Monitoring and long-term prediction of refuse compositions and settlement in large-scale landfill

Settlement and changes in refuse composition for total sugar, raw cellulose , biological degradable matter, volatile solid, organic carbon, were monito red in a large-scale experimental landfill unit and closed landfill units a t Shanghai Refuse Landfill from April 1995 through to October 1998. Mathema tical simulation formulae between these parameters and refuse age were deve loped based on the data obtained from the experimental lands fill unit and validated by data from landfill units closed in April of 1991, 1992, 1993 a nd 1994. Long-term predictions for these parameters for the landfill were m ade using these formulae. It was predicted that the refuse might be fully m ineralized and the cumulative settlement might be over 30% of the initial h eight after around 22 to 30 years. The stabilization process and reuse appr oaches for landfills based on the compositions and settlement are discussed .