Landfill capping with microbiological treatment of landfill gases - materials and performance in test cells

摘要

In Finland there is a need to find economical and robust methods, suitable also for small and remote municipal landfills, to collect and treat landfill gases. One possibility is the microbiological oxidation of landfill gases in landfill cover layers. To evaluate the effectiveness of microbiological treatment of landfill gases in capping layers in full scale, four different test cells were built summer 2002. The main idea was to collect the landfill gases with collection layer, transfer them through the sealing liner and distribute them again to the bottom of top layer, which was built from biologically active material mixture. The follow-up of the test cells showed that landfill emissions can be controlled with such an ecological cover and methane oxidation around the year is possible, also in Finnish winter conditions. In this paper, the experiences gained during construction and monitoring about material properties and behaviour are discussed.