New approaches to waste management and the demands of the circular economy have changed the management of landfills. Over time, the decomposition of buried waste primarily determines the amount of recyclable and combustible materials. This pilot study attempted to assess the feasibility of extracting and recovering energy-intensive raw materials from landfills by developing a waste extraction mechanism and creating a solid recovered fuel (SRF) production line for use as a replacement fuel in the cement industry. The proposed mechanism consisted of two stages. The first stage was recommended to be carried out on the landfill territory by screening out the fine fraction and extracting inert materials and bulky waste. The second stage should be on the mechanical biological treatment (MBT) plant’s territory by adding additional technological equipment to the MBT line. The productivity of the SRF production line was calculated and was 4.9 t/h. The mechanism proposed in the work was tested at the operating test site in Lithuania. The composition of Landfill Mined Residues (LMRs) was studied, and the energy potential of the studied part of the landfill was calculated, which was 196,700 GJ. It has been found that the SRF produced complies with the European Union (EU) standard and, according to its classification characteristics, belongs to class III and can be used as a replacement fuel in the clinker firing process. An environmental and economic efficiency assessment was conducted using SRF in the cement kiln. The calculation result showed that using 10% SRF as a replacement fuel for coal used in clinker firing at 2.51 t/h would save 1274 USD/h in coal costs. This use of SRF will emit 3.64 t/h CO₂ and achieve a net savings of 1355 USD/h. The mechanism proposed in this work aimed at reducing waste in landfills by converting materials into energy resources will help achieve the circular economy’s goals.

Landfills pose global challenges, notably in terms of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, pollution release, and extensive land occupation. The transformative practice of landfill mining has redefined these sites as valuable resource reservoirs. The fine fraction (FF), often constituting the majority of excavated waste, is currently underutilized but holds the potential for biocover construction to mitigate methane emissions. This study comprehensively analyzes the FF from the Kuršenai landfill, collecting samples from various depths, reaching up to 10.5 m. The most suitable layers for biocover construction were determined based on basic physical and chemical parameters, along with the concentration of heavy metals and microplastics. The findings unveil significant parameter variations across different depths. Moderate–high correlations (ranging from 0.5 to 0.84) between several parameters were observed. The layer at a depth of 4.5–6 m emerged as the most suitable for biocover construction. However, this layer is characterized by elevated microplastic concentrations (30,208 ± 273 particles/kg), posing a challenge for its use in biocovers as microplastics can be released into the environment during FF extraction and biocover construction. Additionally, microplastics become finer with depth, increasing the associated risks. Therefore, a balanced approach considering material properties and pollution concentrations is vital for sustainable waste management practices.