Effect of Waste Composition and Load Application on the Biodegradation of Municipal Solid Waste in Bioreactor Landfills

Abstract

Intensive research has focused on the biodegradation of the typical municipal solid waste in bioreactor landfills, but relatively little attention has been given to the biodegradability of individual refuse components. The objective of this paper is to examine and compare the degree of biodegradation of different waste fractions, textile, paper, and mixed waste, through measuring the change in the physical properties and settlement characteristics of waste and leachate quality, in six bench-scale bioreactor landfills operated under anaerobic conditions. Also, the impact caused by waste density increase in the form of subsequent waste layers on the same bioreactors is investigated. Two groups of bench-scale anaerobic bioreactor landfills operated for