Abstract:
The daily solid waste collection of the Kandy Municipal Council is around 90 metric 
tones. At present, 90% of the municipal solid waste in the KMC area is disposed at the 
municipal dumping site in Gohagada. As this is not a proper waste disposal site, it has led 
Jo several environmental issues such as air pollution, water pollution and land degradation 
negatively affecting biodiversity, scenic beauty and human health.
This Study is carried out to identify an alternative landfill site for Kandy Municipality 
using Geographic Information System. Suitable land selection criteria for a sanitary land 
fill site covers physical, cultural, economic and engineering aspects.
Multiple criteria methodology is one of the spatial data analytical methods which was 
introduced by Kontos (2005). This study uses 15 attributes (data layer) covering the main 
four specialized criteria. Each attribute is multiplied and converted to the raster format. 
The equation used is as follows,
Where - Si = suitable index
DL1 , DL2 = selected raster data layer 
DLn = All selected raster data layers
.9 Given the importance of financial consideration seeing alternative landfill sites were 
evaluated on the basis of "cost benefit" analysis too. CEA modified & recommended 
factors for landfill site selection, such as availability of daily cover material, close 
proximity to infrastructure, shorter transportation distances, close proximity to higher 
population density, demand for the rehabilitated land after closure, availability of crown 
land and on-going planning of landfill in the vicinity were taken into account for the 
financial analysis.