Role of Clay Liners in Municipal Solid Waste Landfills: A Review

Year : 2026 | Volume : 13 | Issue : 02 | Page : 50 56
By

Surendra Roy,

N.K. Singh,

Abstract

Rapid population growth has significantly increased the generation of municipal solid waste (MSW) in urban and suburban regions. Disposal of MSW in landfills without proper liner systems may lead to leachate migration and subsequent contamination of groundwater and surrounding soils. The use of liner systems at the base of landfills is therefore essential to minimize leachate percolation and protect the environment. Geosynthetic clay liners (GCLs) and compacted clay liners (CCLs) are commonly used as barrier materials in modern landfill systems. GCLs generally consist of a bentonite layer encapsulated between geotextiles and bonded through needle punching or stitching techniques, whereas CCLs are prepared using compacted natural soils mixed with bentonite or other additives to achieve the required hydraulic conductivity, strength, and durability characteristics. CCLs are comparatively economical and possess good contaminant attenuation capacity, while GCLs provide very low hydraulic conductivity and ease of installation. However, CCLs require greater thickness compared to GCLs for effective performance. The hydraulic conductivity of CCLs is strongly influenced by moisture content and compaction conditions during construction. Since natural clay resources are limited and non-renewable, locally available soils are often modified using bentonite and other stabilizing materials to satisfy liner design criteria. This review summarizes the design requirements of clay liners and discusses the geotechnical characteristics of various liner materials, including clay–bentonite, dune sand–bentonite, fly ash–bentonite, rice husk ash–soil, and quarry dust–bentonite mixtures. This review critically evaluates the role of clay liners in controlling leachate migration from MSW landfills.

 

Keywords: Municipal solid waste landfill, compacted clay liners, geosynthetic clay liners, hydraulic conductivity, bentonite, geotechnical properties

[This article belongs to Journal of Geotechnical Engineering ]

How to cite this article: Surendra Roy, N.K. Singh. Role of Clay Liners in Municipal Solid Waste Landfills: A Review. Journal of Geotechnical Engineering. 2026; 13(02):50-56.
How to cite this URL: Surendra Roy, N.K. Singh. Role of Clay Liners in Municipal Solid Waste Landfills: A Review. Journal of Geotechnical Engineering. 2026; 13(02):50-56. Available from: https://journals.stmjournals.com/joge/article=2026/view=251249

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Regular Issue Subscription Review Article
Volume 13
Issue 02
Received 27/06/2026
Accepted 02/07/2026
Published 11/07/2026
Publication Time 14 Days

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