Abstract：In present，landfill is still the most important controlled method for municipal solid waste disposal in China. Correct selection of engineering properties of waste materials is of paramount importance. The properties of waste materials vary within broad ranges，change significantly with time，and are not easily amenable to direct measurement due to heterogeneity and hard inclusions. The components，unit weight，water content，and specific gravity for Chinese and USA waste materials are discussed in detail. The unit weight of Chinese waste is similar with USA waste，but the water content and specific gravity of Chinese waste are greater than those of USA waste. The testing methods for these properties are also presented. Some valuable results are concluded and discussed.
