Influence of soil compaction on the production and potential pollution of leachate of urban solid waste

ABSTRACT In Brazil, the final disposal of municipal solid waste (MSW) represents an environmental risk due to the generation of leachate with high contaminant loads, even in landfills. The aim of the present study, in experimental scale, was to evaluate the influence of different degrees of compaction (DC) of the intermediate layers and final coverage of MSW on the reduction of the production and pollution potential of leachate. MSW were collected at previously selected sites at Lavras, Minas Gerais, due to the prevalence of social class. These residues were gravimetrically analyzed and deposited within experimental cells, alternating MSW layers and compacted soil in different DC. In the cells, water depths were applied and the effluent collected, quantified and subjected to physical and chemical analysis during trial period. There was a mean reduction of 35% in the leachate production in the cells where DC were equal to 100%. DC’s increase produced significant increases in the concentrations of alkalinity, total solids (TS) and total volatile solids, and significant reductions in chemical oxygen demand (COD) and phosphorus concentrations. Reductions in load close to 57, 35, 59, 42 and 62%, relative to the parameters TS, COD, biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), ammonia-N and P, respectively.