Site Selection of the Mathemele Landfill

Both Maputo and Matola Cities do not have a properly designed landfill, however there are several waste disposal sites in use that are environmentally unacceptable. The proposed solution is to develop the first municipal landfill at Mathemele, located at the border between Maputo and Matola. The Site is underlain by deposits of the Congolote formation. The upper 18 m of this formation is made of fine to medium sand, and the ground water level varies between 13 to 15.5 m, conditions that are favorable to the construction of a landfill. The presentation is based on field work, physical modeling of the ground and the waste management principles adopted and aims at providing inputs for the design of the Mathemele landfill. The only landfill to date in Mozambique that could be considered as environmental friendly is the Mavoco landfill for hazardous waste.