Effect of Municipal Solid Waste disposal on the

properties of the soil at a landfill site

XXX-X-XXXX-XXXX-X/XX/$XX.00 ©20XX IEEE

 1
Chethan L, 2Amith S Kumbar,
1,2
Assistant Professor, Department of Civil Engineering, Vidyavardhaka College of Engineering, Mysuru, India
Abstract— Due to massive increase in population and
industrialization, fewer lands are available for construction and
some lands are filled with wastes produced from domestic and
industrial areas. Many researchers have worked on the
management of MSW and their effects on groundwater, little
attention has been given to the effect of these wastes on the
geotechnical properties of soil. As a case study, an open dump
site at Vidyaranyapuram, Mysore is selected for the investigation
of soil properties. To evaluate the strength properties, soil
samples were collected in and around the dumpsite to serve as
contaminated and control soil respectively at a depth of about 1m
and the same is analysed in the laboratory to determine its
properties. Leachate was collected and tested for its
contamination as a reference to analysis of chemical
contamination at the site. Based on the tests results, comparison
and interpretations of geotechnical properties can be made and
conclusions are drawn on the variations of the properties due to
contamination of the soil From the results of sieve analysis, it
was found that soil sample is well graded sandy soil. Based on
test results liquid limit was found to be highly varying. The CBR
value varied from one sampling point to other sampling point
indicating that the strength of the soil is not uniform throughout.
The pH of the leachate is found to be 7.9 which is alkaline in
nature and the chloride concentration of leachate as per the IS
specification was found to be 5186 mg/l which is higher than the
permissible range. The heavy metals in the leachate is also
responsible for the variations in the properties of soil. Leachate
contamination alters the consistency and compaction
characteristics of soil. Hence, the properties of the soil gets
altered due to the disposal of MSW.
Keywords— Contaminated soil sample, Municipal Solid Waste
(MSW), Geotechnical Properties, Leachate component,
formatting, style, styling, insert (key words)
I. INTRODUCTION (HEADING 1)
Rapid industrialization and population explosion in India has
led to the migration of people from villages to cities, which
generate thousands of tons of Municipal Solid Waste (MSW)
daily. Municipal solid waste management has become a
serious problem because of rapid urbanization and improved
economic activities. Increased attention has been given by
the government in recent years to handle this problem in a
safe and hygienic manner. Municipal Solid Waste
Management (MSWM) in India is a system which consists of
regulatory, administrative, technology, market, and social
subcomponents. Planning for urban solid waste management
requires an appraisal of many complex interactions among
land use patterns, transportation systems, public health
considerations, and urban growth and development. The
insufficient collection and inappropriate disposal of solid
wastes represent a source of water, land and air pollution,
and pose risks to human health and environment.
Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) is a complex refuse
consisting of various materials with different properties.
Some of the components are stable while others degrade as a
result of biological and chemical processes. Leachate
resulting from this is hazardous pollutant to the soil and
groundwater underlying. Leaching of leachate and heavy
metals into the soil leads to the contamination of both soil
and groundwater.
Due to massive increase in population and industrialization
there is increase in the construction activities in cities and in
industrial area, leaving very little locations of good soils to
construct on. Lands in the periphery of town which are open
to environment are filled by liquid and solid wastes coming
from municipal and industrial areas. This is happening due
to limited dumping space for the pollutants or lack of proper
environmental planning. Various decomposed organic
materials and most of the time industrial pollutants also come
into contact with surrounding soil mass due to unlined
drainage systems. These wastes may find their way to
shallow depth of soil and react with the same. The fill
material, decayed organic soils and soils having continuous
contact with sanitary fill environment loses their desired
geotechnical properties as well as chemical properties. To
utilize effectively even the poorest type of soil for supporting
the structures to be constructed over it, efforts of
