Bioreactor Landfills
Recent technological advances have lead to the introduction of the Bioreactor Landfill.
The Bioreactor landfills use enhanced microbiological processes to accelerate the
decomposition of waste. The main controlling factor is the constant addition of liquid to
maintain optimum moisture for microbial digestion. This liquid is usually added by reFigure
3 Main features of a modern landfill (source
http://www.eia.doe.gov/kids/energyfacts/saving/recycling/solidwaste/landfiller.h
tml) circulating the landfill leachate. In cases where leachate in not enough, water or other
liquid waste such as sewage sludge can be used. The landfill may use either anaerobic or
aerobic microbial digestion or it may be designed to combine the two. These enhanced
microbial processes have the advantage of rapidly reducing the volume of the waste
creating more space for additional waste, they also maximise the production and capture
of methane for energy recovery systems and they reduce the costs associated with
leachate management. For Bioreactor landfills to be successful the waste should be
comprised predominantly of organic matter and should be produced in large volumes.