chemicals that cause various negative effects on human health and the environment. 

Research Questions and Objectives

What different contaminants are found in landfill leachate, what are the effects on water quality leachate presents, and what current practices are in place to manage leachate? Continued research into this topic is crucial for advancing environmental sustainability efforts. By understanding the composition and impacts of landfill leachate, as well as identifying effective management strategies, policymakers can develop more robust waste management policies aimed at minimizing leachate pollution and safeguarding water resources for future generations. 

Common Contaminants found in Landfill Leachate

Effects 

Management Practices of Leachate

Methods

Conducting a meta-analysis research project focused on the diverse facets of landfill leachate presents a significant opportunity to comprehensively understand its composition, impacts on water quality, and the array of management practices employed. By synthesizing existing studies and data, this meta-analysis aims to elucidate the spectrum of contaminants commonly found in landfill leachate, ranging from heavy metals and organic pollutants to microbial pathogens. By synthesizing and analyzing the collective knowledge amassed from prior researchers this meta-analysis aims to provide critical insights into the multifaceted challenges posed by landfill leachate and inform future strategies for sustainable waste management and environmental conservation.

In conducting a meta-analysis, the first step is to define my study scope, narrow down the search strategy, and conduct your search, then define inclusion and exclusion criteria and select sources. Once that is complete you then synthesize and analyze the data that you extract (Mengist et al. 2020). Similarly, Gurevitch et al. (2018) use the steps of identification, screening, eligibility, and then inclusion. 

Within the meta-analysis I will be conducting I will use a combination of both Mengist et al. and Gurevitch et al., and take both of their advice into consideration. I will first identify my study scope which will include contaminants found in leachate, and environmental effects, but will focus on landfill leachate management practices. In my search, I will keep a look out for peer-reviewed articles,  I will also consider the age of the studies and the journal in which they were published. Finally, I will review the results and draw conclusions based on my findings. I will present my findings in the form of a meta-analysis.