Conventional landfilling will leave the majority of waste constituents for later release; bioreactor landfilling will leave significantly less, but recalcitrant organics and ammonia remain problematic. The proposed Pump and Treat Aerobic Flushing Bioreactor Landfill (PTAFBL) will reduce the potential for pollutant leaching, dramatically shortening the post-closure care period and reducing the potential for long-term adverse environmental impact. The goal of this proposed research is to define the technological requirements of a PTAFBL as a means of sustainable landfilling of municipal solid waste through laboratory-scale simulation of the process. Results will permit quantification of the economics, pollution reduction potential, and energy consumption of the process in comparison with traditional and bioreactor landfills.
