Waste is an unavoidable consequence of various human activities. Waste disposal problems have been increasing at an alarming proportion worldwide. Due to strict regulatory controls on dumping of wastes on land and at sea, the subsurface burial of wastes is a disposal alternative. The underground disposal operation must be carefully engineered to provide long-term protection of groundwater, surface water, air end public health in general. Subsurface geologic conditions have a major effects on the cost, safety and environmental impacts of underground disposal of wastes. This paper delineates some salient features of the geotechnical aspects of various options such as subsurface burial, entrenchment, mine storage and deep well storage for the underground disposal of wastes of different types. It also stresses the need for a prudent approach for making the disposal methods safe, economically attractive and environmentally acceptable.
Abfall ist die unvermeidliche Folge verschiedener Aktivitaten des Menschen. Die hiermit verbundenen Probleme haben inzwischen weltweit ein alarmierendes Ausmaß erreicht. Da das Verkippen von Muell zu Land und See strikten Kontrollen unterworfen ist, bietet sich das unterirdische Lagern von Abfallen als Alternative an. Eine unterirdische Lagerung von Abfallen verlangt eine besonders sorgfaltige Arbeitsweise, damit Probleme bezueglich des Grundwasser Oberflachenwassern, der Lufthygiene sowie allgemeiner Gesundheitsfragen langfristig vermieden werden. Die geologischen Verhaltnisse haben einen maßgeblichen Einfluß auf die Kosten, die Sicherheit und die Umweltbelastung des unterirdischen Abfallagers. In dieser Arbeit werden einige wesentliche Punkte bezueglich der geotechnischen Beurteilungen der unterirdischen Abfallagerung diskutiert. Es wird dabei auf die verschiedenen Lagerungsmöglichkeiten wie u.a. Vergraben, die Lagerung in Stollen und in Bohrlöchern Bezug genommen. Schließlich wird die Notwendigkeit einer umsichtigen Arbeitsweise her- vorgehoben, die auf Abfallagerung abzielt.
Le dechet est la consequence inevitable de diverses activites humaines. Les problèmes inherents au stockage des dechets ont atteint une proportion alarmante à l''echelle mondiale. A cause des contrôles reguliers et stricts qu''exige l''emmagasinage des dechets sur Ie sol et dans la mer, leur enfouissement souterrain constitue une alternative de stockage. La methode d''emmagasinage souterrain doit être etudiee soigneusement afin que la protection des eux souterraines, des eaux superficielles, de l''air et de la sante publique en general soit garantie à long terme. Les conditions geologiques ont un grand effet sur le coût, la securite et les modifications de l''environnement du stockage souterrain des dechets. Cette etude decrit quelques traits saillants des aspects geotechniques des diverses possibilites d''emmagasinage souterrain de differents types de dechets comme l''enfouissement souterrain, le stockage dans les galeries, dans les mines et dans les puits profonds. Donc, il s''avère nècessaire de proceder à une approche prudente tendant à donner de la securite aux methodes de stockage, à les rendre economiquement attractives, acceptables pour l''environnement.
Every country generates a substantial quantity of wastes (solid, semi-solid and liquid-hazardous and non-hazardous) through various human activities creating difficult disposal problems which are increasing at an alarming proportion world-wide. Dumping of ·wastes on land and into the sea is an economically attractive method but there are strict regulatory controls on such method of waste disposal due to various environmental health problems. Hence, the underground storage of wastes is a disposal alternative. Disposal of solid wastes and noxious fluids underground, by tipping them down unused mine shafts or pumping them down dumb wells has become of increased interest in many countries (Gray et al 1974, 1976; Tchobanoglous et al 1977; Sikora and Colaccico 1980; Hill et al 1981) as controls on dumping at sea and on the surface become more strict. Underground disposal of wastes can be an acceptable practice where the local geology and hydrology are favourable and where there are rigorous engineering and administrative controls (Galley 1968; Gray et al 1976; Knight et al 1978). The most important aspect geotechnically, is that there must be a negligible rate of groundwater movement near the storage area (Huches et al 1971; Mclean and Gribble 1979). Because geologic conditions have a major effect on the cost, safety and environmental impacts of underground disposal of wastes, geotechnical aspects are an important consideration in the site selection. Cost, safety and environmental impacts of underground disposal of wastes are obviously not independent variables. The design engineer must select an optimum site, based on thorough geologic investigation, for underground disposal of wastes in order to achieve acceptable levels of safety and environmental impacts at a reasonable cost. In this paper, the author delineates some salient features of the geotechnical aspects of various methods of underground disposal of wastes. Various control measures that can be adopted to abate the pollution of the aquifers and other adverse environmental impacts are also highlighted.
The concept of underground disposal of wastes encompasses more than just simple burial of wastes. Proper geotechnical investigation of the proposed site by the conventional boreholes technique and other appropriate methods is essential in order to gain in-depth knowledge of the site with respect to the type and properties of soils and rocks (Berg 1976; Hirschfeld)
