USE OF POSTCONSUMER CARPET PRODUCTS DURING LANDFILL MANAGEMENT OF SOLID-WASTES

This report focuses on the potential for using waste carpets as part o f cover and liner systems at municipal solid waste landfills. Five dif ferent carpet materials were tested for their characteristics before a nd after incorporation with solid wastes in simulated landfill bioreac tors. Selected analyses are presented on heavy metals and volatile org anic compounds from TCLP extracts, and on leachate and gas samples dur ing operation with and without leachate recycle. Biological clogging t ests indicated no alteration in carpet integrity o2r significant reduc tion in permeability. Solid waste stabilization, indicated by gas and leachate parameters, proceeded without adverse impact from the codispo sed carpets. Volatile organic compounds and heavy metals were present in trace amounts and below regulatory limits. These results supported post-consumer use of carpets as filter and separation layers for munic ipal solid waste landfill cover and liner systems. Copyyright (C) 1996 IAWQ.