US MSW and its biodegradation in a bioreactor landfill

MSW samples were collected and characterized to assess the efficiency of a horizontal leachate recirculation system in terms of waste moisture content and biodegradation in a US bioreactor landfill. MODECOM protocol, developed by the French Environmental Protection Agency, was used to characterize size distribution and composition of fresh waste and landfilled waste collected from boreholes. Waste samples were collected at different depths in three boreholes and tested for moisture content and loss-on- ignition. Selected samples were also tested for biochemical methane potential (BMP).

Even though the bulk waste is rather dry, MODECOM results show that the easily biodegradable and moderately biodegradable waste fractions possess the optimum moisture content for biodegradation. Even though the study has shown that the age difference between the fresh waste and the landfilled waste is too short to notice significant trends of biodegradation, following conclusions can be drawn: (1) the radius of influence of leachate recirculation system is at least 8 m; (2) either the cessation of the recirculation for even three months could lead to low moisture content of the biodegradable waste and slow biodegradation or the radius of influence is less than 12 m.

Currently, bioreactor landfills are being designed on the premise that leachate recirculation provides an environment to enhance biodegradation of municipal solid waste (MSW), leading to shorter duration of post-closure monitoring, and earlier land reuse. The most critical aspect of a bioreactor landfill is the efficiency of the leachate recirculation system in order to reach a homogeneous moisture distribution inside the waste mass. This study was conducted at Orchard Hills landfill in Davis Junction, Illinois, USA, which is owned and operated by Veolia Environmental Services. The site opened in 1988 and is expected to be completed by 2018. The total landfill area is approximately 135 ha with 71 ha currently permitted for waste disposal. The waste is placed in one lined cell at a time. In the study cell, waste has been placed from September 2004 to October 2005 at the rate of about 3,200 tons per day. The waste consisted of approximately 70% MSW, 17% construction and demolition debris (C&D), 11% soils and 2% special and other waste. Horizontal leachate recirculation lines (LRLs) were installed in the cell during filling; these consisted of 15 cm diameter perforated HDPE pipes in gravel-filled trenches spaced at 15-20 m center to center. Leachate was recirculated intermittently through the LRLs depending on the availability of leachate. This paper evaluates the changes in composition and the extent of biodegradation of the landfilled waste under leachate recirculation operations compared to fresh waste.

Copyright:	© IWWG International Waste Working Group
Quelle:	General Session B (Oktober 2007)
Seiten:	10
Preis:	€ 10,00
Autor:	Solenne Grellier Ph.D., P.E. Krishna R. Reddy Rana Adib Estelle Redon Chris Peters

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