SUSTAINABLE USE OF ORGANIC WASTE IN BIOCOVERS FOR METHANE EMISSION REDUCTION IN SANITARY LANDFILLS AND THE CLOSURE OF DUMPSITES
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.56238/revgeov17n4-050Keywords:
Biocovers, Organic Compost, Urban Solid Waste, Methane Emissions, Dumpsite Closure, CompactionAbstract
Urban solid waste (USW), when improperly disposed of in open dumpsites or in landfills without effective final covers, releases methane — a greenhouse gas with a global warming potential 28 times higher than carbon dioxide. Biocovers are an environmentally sustainable and economically viable solution to mitigate these emissions, particularly because they allow the reuse of composted organic waste as a cover material with a biological filter function for the microbiological oxidation of methane. This article presents a theoretical and experimental study on the use of mixtures of soil and organic compost derived from fruit, leguminous plant and vegetable (FLV) residues, in proportions of 25% and 50% by weight, for application in biocovers of USW deposits. Based on compaction tests at four energy levels and air and water permeability tests in a flexible wall permeameter, the fundamentals governing the hydraulic and physicochemical behavior of these materials are discussed, along with national and international regulatory requirements and criteria for defining an acceptable compaction zone. Results show that incorporation of organic compost into the soil reduces the hydraulic conductivity — ranging from 3.36×10⁻⁸ m/s to 5.32×10⁻¹⁰ m/s — while increasing air-filled porosity, favoring the gas exchange essential for microbial oxidation of CH₄. Defining a minimum compaction energy of 252 kJ/m³ (≈ 43% of Standard Proctor), with a minimum compaction degree of 90%, simultaneously ensures water flow control and sufficient aeration. Results indicate FLV-derived organic compost as a promising material for biocovers and for dumpsite closure, with carbon credit generation potential.
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