Design Of Municipal Solid Waste Landfills Research Articles

Reliability of Municipal Solid Waste Landfills within the Eurocode Framework

Municipal solid waste (MSW) landfill slope failures can have significant consequences for the economy, environment, and human health. One potential cause of slope failure is insufficient reliability, resulting from inadequate design. The usual practice in the design of MSW landfills involves utilizing established geotechnical codes, such as Eurocode 7 (EC7), to perform slope stability assessments. Considering the substantial heterogeneity of MSW relative to soil, questions arise regarding the justification of such an approach in the design of MSW landfills. This study examines the suitability of applying EC7 in MSW landfill design, analyzing the stability and reliability of landfill slopes across various heights, front slope angles, design approaches, and consequence classes. This study finds that, in most cases considered, EC7 does not ensure an adequate level of reliability for MSW landfill slopes. Therefore, it is suggested that EC7 should be complemented with specific guidelines for incorporating MSW in geotechnical analyses to achieve the desired structural reliability. Adopting this strategy will not only enhance the reliability of landfill design but also promote the development of solutions that are economically and environmentally sustainable.

Estimation of short-term settlements of MSW landfill materials using shear wave velocity

Limited availability of simple yet adequately validated tools for estimating the deformation potential of municipal solid waste (MSW) material poses difficulty in planning and managing landfill operations. Estimation of settlement of MSW landfills has remained a challenge because of heterogeneity and time-varying mechanical behavior of MSW materials and difficulty of extracting representative samples and reconstituting them for laboratory testing. An empirical correlation is proposed here for estimating the short-term settlement of landfill materials. The relationship was developed by calibrating laboratory data from axial (1D) compression and consolidated drained triaxial tests against field-measured shear wave velocities from five landfill sites with varied waste compositions. The correlation was validated against three full scale load tests; one obtained in this research and two reported by others, and a field compaction study from a fourth landfill. Although the proposed correlation was more accurate than an alternative developed earlier, overall it underestimated settlements by about 12%. The proposed relationship could therefore provide a conservative guidance in MSW landfill design and operation.

Measurement of static and dynamic properties of municipal solid waste at Mavallipura landfill site, India

Municipal solid waste (MSW) landfills have been widely constructed around the world for proper dispose of MSW. Geotechnical properties of MSW are difficult to determine because the heterogeneity, wide variation in particle size distribution and time dependent degradation. Knowledge of geotechnical properties of MSW is essential for the design and operation of landfills. Geotechnical properties of the MSW from landfills is very limited. The design of MSW landfills requires the selection of representative MSW material properties. Static and dynamic properties of emplaced MSW from landfill sites at Bangalore, India are evaluated. A comprehensive field and laboratory studies are conducted on MSW disposed at Mavallipura landfills that are in operation for about 12 years. Laboratory studies included: waste composition, water content, hydraulic conductivity, shear behavior for evaluation of static MSW properties. Field measurements included: cyclic plate load test and geophysical testing (multichannel analysis of surface waves) to assess the dynamic MSW properties at landfill site. Also, results obtained from cyclic plate load test is compared with numerical simulation like PLAXIS 2D. In additional, this paper presents a method for extrapolation of Vs30 for MSW site where subsurface data does not extend to a depth of 30 m. Based on the detailed field and laboratory test data, characterization of the small strain shear modulus and the shear wave velocity of MSW is an integral component of various seismic analyses, including site classification, analysis seismic response of landfill. The results in this study will provide guidance in the design and operation of the landfills in India.

A framework for a decision support system for municipal solid waste landfill design

A decision support system (Landfill Advisor or LFAdvisor) was developed to integrate current knowledge of barrier systems into a computer application to assist in landfill design. The program was developed in Visual Basic and includes an integrated database to store information. LFAdvisor presents the choices available for each liner component (e.g. leachate collection system, geomembrane liner, clay liners) and provides advice on their suitability for different situations related to municipal solid waste landfills (e.g. final cover, base liner, lagoon liner). Unique to LFAdvisor, the service life of each engineered component is estimated based on results from the latest research. LFAdvisor considers the interactions between liner components, operating conditions, and the existing site environment. LFAdvisor can be used in the initial stage of design to give designers a good idea of what liner components will likely be required, while alerting them to issues that are likely to arise. A systems approach is taken to landfill design with the ultimate goal of maximising long-term performance and service life.