Investigation of waste stabilization potential of a medium aged solid waste in a bioreactor landfill

Abstract

The production of solid waste is an inevitable consequence of human life. The tremendous increase in the solid waste generation makes the use of landfills, especially bioreactor landfills imminent. Research has shown that municipal solid waste can be rapidly degraded by enhancing and controlling the moisture within the landfill under aerobic and/or anaerobic conditions. Some studies indicate that bioreactors increase the feasibility for cost effective LFG recovery, which in turn would reduce fugitive emissions. This presents an opportunity for beneficial reuse of bioreactors in energy recovery projects. The most common method of creating a landfill bioreactor is the recirculation of leachate, which enhances the degradation of waste. The objective of this study is to evaluate the waste degradation mechanisms of the stabilized waste applying Retrofit Bioreactor Concept. Determination of the further stabilization potential of stabilized solid waste is important for the development of the rehabilitation strategies. Moreover, the study using stabilized refuse provides better understanding of the rehabilitation of traditional landfills and the conversion of existing conventional landfills to operate as a bioreactor concept.