Membrane system to treat leachate and methods of treating leachate

A recursive concentrate reduction membrane system, comprising:

• a first stage series of membrane vessels in fluidic communication, where each membrane vessel is connected in series with one another, wherein each of the membrane vessels are independently selected from the group consisting of:
• a reverse osmosis membrane and a nanofiltration membrane, wherein the first membrane vessel in the first stage series is configured to separate a leachate into a permeate and a concentrate, wherein the recursive concentrate reduction membrane system is configured to direct the concentrate from one vessel to the following vessel in the series, wherein each subsequent membrane vessel is configured to separate the concentrate from the previous vessel into a concentrate and a permeate, wherein the permeate from the subsequent vessels is of lower quality in terms of higher total dissolved solids and other monovalent ions concentration than the previous vessel, wherein at least some of the concentrate from the end of the first stage series is directly discharged or recirculated back to the location of the untreated leachate for additional treatment;
• and
• a second stage series of membrane vessels in fluidic communication, wherein the permeate from the end of the first stage series is sent to the second stage series of membrane vessels.