Enhancing landfill gas production through the management of waste water sludge disposal

This paper presents findings from short-term monitoring at full-scale municipal solid waste (MSW) landfill performed after disposal of raw biological sludge from a municipal wastewater treatment plant. Data from a landfill site located in mid-Adriatic region of Italy were evaluated as part of this study. One older landfill cell, Area B (taken as a control cell) was compared with Area C (closed cell used for the sludge disposal), for assessing the enhancing potential for gas production. Overall the results obtained pointed to positive effects (i.e., more rapid gas generation and wasted sludge degradation) realized either increasing moisture availability in the cell with respect to the measured behaviour of the traditionally operated (i.e., drier) landfill cell either providing readily biodegradable organic matter. Significant behavioural differences between the test cells were evident, including the total landfill gas production and the extent of waste degradation observed.