Co-landfilling of pretreated waste: Disposal and management strategies at lab-scale

• Published in: Journal of hazardous materials Vol. 147; no. 1; pp. 37 - 47
• Main Authors: Boni, Maria Rosaria, Leoni, Simone, Sbaffoni, Silvia
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier B.V 17.08.2007; Elsevier
• Subjects: Aerated landfill; Anaerobiosis; Applied sciences; Biodegradation, Environmental; Bioreactors; Chemical engineering; Co-disposal; Exact sciences and technology; General treatment and storage processes; Landfill; Liquid-liquid and fluid-solid mechanical separations; Oxygen; Pollution; Pretreated waste; Reactors; Refuse Disposal - methods; Settling; Urban and domestic wastes; Waste Management - methods; Wastes; Pretreated waste; Aerated landfill; Co-disposal; Landfill; Cinders; Waste dumping; Organic matter; Heat treatment; Stabilization; Waste treatment; Urban waste; Aeration; Anaerobe; Reactor; Biodegradation; Pollutant behavior; Aerobe; Nitrogen; Waste disposal; Sedimentation; Incineration; Surveillance; Organic loading; Solid waste; Leachate
• ISSN: 0304-3894; 1873-3336
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2006.12.049

The present paper deals with the possible advantages that can be obtained by co-landfilling of municipal solid waste organic fraction (MSWOF) and bottom ash (BA) from the incineration of municipal solid waste. In particular, the aim of the research hereby presented is to check the effect exerted by different disposal (mixed or layered) and management strategies (anaerobic or semiaerobic conditions) for landfills in which MSWOF and BA are co-disposed. Three lab-scale reactors were set-up: the reactor A with mixed BA and MSWOF in anaerobic conditions, the reactor B with mixed BA and MSWOF in semiaerobic conditions, the reactor C with layered BA and MSWOF in anaerobic conditions. The results obtained showed that the aeration at the beginning of the experimental period for about 60 days led to a more rapid biodegradation of the organic matter and to an improved leachate quality in terms of both organic load and nitrogen content. Also a significant increase in the settling rate was observed at the end of the aeration phase. Therefore, the aerobic management can be advised as the most available strategy providing a more rapid biological and mechanical stabilization of the bulk waste. Otherwise, the disposal strategy did not exert any significant effect on the leachate characteristics; however, the layered configuration may be adopted in order to accelerate the main settlements.