Geotechnical Utilization of Solid Waste Materials and Its Environmental Impacts

Masashi Kamon* and Takeshi Katsumi**
* Professor, Disaster Prevention Research Institute (DPRI), Kyoto University
** Associate Professor, Department of Civil Engineering, Ritsumeikan University
+ Correspondence should be addressed to Masashi Kamon:
(Gokasho, Uji-city, Kyoto 611-0011 Japan)

Abstract
The current status on geotechnical utilization of solid waste materials is reviewed in this paper. First, geotechnical properties and their classification of waste materials and surplus soils are summarized for the purpose of their utilization, and treatment techniques for recycling wastes are reviewed. Second, the possible environmental adverse impact caused by geotechnical waste utilization is examined. In particular, discussion is focused on heavy metal leaching from wastes, leaching test procedures, and hexa-valent chromium leaching from cement-stabilized material. Finally, the legal system and its use in order to promote the utilization of waste materials are discussed.

Key words: soil, waste, geotechnical material, utilization, heavy metal, groundwater contamination, environmental geotechnics