Geotechnical challenges at waste landfill sites in Japan

This paper presents case histories and research projects related to geotechnical challenges at waste landfill sites in Japan. Due to the limitation of inland space available to waste disposal, coastal landfills and the associated containment systems are important considerations, particularly for metropolitan areas. Experimental works on heavy metals mobility using a large column to simulate the redox potential at the coastal landfill sites are introduced. After the closure of landfill sites, they are expected to be utilized as new land space, since new space is difficult to find in urban area. In the redevelopment of such closed landfill sites, there are possibilities of environmental risks, such as generation of toxic gas and leachate, differential settlement of the waste layer, damage to the lining system. Whether the pile installation through the clay layer acting as a landfill bottom barrier is environmentally acceptable or not has been a great concern in the redevelopment of closed waste landfill sites in particular coastal landfill sites. An analytical study to evaluate the cost-effective remedial option for a dumped waste site located along a landslide area, where cut-off wall keyed into the aquitard might elevate groundwater level and thus may not be employed, is presented.