geotechnical engineers are directed to develop technically
viable and economically feasible solutions.
While many researchers have worked on the
characterization and management of MSW and their effect
on groundwater, little attention has been given to the effect of
these wastes on the geotechnical properties of soils. This is
become even more necessary as the demand for space for
residential buildings to meet up with the country’s rapidly
increasing population, has resulted in the utilization of
former dump sites within the cities centers for building
purposes. Therefore, the need to assess how the engineering
properties of soils on these dump sites are affected by wastes
cannot be over emphasized.
The paper is structured as follows: In Section 2 related
work is summarized, section-3 gives the insight of the
methodology, Section-4 gives the result analysis and in
Section -5 conclusions are drawn.
II. LITERATURE SURVEY
To study the different aspects regarding changes in
properties of soil due to the disposal of wastes. Due to the
decay of organic material soil shows unpredictable
settlement, low shear strength and low bearing capacity. To
study the changes in the geotechnical properties different
tests are performed such as specific gravity, liquid limit,
plastic limit, maximum dry density, optimum moisture
content and shear parameters. The study indicates that there
is decrease in specific gravity due to the decay of lighter
weight particles present in the soil. The changes in liquid
limit and plastic limit has lead to increase in the plasticity
index due to break down of organic matter present in the soil
which makes the soil more cohesive and plastic. In most of
the cases cohesion of the soil is increased whereas angle of
internal friction reduces. Decay of organic matters and other
pollutants makes the soil particles more granular. It reduces
the angle of internal friction but increases the cohesion of the
soil. The soil in contact with the pollutants become plastic,
compressible and show comparatively lower shear strength.
Hence it leads to reduction in bearing capacity values [1]
Dr. Krishna M K, Chaitra B R and Jyothi Kumari in the year
2016 carried out a research work entitled “Effect of
Municipal Soid Waste Leachate on the Quality of soil”. In
this study an attempt has been made to evaluate the impact of
municipal solid waste leachate on the properties of soil at a
landfill site at Kengeri and BBMP Nayandahalli solid waste
disposal site Bangalore city. Soil samples were collected at
the disposal site to serve as contaminated soil and just around
the disposal site to serve as control soil. This study mainly
focussed on identification of selected pollutants in the soil
due to leachate generated from municipal solid waste landfill
site and uncontaminated soil to serve as control. Results were
compared for geotechnical as well as physico-chemical
properties of both contaminated and uncontaminated soil.
Based on the experimental results obtained major
conclusions were drawn. The results shows that the values of
the natural moisture content of the uncontaminated soil is
generally lower compared to those of the contaminated soil.
The chloride concentration in contaminated soil is higher
than that of the contaminated soil [2] [3]. This indicates that
due to disposal of solid waste the quality of the soil is
reduced. Lastly the study concludes that due to the disposal
of solid waste on land, the soil quality gets reduced
Nur Irfah M. Pauzi, Husaini Omar, Zainuddin M. Yusoff in
the year 2016 carried out a research work entitled
“Geotechnical Properties of Waste Soil from Open Dumping
Area in Malaysia”. This paper described a comprehensive
laboratory studies of waste soil collected from open dumping
area from Sri Hartamas near the TNB substation and
compared with normal soil with settlement characteristics
from Bukit Chuping, Perlis. In this study, the waste soil
tested is not sorted and the soil is remained to have different
fraction of sizes together with concrete debris, decayed wood
and other unknown particles. In Malaysia, the landfills could
be classified into 4 levels namely Level 1, Level 2, Level 3,
and Level 4. Level 1 , controlled tipping, Level 2 is sanitary
landfill with bunk embankment and daily soil covering;
Level 3, sanitary landfill with leachate recirculation system;
Level 4 is sanitary landfill with a leachate treatment system.
The waste soil is tested using compaction test, oedometer
test, undrained shear strength and undrained triaxial test.
Settlement and stability are believed to affect the degradation
of soil. Numerous studies have been previously conducted on
