Reducing the Volume of Municipal Solid Waste in Karadiyana Dumpsite by Using Compaction Method

Abstract

The Karadiyana dumpsite is located 25 km from the financial capital of Sri Lanka. It serves two urban councils and four local authorities. It is considered to be one of the most polluted dumpsites in Colombo District. Water retaining marshy habitats of some rare and indigenous fauna and flora species have been affected because of these low lying waste dumping lands. Due to land fragmentation like issues arisen with the increasing population, the land area for the waste dumping has become limited. On the same time, the volume of waste collected in dumping sites has been increased. The Karadiyana site has also being threatened by the overfilling problem due to Municipal Solid Waste (MSW). As a solution for this matter, a Composting and Material Recovery program is being conducted at the site which has not proven to be sufficient to solve the problem. This dumpsite will soon be unsuitable for the use, if this problem remains. Reducing the waste volume by compacting MSW and providing more space for waste dumping can be introduced as one possible solution for this issue. Reduction of volume in dump directly combines with compaction ratio. In this research, the compaction ratios in MSW in Karadiyana dumpsite was calculated and the volume reduction by using laboratory tests were studied. As the results of this research, maximum compaction ratio range 3.1 to 1 through 5.7 to 1 and volume reduction in dumpsite was in the mix sample 464831 m3 and separating category was 482887 m3. Resulting in a Volume difference about 18056 m3. Considering Karadiyana dumping site, this volume is not large. Therefore, both methods are acceptable but sample separation is rather a difficult task in a site of this nature.