Geotechnical and Environmental Aspects of Waste Disposal Sites: Proceedings of Green4, International Symposium on Geotechnics Related to the Envionment, Wolverhampton, UK 28 June - 1 July 2004

Abstract

Despite the importance of preserving the environment in out developing world, activity involving the extraction of natural resources and the disposal of waster continues to increase. Such operations need to be conducted in a carefully-controlled manner, protecting both the natural environment and the communities who live in the vicinity. Drawing expertise from 19 countries around the world, this book discusses the engineered disposal of waste in landfills as well as how to manage land contaminated by waste disposal and fluid flows. It provides an integrated view of the latest research and practice in waste disposal as well as environmental management. (CRC Press)Over the past 25 years large quantities of vegetative matter (particularly gardening waste) have been deposited in engineered landfills. The fibrous nature of this type of waste initially creates a form of 'soil reinforcement' within the refuse mass. With time the fibres will degrade and the reinforcing effect will be lost and this could have a serious effect on the stability of refuse slopes. Laboratory tests have been conducted to investigate the effect of pore water composition on the strength properties of fibrous vegetable matter and individual vegetable fibres. This preliminary assessment of whether the stability of 'as-constructed' landfill slopes is likely to be affected significantly by decomposition of vegetable matter within the refuse was conducted using a 'typical' vegetable fibre