Effect of municipal solid waste contamination on some geotechnical properties of soil.

This study examined some geotechnical engineering properties of municipal solid waste contaminated soils in selected locations in Nigeria. Samples of soil were collected at 0.5m depth from the selected dumpsite, and a free land (uncontaminated soil) which served as control. The properties of the soils investigated include: particle size distribution, natural moisture content, consistency limits, maximum dry density, optimum moisture content and specific gravity. Test results revealed that the contaminated soils possess lower plastic limit, maximum dry density and specific gravity than the uncontaminated soil. However, the contaminated soil yielded higher natural moisture content, liquid limit, plasticity index, optimum moisture content and fine particles content than the uncontaminated soil. Therefore, within the limit of this study, it can be inferred that the geotechnical properties of the contaminated soil were reduced due to the influence of the municipal solid waste, and this makes the soils unsuitable for engineering applications.