Optimum soil moisture for urban solid waste disposal purposes

Abstract

The generation of solid waste combined with the proper disposal of these wastes are determining factors in landfills both for the environmental issue and for public health. In this context, the physical variables of the soil in relation to the permeability of the soil are essential for the safe operation of landfills. Therefore, this study aims to determine the optimal soil moisture for maximum compaction. The study was carried out in the area of ??a sanitary landfill, located in northwestern Rio Grande do Sul. The local soil is a RED LATOSOL, in which the compaction test was carried out by the Proctor method and subsequent determination of the saturated hydraulic conductivity, by means of a constant load permeameter. The results indicated a clay percentage of 65 %, which resulted in an optimum moisture content of 34 %, maximum density of 1,395 kg/m³, saturated hydraulic conductivity of 2.1 x 10^-6 cm.s^-1. Thus, it can be concluded that the clayey soil presented the minimum values ??proposed by the current legislation for the operation of urban waste landfills, in addition to serving as an aid in the decision-making process by management bodies.