Selection of solid waste disposal site for Kandy Municipal Council using Geographic Information System

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.