Keywords

Fills (Earthwork), Mulching

Abstract

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.

Notes

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Graduation Date

2011

Semester

Spring

Advisor

Reinhart, Debra

Degree

Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)

College

College of Engineering and Computer Science

Department

Civil, Environmental, and Construction Engineering

Degree Program

Environmental Engineering

Format

application/pdf

Identifier

CFE0003605

URL

http://purl.fcla.edu/fcla/etd/CFE0003605

Language

English

Length of Campus-only Access

None

Access Status

Doctoral Dissertation (Open Access)

Subjects

Dissertations, Academic -- Engineering and Computer Science, Engineering and Computer Science -- Dissertations, Academic

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