Characterization of Waste Density and Settlement via Microgravity

Optimizing the utilization of landfill space and production of biogas, which can be used as an energy source, is dependent on understanding the compaction and stabilization of waste over time. Maximum compaction minimizes the landfill footprint; however, it might not provide the optimal environmental conditions for bacteria development and waste stabilization. This paper reports on a research project which pilots the use of repeated microgravity surveys to map changes in waste density of waste over time in a bioreactor landfill. Over the duration of 3 years, several microgravity surveys will be conducted on a new cell at a bioreactor landfill in Sainte- Sophie, Quebec, Canada, as it is gradually filled with waste up to a height of 25 m. The paper presents a comparison of gravity data acquired in June 2010 (waste height ≈5.5 m) and April 2011(waste height ≈13 m).