Mechanical and leaching characteristics of inert waste landfills

Abstract

The composition of inert waste landfill is important from the geotechnical and geoenvironmental point of view, as the concrete and rock wastes help in increasing the bearing capacity and the fibrous fractions can act as reinforcement to increase the volume of the inert waste landfill. In contrast, the presence of fibrous fractions may cause the storage of water inside the inert waste landfill and there are also some possibilities of presence of toxic and degradable matters in the inert waste materials. In this paper, the results from the field tests such as composition analysis, basic physical properties, angle of repose, CASPOL impact value test and in-situ direct shear test are discussed to evaluate the change in mechanical characteristics and basic physical parameters (in situ density etc.) of inert wastes. Change in the strength parameters are observed with respect to change in different components of the inert waste and age after reclamations. The results show that the density and impact value decrease for increase in fibrous content under 20%. For direct shear test, shear stress increases with increase in high fibrous content. In the laboratory column leaching test, the change in the leachate behavior is observed due to 2% and 10% fibrous content. The water storage and EC are found lower for the column with 10% fibrous content than that of 2% fibrous content. TOC is found higher for 2% fibrous content but the values are found to be within the standard limit.