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USE OF VEGETATIVE MULCH AS DAILY AND INTERMEDIATE LANDFILL COVER

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Date Issued:
2011
Abstract/Description:
Management of yard waste is a significant challenge in the US, where in 2008 13.2% of the 250 million tons of municipal solid waste (MSW) was reported to be yard waste. This study describes research conducted in the laboratory and field to examine the application of vegetative mulch as daily and intermediate landfill cover. Mulch was found to exhibit stronger physical properties than soil, leading to a more stable landfill slope. Compaction of mulch was found to be significantly greater than soil, potentially resulting in airspace recovery. Degradation of mulch produced a soil-like material; degradation resulted in lower physical strength and hydraulic conductivity and higher bulk density when compared with fresh mulch. Mulch covers in the field permitted higher infiltration rates at high rain intensities than soil covers, and also generated less runoff due to greater porosity and hydraulic conductivity as compared to soil. Mulch covers appear to promote methane oxidation more than soil covers, although it should be noted that methane input to mulch covers was more than an order of magnitude greater than to soil plots. Life cycle assessment (LCA) showed that, considering carbon sequestration, use of green waste as landfill cover saves GHG emissions and is a better environmental management option compared to composting and use of green waste as biofuel.
Title: USE OF VEGETATIVE MULCH AS DAILY AND INTERMEDIATE LANDFILL COVER.
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Name(s): Haddad, Assal, Author
Reinhart, Debra, Committee Chair
University of Central Florida, Degree Grantor
Type of Resource: text
Date Issued: 2011
Publisher: University of Central Florida
Language(s): English
Abstract/Description: Management of yard waste is a significant challenge in the US, where in 2008 13.2% of the 250 million tons of municipal solid waste (MSW) was reported to be yard waste. This study describes research conducted in the laboratory and field to examine the application of vegetative mulch as daily and intermediate landfill cover. Mulch was found to exhibit stronger physical properties than soil, leading to a more stable landfill slope. Compaction of mulch was found to be significantly greater than soil, potentially resulting in airspace recovery. Degradation of mulch produced a soil-like material; degradation resulted in lower physical strength and hydraulic conductivity and higher bulk density when compared with fresh mulch. Mulch covers in the field permitted higher infiltration rates at high rain intensities than soil covers, and also generated less runoff due to greater porosity and hydraulic conductivity as compared to soil. Mulch covers appear to promote methane oxidation more than soil covers, although it should be noted that methane input to mulch covers was more than an order of magnitude greater than to soil plots. Life cycle assessment (LCA) showed that, considering carbon sequestration, use of green waste as landfill cover saves GHG emissions and is a better environmental management option compared to composting and use of green waste as biofuel.
Identifier: CFE0003605 (IID), ucf:48880 (fedora)
Note(s): 2011-05-01
Ph.D.
Engineering and Computer Science, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
Masters
This record was generated from author submitted information.
Subject(s): landfill
methane
slope stability
alternative cover
LCA
Persistent Link to This Record: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0003605
Restrictions on Access: public
Host Institution: UCF

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