Use of post-consumer carpet products during landfill management of solid wastes

This report focuses on the potential for using waste carpets as part of cover and liner systems at municipal solid waste landfills. Five different carpet materials were tested for their characteristics before and after incorporation with solid wastes in simulated landfill bioreactors. Selected analyses are presented on heavy metals and volatile organic compounds from TCLP extracts, and on leachate and gas samples during operation with and without leachate recycle. Biological clogging tests indicated no alteration in carpet integrity o2r significant reduction in permeability. Solid waste stabilization, indicated by gas and leachate parameters, proceeded without adverse impact from the codisposed 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 municipal solid waste landfill cover and liner systems.