that settlement and stability of landfill (Sowers, 1973;
Bjangard and Edgers, 1990; Edil et al., 1990; Coumoulus and
Koryalos, 1997; Park and Lee, 1997; El Fadel and Khoury,
2000; Dixon et al., 2005; Reddy et al., 2009; and Sivakumar
et al., 2010). However limited research was done on the
geotechnical properties of waste soil from open dumping
area which has the characteristics of differential settlement
and high moisture content due to the ponding problems at the
open dumping sites. The effect of degradation on
geotechnical properties of waste soil should also be
investigated before any conclusion could be made
Ajai Kumar Rai and Brajesh Mishra in the year 2016 carried
out a research work entitled “Geotechnical Properties Based
Characterization Of Closed Dumpsite: A Case Study of
Lucknow City Of Uttar Pradesh”. Some major geotechnical
properties of closed dump site wastes in Lucknow city were
used to measure the characteristics of the waste. The samples
were collected from seven trial pits at depths of 1m, 1.5m
and 2m for each selected dump site were used for
investigation. The soil samples collected were subjected to
specific gravity, natural moisture content, particle size
analysis, consistency limits, compaction, permeability and
direct shear tests. The results obtained were compared with
the control samples taken from the adjoining area of selected
dump site. The study recommends the solution to minimize
the problem of waste settlement and design of the
foundations of structures/civil works on this type of ground
III. ANALYSIS OF MSW ON GEOTECHNICAL
PROPERTIES OF SOIL
Methods of samples collection The soil samples used for
this study was collected in and around the MSW dumpsite.
The soil samples were collected from 7 trial pits, with one
trial pit just around 1000m away from the dumpsite to
serve as control (uncontaminated) soil samples and
remaining six trial pits were located in the dumpsite which
is as shown in the Figure 3.1 to serve as contaminated soil
samples. Both disturbed and undisturbed soil sample were
collected as shown in Plate 3.2 and Plate 3.3 at a depth of
about 0.5m. Samples of contaminated soil (Plate 3.1) were
collected from the natural ground beneath the MSW.
Meanwhile leachate is also collected from the dumpsite a
shown in Plate 3.4 and subjected for various tests. Various
geotechnical tests were conducted according to IS
specifications on the soil samples collected.
As per IS code various tests conducted on the soil
sample are mentioned below.
i. Moisture content (IS – 2720 part 2 – 1993)
ii. Sieve analysis (IS – 2720 part 4 – 1985)
iii. Specific gravity (IS – 2386 part 3 – 1963)
iv. Shrinkage limit (IS – 2720 part 6 – 1972)
v. Compaction test (IS 2720 part 7 – 1980)
vi. California Bearing Ratio (IS 2720 part 16 – 1979)
vii. Triaxial Test
viii. Chemical Parameters of Leachate
ix. Total Dissolved Solids
x. pH
xi. Biological Oxygen Demand
xii. chemical Oxygen Demand
Figure 3.1 Map showing sampling points (.- Contaminated
soil, .- Control Soil )
 value of the natural moisture content of control soil is
generally lower compared to those of the
contaminated soil samples. This trend could be
ascribe reason that the contaminated soil is expected
to be more damper, since the natural ground level is
covered by the MSW, thereby preventing direct
evaporation of moisture from the soil below.
Plate 3.1 Contaminated soil samples (Disturbed samples) Water content
Samples
(%)
Control soil 4.51
PIT – 01 6.96
PIT – 02 7.48
PIT – 03 13.44
PIT – 04 10.33
PIT – 05 7.34
PIT – 06 7.20
PIT – 07 5.79
Plate 3.2 Undisturbed Control soil
PIT – 08 5.78
Plate 3.3 Undisturbed contaminated soil sample PIT – 09 5.97
PIT – 10 7.23
PIT – 11 9.01
PIT – 12 10.21
Table 4.1 Water content
4.2 Specific Gravity
The ability of soil to retain water is strongly related to
particle size, water molecules hold more tightly to the
Plate
Samples Specific gravity fine particles of clay soil than to coarser particles of a
3.4
Control soil 2.31 sandy soil. Table 4.2 shows the results of specific
PIT – 01 2.23
gravity. The values of specific gravity of the polluted
PIT – 02 2.26
PIT – 03 2.29 soil is lower than the control soil. MSW has high
PIT – 04 2.24 organic content and there is a possibility of MSW
PIT – 05 2.19
containing soluble salts. The specific gravity of the
PIT – 06 2.22
PIT – 07 2.28 dumpsite samples ranged from 2.19 - 2.39 and that for
PIT – 08 2.29 the control sample was 2.31. The specific gravity of
PIT – 09 2.39 soil in the dump site is relatively low and greatly
PIT – 10 2.27
discrete because of higher organic content when
PIT – 11 2.21
PIT – 12 2.25 compared to the control sample.
Leachate sample

