The results of the laboratory investigation carried out on abandoned dumpsite soil in order to define the ranges of the water content and dry unit weight at which compacted test specimens would have adequate shear strength are presented. Test specimens were compacted with British Standard light energy over a range of water content namely −2, 0, 2 and 4% of optimum moisture contents. Specimens with dry unit weight of 16.6kN/m³ prepared in the 13.9 – 18.1% moulding water content range recorded shear strength values equal to or greater than 200 kN/m² which is the minimum acceptable for materials to be used as hydraulic barriers in containment structures.