Biological stability of municipal solid waste from simulated landfills under tropical environment

Biological stability of the Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) is assessed under tropical climatic condition using landfill lysimeters. Various landfill operating conditions and two different substrates were employed. Solid waste samples collected during different time intervals of landfill operation assessed for volatile solids (VS), organic carbon (OC), specific oxygen uptake rate (SOUR), and water extractable components. Organic carbon achieved faster stabilization than the nitrogen content in MSW within the various landfill operating conditions. At the end of 960 days of lysimeter operation, the MSW from different landfills were aerobically and anaerobically stable and results comparable with compost. Further, bioreactor landfill given better biological stability and high methane content than other landfill operating conditions with continuous leachate treatment is compelling benefit. (C) 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.