RESULTS AND ANALYSIS

General
This chapter deals with interpretation of data obtained
from research study and detailed discussion on results
obtained from the soil sample collected from
dumpsite Vidyaranyapuram, Mysore.
4.2 Natural Moisture Content
The results of the Natural Moisture Content test are
represented in Table 4.1. The results shows that the
 4.4.2 Shrinkage Limit
From the Table 4.4 it was depicted that the shrinkage
Table 4.2 Specific gravity limit of contaminated soil varies from 43 – 52 %
while for control soil it is 55% which is higher than
4.3 Particle Size Distribution
the contaminated soil. The shrinkage limit for
The results of sieve analysis test is tabulated in Table
contaminated soil is less as compared to control soil
4.3. The soil obtained is well graded gravel sandy
Because
soil by comparing with standard value. The Figure
shows the curve obtained by sieve analysis. From
Sample – 01 to Sample - 04 the soil obtained is well
graded gravel and sandy soil. Whereas Sample - 05 it
was uniformly graded gravel. The strength of well
graded soil is more than the strength of uniformly
graded soil.
4.4 Samples Cc Cu Nomenclature
Control Soil 0.915 5.35 Well graded soil
Liquid Limit, Shrinkage
PIT – 01 0.764 6.53 Well graded soil Samples
WL % Limit, Ws %
PIT – 02 0.802 6.32 Well graded soil
Control soil 49 55.35
PIT – 03 0.861 6.19 Well graded soil
PIT – 01 28 44.72
PIT – 04 0.924 6.23 Well graded soil
PIT – 02 29.1 45.35
PIT – 05 1.09 6.31 Well graded soil
PIT – 03 31 51.75
PIT – 06 1.11 5.98 Well graded soil
PIT – 04 29.7 52.53
PIT – 07 1.14 5.15 Well graded soil
PIT – 05 26 46.31
PIT – 08 1.01 4.28 Well graded soil
PIT – 06 26.6 48.3
PIT – 09 0.89 3.625 Well graded soil
PIT – 07 27.8 49.26
PIT – 10 0.98 3.25 Well graded soil
PIT – 08 31.5 45.15
PIT - 11 .95 3.69 Well graded soil
PIT – 09 32 43.62
PIT – 12 1.02 3.98 Well graded soil
PIT – 10 35.31 44.97
Consistency Limits
PIT – 11 36.36 46.36
Results of the consistency limits for contaminated soil
PIT – 12 37.52 49.63
and control soil is as shown in the Table 4.4. 4.5
Consistency limits includes liquid limit, plastic limit Proctor Test
and shrinkage limit. The method of obtaining the Compaction is the process of densification of soil
results of consistency limits are detailed in Appendix mass by reducing air voids. The degree of compaction
4.4.1 Liquid Limit is measured in terms of its dry density. The degree of
The results of the liquid limit is as shown in the Table compaction mainly depends upon its moisture
4.4. From the results it was noticed that the liquid content, compaction energy and type of soil. The
limit for control soil i.e., 49%, is greater than those of MDD of the contaminated soil ranges from 1.7–1.9
the contaminated soil which ranges around 27 – 44 %. g/cc which is lower than that of the uncontaminated
This shows that the contaminated soil generally has soil i.e.,1.96g/cc, while the OMC of the contaminated
relatively low consistency limits than the control soil. soil generally ranges between 10 – 17 %. This result
This results show that, although, the contaminated confirms with the results of the particle size
soil has more fine content, the consistency of these distribution, which indicates higher percentage of fine
fines may have been slightly affected by the leachate fractions in the contaminated soil which have affinity
from MSW. This also suggests that the fines resulting for water. The dry density of the polluted soil is
from the decomposed MSW are non-plastic.
 decreased due to the decay of lighter weight organic PIT – 06 8.01 13.97
matter present in the soil. PIT – 07 8.76 15.80
PIT – 08 7.22 12.35
Standard proctor Modified proctor PIT – 09 6.57 13.14
Samples OMC OMC
MDD(g/cc) MDD(g/cc) PIT – 10 7.21 13.25
(%) (%)
Control PIT – 11 8.03 13.14
14.8 1.960 15.0 1.95 PIT – 12 7.96 13.56
soil
PIT – 01 13.2 1.915 10.0 2.04
PIT – 02 14.7 1.856 11.6 2.00 4.7 Triaxial Compression Test
PIT – 03 16.2 1.715 12.4 1.96 Table 4. is tabulating the undrained cohesion values
PIT – 04 13.3 1.846 12.1 1.95 and angle of internal friction for control soil and
PIT – 05 12.0 1.915 11.5 1.96 contaminated soil. The contaminated soil has higher
PIT – 06 11.55 1.923 10.3 1.97
friction compared to control soil. This is reported
PIT – 07 12.0 1.945 10.0 1.99
because of the debris content and also due to the
PIT – 08 11.09 1.955 9.8 2.01
chemical parameters of leachate that increases the
PIT – 09 10.6 1.940 9.0 2.03
friction between the particles that makes the angle of
PIT – 10 12.58 1.896 10.1 1.97
internal friction higher. The contaminated soil has
PIT – 11 14.0 1.855 10.6 1.95
maximum cohesion and angle of internal friction of
PIT – 12 14.52 1.824 10.9 1.93
1.2 kg/cm2 and 35° respectively. The cohesion for

