MSW unit weight is an important engineering parameter:

There is large range in the possible MSW unit weight values.

The strength of the liner below the landfill depends on the
overburden (weight of waste)

Landfill capacity estimates depend on the unit weight

Dynamic analyses are affected by the choice of unit weight
RELATED PUBLICATIONS:

Zekkos, D. P., Bray, J. D., Kavazanjian, E., Matasovic, N., Rathje, E.,
Riemer, M., Stokoe, K. H. II, Framework for the estimation of MSW unit
weight profile, Proceedings Sardinia 2005, Tenth International Waste
Management and Landfill Symposium, S. Margherita di Pula, Cagliari,
Italy; 3 - 7 October 2005. Click here for the paper and the
presentation.

Zekkos (Zeccos), D. P. 2005. “Evaluation of static and dynamic
properties of municipal solid-waste.” Dissertation, Doctor of
Philosophy, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering,
University of California, Berkeley, California, USA. Click here.

Zekkos, D. Bray, J. D., Kavazanjian, E. Jr., Matasovic, N., Rathje, E. M.,
Riemer, M. F., Stokoe, K .H. (2006), "Unit weight of Municipal Solid
Waste", ASCE Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental
Engineering, Vol. 132, No. 10, October 2006. (Available upon request)
If you would like to receive any of the resources that are not
available above contact  Dimitrios Zekkos.
MSW UNIT WEIGHT
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properties website and database
NSF project: EVALUATION OF
STATIC AND DYNAMIC PROPERTIES
OF MUNICIPAL SOLID-WASTE