Methods for investigation of old glass waste dumpsites

• An old glass dumpsite in southern Sweden was mapped and investigated to locateglass abundance zones (“hotspots”) and understand physicochemical parametres ofthe waste. Global Positioning System (GPS) was used for mapping the site while ageophysical method of Electrical Resistivity was used for detecting glass hotspots inthe dump. Test pits were excavated and samples taken, after which hand sorting,sieving and X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF) scanning of the waste were used forphysicochemical properties. Geophysical mapping was found to be a feasible nondestructivetool in locating glass hotspots. In terms of composition, glass was foundto be the most abundant fraction at 90% average from all 4 sampling points. Fromparticle size distribution, particles > 11.3 mm were more abundant (75% average)than particles < 11.3 mm. XRF scanning yielded As, Cd and Pb concentrations of 3,700mg/kg, 500 mg/kg and 5,300 mg/kg, respectively. In conclusion, it is possible to locateglass hotspots and excavate them carefully in readiness for metal extraction whileavoiding the need for complicated sorting post-excavation.

Subject headings

NATURVETENSKAP  -- Geovetenskap och miljövetenskap -- Miljövetenskap (hsv//swe)

NATURAL SCIENCES  -- Earth and Related Environmental Sciences -- Environmental Sciences (hsv//eng)

Keyword

Landfill mining

geophysics

waste valorisation

circular economy

glass waste

Miljövetenskap

Environmental Science

Publication and Content Type

ref (subject category)

kon (subject category)