Global study on slope instability modes based on 62 municipal solid waste landfills

This study summarized global examples of landfill slope instability over the past 40 years, then selected 62 cases from 22 different counties to analyse the primary factors causing landfill instability. Three slope instability modes in landfill were categorized according to the position of the slip surface: (1) slip surfaces generated inside the waste pile; (2) slip surfaces that pass through the foundation soil; and (3) slip surfaces that occur along the interface between the bottom liner and the municipal solid waste (MSW) pile. These three types of slope instability modes account for 69.4%, 19.32% and 11.28% of all slope instability, respectively. Moreover, five primary causes of landfill instability were identified. A high landfill leachate level was the dominant cause, accounting for 40.32% of cases. This was followed by inadequate compaction of MSW, which accounted for 22.58% of cases, and insufficiently bearing capacity of the foundation, which accounted for 19.35% of cases. Moreover, low shear strength of the liner–MSW interface and rapid release or deflagration of landfill gas were critical factors affecting landfill stability. Factors of safety were calculated using GeoStudio software for selected landfills in China (Maoershan and Xiaping) and Sri Lanka (Meethotamulla). Results from this study are expected to contribute to the prevention and control of landfill failure.

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Seismic Distress and Slope Instability of Municipal Solid Waste Landfills

Journal of Earthquake Engineering ◽

10.1080/13632460701574605 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 12 (2) ◽

pp. 312-340 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Varvara Zania ◽

Yiannis Tsompanakis ◽

Prodromos N. Psarropoulos

Keyword(s):

Municipal Solid Waste ◽

Solid Waste ◽

Slope Instability ◽

Municipal Solid Waste Landfills ◽

Solid Waste Landfills

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Mercury air-borne emissions from 5 municipal solid waste landfills in Guiyang and Wuhan, China

Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics Discussions ◽

10.5194/acpd-10-1383-2010 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 10 (1) ◽

pp. 1383-1416 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Z. G. Li ◽

X. Feng ◽

P. Li ◽

L. Liang ◽

S. L. Tang ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Municipal Solid Waste ◽

Solid Waste ◽

Landfill Gas ◽

Mercury Content ◽

Atmospheric Mercury ◽

Mercury Emissions ◽

Working Face ◽

Municipal Solid Waste Landfills ◽

Source Category ◽

Solid Waste Landfills

Abstract. A detailed study on atmospheric mercury emissions from municipal solid waste (MSW) landfills in China is necessary to understand mercury behavior in this source category, simply because China disposes of bulk MSW by landfilling and a large quantity of mercury enters into landfills. Between 2003 and 2006, mercury airborne emissions through different pathways, as well as mercury speciation in landfill gas (LFG) were measured at 5 MSW landfills in Guiyang and Wuhan, China. The results showed that mercury content in the substrate fundamentally affected the magnitude of mercury emissions, resulting in the highest emission rate (as high as 57 651 ng Hg m−2 h−1) at the working face and in un-covered waste areas, and the lowest measured at soil covers and vegetation areas (less than 20 ng Hg m−2 h−1). Meteorological parameters, especially solar radiation, influenced the diurnal pattern of mercury surface-air emissions. Total gaseous mercury (TGM) in LFG varied from 2.0 to 1406.0 ng m−3, monomethyl mercury (MMHg) and dimethyl mercury (DMHg) in LFG averaged at 1.93 and 9.21 ng m−3, and accounted for 0.51% and 1.79% of the TGM in the LFG, respectively. Total mercury emitted from the five landfills ranged from 17 to 3285 g yr−1, with the highest from the working face, then soil covering, and finally the vent pipes.

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Improved Rating System for Hazard Assessment Related to Subsurface Migration of Landfill Gas from Municipal Solid Waste Landfills and Dumps

Journal of Hazardous Toxic and Radioactive Waste ◽

10.1061/(asce)hz.2153-5515.0000393 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 22 (3) ◽

pp. 04018003 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Amit Kumar ◽

Manoj Datta ◽

Arvind K. Nema ◽

R. K. Singh ◽

B. R. Gurjar

Keyword(s):

Municipal Solid Waste ◽

Solid Waste ◽

Hazard Assessment ◽

Landfill Gas ◽

Rating System ◽

Municipal Solid Waste Landfills ◽

Solid Waste Landfills

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Biological pretreatment of municipal solid waste prior to landfilling

Global NEST Journal ◽

10.30955/gnj.000527 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 11 (4) ◽

pp. 510-517

Keyword(s):

