Estudos mecânicos de misturas solo-composto para fins geotécnicos

Abstract

Issues involving the generation of urban solid waste (USW) show a problem that is globally recognized. In an analysis of the Brazilian scenario, it can be observed that most of the USW produced correspond to the organic matter fraction, which reveals a favorable potential for the composting process. Therefore, the production of composted USW could make it possible to reduce the environmental impacts generated by the production of USW in the routine activities of human beings. As a possible destination of the composted USW produced, this work analyzed the feasibility of obtaining a mixture of this material with soil, in varying percentages, to be used as a landfill cover layer. The appropriate proportion to be used for the composted soil-USW mixture was indicated after comparing the analyzed parameters with those specified in normative prescriptions for the purpose which the resulting material is intended. The results obtained also made it possible to evaluate a potential application of composted USW in mixtures for other geotechnical areas. Issues such as increasing the useful life of landfills, reducing costs involving the treatment of gases and leachate from organic matter, as well as the lesser need to explore loan areas for use as compacted soil can serve as a stimulus to increase the composting process from the verification of the possibility of applying the residue obtained. The mixtures made with contents of 2.5%, 5.0% and 7.5% of composted MSW in relation to the weight of pure soil presented potential use for application in compacted landfills and as a covering layer in landfills, while the mixtures with 12.5% and 17.5% have no recommended application.