Long term biodegradation of organic materials and associated settlement in
municipal solid waste landfills hinder the reclamation of a landfill site a
nd its conversion to other beneficial uses. The estimation of the extent of
long tan biodegradation and landfill settlements become an integral part t
owards final site closure and ultimate usage. The rate and magnitude of the
se settlements depend not only on the refuse decomposition but also on oper
ational-management practices and factors affecting biodegradation processes
within landfills particularly moisture content. Field scale experiments we
re conducted to evaluate biodegradation and associated refuse settlement ra
tes with increased moisture content in the form of leachate recirculation.
Biodegradation rates are evaluated as a function of methane gas generation
rates which in rum are correlated with measured settlement rates.