4.6 California Bearing Ratio Test samples of PIT – 02, PIT – 03 and PIT – 04 is slightly

Most. California Bearing Ratio value is used for the less than the control soil. The complex content of

evaluation of subgrade strengths during design of contaminated soil would increase the cohesion values

flexible pavements. The CBR rating was developed but the values do not varied much.

for measuring the load-bearing capacity of soils used

for building roads. Table 4.8 shows the result of
California bearing ratio. The obtained values shows
that the soil is well graded sand by comparing it with
standard value. The standard range of California
bearing ratio for well graded sand is 8 to 20%. The
CBR value of control soil at 2.5mm penetration is
6.27% while at 5.0mm penetration it is 5.25%, the
result satisfies the condition i.e., CBR at 2.5mm
penetration should be greater than 5.0mm penetration.
C
Hence the CBR value of control soil is 6.27%. In Samples ɸ (°)
(kg/cm2)
case of contaminated soil the CBR value at 5.0mm Control soil 0.65 13
penetration is greater than 2.5mm penetration. In PIT – 01 0.1 28
PIT – 02 0.375 20
such case CBR at 5.0mm penetration is considered as
PIT – 03 0.550 35
the CBR value of the corresponding sample. PIT – 04 0.325 33
CBR (%) PIT – 05 0.55 28
Samples
2.5mm 5mm PIT – 06 0.6 31
Control soil 6.27 5.25 PIT – 07 1.0 32
PIT – 01 10.21 20.43 PIT – 08 0.82 30
PIT – 02 8.43 15.02
PIT – 09 0.7 30
PIT – 03 7.3 11.68
PIT – 10 0.85 31
PIT – 04 7.45 11.93
PIT – 05 7.66 12.41 PIT – 11 1.2 10
 PIT – 12 0.95 20
4.8 Chemical Properties of Leachate
The results of the chemical analysis of the leachate
obtained from Vidyaranyapuram open dump site
which was used in this study, is listed in Table 4. .
The Table shows that the pH value of leachate is 7.86
which is alkaline and can reduce the mobility of the
heavy metals. The concentrations of chromium (Cr),
The liquid limit obtained for control soil is 49% while for
contaminated soil is between 26-38 % which is less than the
control soil. Consistency of soil is highly affected due to
MSW disposal and leachate contamination of soil
From the compaction tests results it was found that the MDD
of the contaminated soil ranges between 1.7-1.9 g/cc which
is lower that the control soil i.e.,1.96g/cc. The MDD of the
polluted soil decreased due to the decay of organic matter
present in the soil