Natural Convection ◽

Municipal Solid Waste ◽

Solid Waste ◽

Landfill Gas ◽

Operating Conditions ◽

Biological Pretreatment ◽

Leachate Recirculation ◽

Organic Matters ◽

Factors Affecting ◽

Pre Treatment

The conventional landfilling does not promote sustainable waste management due to uncontrolled emissions which potentially degrade the environment. In this regard, pre-treatment of municipal solid waste prior to landfilling significantly enhance waste stabilization and provides various advantages. So in this regard pre-treatment methods of municipal solid waste were investigated. The major objectives of biological pretreatment are to degrade most easily degradable organic matters of MSW in a short duration under controlled conditions so as to produce desired quality for landfill; and to enhance methanogenic condition in the landfill. Factors affecting the choice of pretreatment processes include the composition of MSW, retention times, odor emissions, fate of toxic chemicals and costs. To investigate the economical pretreatment method prior to landfilling for developing countries four pretreatment simulators were developed at bench scale in the laboratory at different operating conditions forced aeration and leachate recirculation (APSFALR), aerobic pretreatment simulator by natural convection of air with leachate recirculation (APSNCLR), aerobic pretreatment simulator by natural convection of air (APSNC) and anaerobic simulator (AS).The organic matter, pH, temperature, settlement, leachate quantity and quality were monitored regularly. In the leachate quality BOD5, COD, NH4-N, pH and trace metals were analyzed. The molecular size distribution of dissolved organic matters (DOM) in leachate was determined after the pretreatment of 45 days. The results of these methods are compared. The APSNCLR method is economically effective method to reduce the organic matters, leachate COD and BOD5. With the biological pretreatment significant amount of easily biodegradable matters and volume of solids are reduced due to the decomposition of the waste. Landfilling of pretreated waste improves landfill behavior, characteristics, and operation. Leachate quantity, quality and landfill gas emissions also would be reduced. It is predicted by the comparison of carbon content in the fresh and pretreated MSW that resultantly increases the landfill age and decreases in aftercare monitoring period. The volumes of the solids were reduced and density increased significantly in eight weeks pretreatment of MSW due to biodegradation of organic matters. The BOD, COD5 and NH4-N content also reduced significantly as compared to the anaerobic simulator. Pretreatment simulators results are compared and concluded that pretreatment with passive aeration and leachate recirculation is better as compared to the other pretreatment simulators.

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Emissions of air-borne mercury from five municipal solid waste landfills in Guiyang and Wuhan, China

Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics ◽

10.5194/acp-10-3353-2010 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 10 (7) ◽

pp. 3353-3364 ◽

Cited By ~ 40

Author(s):

Z.-G. Li ◽

X. Feng ◽

P. Li ◽

L. Liang ◽

S.-L. Tang ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Municipal Solid Waste ◽

Solid Waste ◽

Landfill Gas ◽

Mercury Content ◽

Atmospheric Mercury ◽

Mercury Emissions ◽

Working Face ◽

Monomethyl Mercury ◽

Municipal Solid Waste Landfills ◽

Solid Waste Landfills

Abstract. China disposes of bulk Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) by landfilling, resulting in a large quantity of mercury that enters landfills through waste. A detailed study on atmospheric mercury emissions from MSW landfills in China is necessary to understand mercury behavior from this source. Between 2003 and 2006, mercury airborne emissions through different pathways, as well as mercury speciation in Landfill Gas (LFG) were measured at 5 MSW landfills in Guiyang and Wuhan, China. The results showed that mercury content in the substrate increased the magnitude of mercury emissions, with the highest emission rate measured at the working face and in uncovered waste areas, and the lowest measured near soil covers and vegetated areas. Meteorological parameters, especially solar radiation, influenced the diurnal pattern of mercury surface-air emissions. Total Gaseous Mercury (TGM) in LFG varied from 2.0 to 1406.0 ng m−3, Monomethyl Mercury (MMHg) and Dimethyl Mercury (DMHg) in LFG averaged at 1.93 and 9.21 ng m−3, and accounted for 0.51% and 1.79% of the TGM in the LFG, respectively. Total mercury emitted from the five landfills ranged from 17 to 3300 g yr−1, with the highest from the working face, then soil covering, and finally the vent pipes.

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Evaluation of landfill gas emissions from municipal solid waste landfills for the life-cycle analysis of waste-to-energy pathways

Journal of Cleaner Production ◽

10.1016/j.jclepro.2017.08.016 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 166 ◽

pp. 335-342 ◽

Cited By ~ 54

Author(s):

Uisung Lee ◽

Jeongwoo Han ◽

Michael Wang

Keyword(s):

Life Cycle ◽

Municipal Solid Waste ◽

Solid Waste ◽

Life Cycle Analysis ◽

Landfill Gas ◽

Waste To Energy ◽

Municipal Solid Waste Landfills ◽

Landfill Gas Emissions ◽

Solid Waste Landfills ◽

Energy Pathways

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Vertical Expansion Stability of an Existing Landfill: A Case Study of a Landfill in Xi’an, China

Advances in Civil Engineering ◽

10.1155/2021/5574238 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 2021 ◽

pp. 1-14

Author(s):

Hui Sheng ◽

Yinbang Ren ◽

Man Huang ◽

Zhenying Zhang ◽

Jiwu Lan

Keyword(s):

Factor Of Safety ◽

Slip Surface ◽

Slope Instability ◽

Stability Factor ◽

Foundation Soil ◽

Instability Modes ◽

Leachate Level ◽

The Stability ◽

Leachate Water

The vertical expansion of existing landfills can hold significant amounts of domestic waste and solve practical difficulties such as local government site selection. This research topic has become increasingly popular in the field of environmental geotechnical engineering. This study examined vertical expansion stability of landfills considering high leachate water level. The results showed the following. (1) Four slope instability modes for landfill vertical expansion are categorized according to the following slip surface positions: shallow slippage of the existing landfill, shallow slippage of the expanding landfill, interface slip between the existing landfill and expanding landfill, and deep slippage passes through the foundation soil. (2) The factor of safety decreases as the height of leachate level increases. When the height of leachate level rises from 2 m to 20 m, the factor of safety of the landfill is reduced by 13.2–15.4%. (3) As the vertical expansion height increases, the factor of safety of the existing landfill decreases, and when the expansion height increases to 30 m, the stability factor of safety of the old waste landfill is reduced by 4.83%. A landfill in Xi’an is considered as an example for the analysis, which shows that a leachate drainage layer can discharge leachate from the landfill body efficiently, reduce the leachate level height of the landfill body, and improve the stability of vertical expansion of the landfill. This study and its findings can be used as a reference for similar expansion projects.

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