Recently, interest toward using yard wastes compost or mulches as biocovers or daily cover for landfills has been increasing because of their benefits and economical considerations for some landfills. Potential issues with use of vegetative covers include impact on slope stability, fires, and leachate permeability. Potential benefits include avoidance of purchase of cover materials and reduction of odor and methane emissions. The goal of this proposed research is to examine the application of vegetative mulch as cover in landfill systems.

The specific objectives are to evaluate

(1) leachate flow rates

(2) the stability of mulch on landfill slopes

(3) the potential for spontaneous combustion in mulch layers

(4) the role mulch covers would play in controlling odors and methane emissions. Mulch samples will be collected from central Florida landfills during different periods of the year for testing.