copper (Cu), Nickel (Ni) and Arsenic (As) are

significant indicating the severity of toxic metals in Shear strength parameters such as cohesion and angle of
internal friction for control soil is 0.65 kg/cm2 and 13o
the leachate. This aspects forms the main issue of the respectively, while for contaminated soil it ranges between
study. 0.1-1.2 kg/cm2 and 10-35° respectively. This shows that the
shear strength parameters are modified significantly as an
Table 4.9 Chemical Analysis of Leachate Sample effect of dumping MSW
Sl.
Tests Result Test Method The CBR value varies from one sampling point to other
No
sampling point which indicates the strength of the soil is not
1 pH 7.86 IS 3025: Part (11)
uniform throughout. The CBR of contaminated soil is 62%
2 Total Suspended Solids, mg/l 188 IS 3025: Part (17)
greater than the control soil. This revealed that the
3 Total Dissolved Solids, mg/l 15088 IS 3025: Part (16)
penetration resistance of the contaminated soil is greater than
4 Ammonical Nitrogen, mg/l 560 IS 3025: (P – 34) that of the control soil.
5 Total Kjeldhal Nitrogen, mg/l 784 IS 3025: (P – 34)
6 BOD (3 days @ 27°C) , mg/l 2200 IS 3025: (P – 44) The co-efficient of permeability of the contaminated soil is
7 COD, mg/l 5200 IS 3025: (P – 58) higher than that of the control soil. This may be due to
8 Arsenic, mg/l 0.015 IS 3025: Part (37) particle flocculation as a result of contamination with MSW
9 Mercury, mg/l <0.001 IS 3025: Part (48)
10 Lead, mg/l 0.02 IS 3025: Part (47)
11 Cadmium, mg/l 0.030 IS 3025: Part (41) Leachate contamination leads to alter the compaction
12 Total Chromium, mg/l 0.08 IS 3025: Part (52) characteristics and strength of the soil
13 Copper, mg/l 0.62 IS 3025: Part (42)
14 Zinc, mg/l 18.22 IS 3025: Part (49) The chloride concentration in leachate is higher than the
15 Nickel, mg/l 0.08 IS 3025: Part (54) permissible range which reduces the quality of the soil due to
16 Cyanide, mg/l <0.05 IS 3025: Part (27) the disposal of MSW
17 Chloride, mg/l 5186 IS 3025: Part (32)
18 Fluoride, mg/l 1.7 IS 3025: (P – 60)
The leachate contamination affects the foundation of the
Chapter - 5 structure. The chloride content leads to the corrosion of the
CONCLUSIONS steel reinforcement used in the foundation and also reduces
the durability of the structure
The CBR value varies from one sampling point to other
CONCLUSIONS
sampling point which indicates the strength of the soil is not
Based on the literature cited and experiment results obtained
uniform throughout.
from the soil sample analysed in both contaminated and
control soils following major conclusions can be drawn Prepare Your Paper Before Styling
The type of soil obtained at the dump site was well graded
Before you begin to format your paper, first write and
sand for control soil and well graded gravel and sand for save the content as a separate text file. Complete all content
contaminated soil and organizational editing before formatting. Please note
sections A-D below for more information on proofreading,
The contaminated soil has lower specific gravity of 2.19 - spelling and grammar.
2.29 while for control it is 2.31
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 Table 4.6 Permeability Test
Coefficient of
Samples
permeability, k cm/sec
Control soil 2.05 x 10-5
PIT – 01 1.96 x 10-4
PIT – 02 1.87 x 10-4
PIT – 03 1.72 x 10-4
PIT – 04 0.96 x 10-4
PIT – 05 1.2 x 10-4
PIT – 06 1.37 x 10-4
PIT – 07 0.87 x 10-4
PIT – 08 1.10 x 10-4
PIT – 09 1.0 x 10-4
PIT – 10 0.96 x 10-4
PIT – 11 1.34 x 10-4
PIT – 12 1.25 x 10-4