The effect of hydraulic conditions on waste stabilisation in bioreactor landfill simulators

Seven bioreactor landfill simulators (mixed gravel, gravel in layers, and controls without gravel with two levels of compaction, i.e. normal and lower density) were used to investigate the effect of different hydraulic conditions on the waste stabilisation process. The simulators with mixed gravel showed a higher degree of waste stabilisation towards the end of the experiment due to higher moisture content, whereas the other simulators were prone to clogging thus reducing the overall treatment effectiveness. Moreover, reaching neutral pH levels seemed to be the “driving force” that enhanced physical, chemical and biological processes contributing to waste stabilisation in the simulators with mixed gravel. After one year of operation, the residues of the different simulators were very close to achieve a final storage quality status comparable to the waste acceptance criteria for inert waste of the European landfill directive.