Physical Properties of Solid Waste Materials

Abstract

The physical properties of several common solid waste materials including poultry manure and compost were quantified under a variety of management practices and programs. Parameters relevant to the design and analysis of handling, transporting, and spreading equipment including moisture content, bulk density, angle of repose, maximum lump size as well as the static coefficient of friction characteristics were evaluated. Poultry manures tested included fresh crust and fresh total cleanout as well as crust and total cleanout stored outside and exposed to rainfall. Fresh composted materials tested were poultry manure with poultry mortalities, municipal solid waste (MSW) with dewatered sludge, and MSW with poultry manure. Analysis of variance results indicated outside storage and exposure to rainfall of both total cleanout and crusted poultry manure significantly increased moisture content, wet bulk density, and static friction properties. The moisture contents of each of the compost materials were significantly different, but there were no significant differences in bulk density or angle of repose. Overall trends for the design and analysis of solid waste handling systems were: wet bulk densities of solid waste materials depend primarily on moisture content and can be predicted without specific knowledge of the type or source of waste, the averages and ranges of static friction values measured suggest there is little practical difference between the construction and waste materials tested, and unscreened wastes do exhibit large lump sizes which should be considered when developing handling and conveying systems.