Determinants of Optimal Aerobic Bioreactor Landfilling for the Treatment of the Organic Fraction of Municipal Waste.

Historically, municipal solid waste landfills have been designed and operated as disposal facilities with suboptimal degradation under anaerobic conditions, resulting in slow waste stabilization and generation of landfill gas rich in methane and high strength leachate. Recently, aerobic bioreactor landfilling is being promoted as a promising method that enhances waste stabilization while producing a relatively weaker leachate and no methane generation. The authors review transformation processes and benefits associated with aerobic bioreactor landfilling. Factors affecting the operation of aerobic bioreactor landfills were detailed and performance indicators were defined with technical and operational considerations. The article emphasizes conditions for economic viability of the technology and concludes with outlining existing gaps and future research needs to improve the understanding and performance of aerobic bioreactor landfilling. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]