MECHANICAL PROPERTIES OF MUNICIPAL SOLID WASTE IN LAGOS METROPOLIS (CASE STUDY: IKEJA)

Abstract

Waste is as old as a man; dating far back to the stone-age. Since the time man has decided to survive in his environment by utilizing his resources, waste has been part of our cnvironment and lives. Although waste is heterogeneous, many of the studies show that municipal solid waste has mechanical properties that vary in a consistent and predictable manner (for example wit.h respect to stress state and method of placement). In this work, various tests were carried out to determine the mechanical properties as well as physical properties or waste generated in Lagos metropolis at lkeja. These properties assist to determine various constituent of solid waste as well as permeability of the waste. Compressive and shear strengths of waste was determined. All these properties known would be useful information in determining the best way to utilize waste in our society. From the result, over 84.06% of the solid waste generated in Ikeja metropolis, are not subjected to short term decomposition except for garbage and paper which are only 15.94% of the total. Also, the experimental results show that papers (Milled or corrugated) have the minimum Bulk density but maximum permeability while Nylon and wood waste have minimum permeability but maximum bulk density based on percentage of moisture content.