Development of Mechanically Biologically Treated Municipal Solid Waste under Different Vegetation Types
Publication: Journal of Environmental Engineering
Volume 137, Issue 5
Abstract
The use of mechanically biologically treated (MBT) waste as cover material for landfills during the aftercare period has gained in importance since the previous decade. The question arises how such materials change their properties under open field conditions. For field experiments, two MBT plants in Austria with related landfills were selected. A cover layer consisting of MBT material was applied on the surface and planted with grass and rape. The development without any vegetation served as a reference. Leaching, mineralization, and humification of waste organic matter were quantified. The impact of time, sampling depth, respective oxygen supply, and vegetation on the material was investigated. Intensive grass vegetation promoted mineralization and humification. Leaching of salts and the transformation of nitrogen were mainly influenced by time and depth. Aerobic conditions advanced degradation of still-reactive material. Under aerobic conditions, the remaining respiration activity was about two times lower than in the anaerobic zones. It was proven that well stabilized MBT material can be used as a cover layer with adequate vegetation.
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Acknowledgments
The writers especially thank the two contributing MBT plants for their cooperation. Furthermore, they thank the Saatbau Linz fi for the rape and the grass seeds, which were given for free. Thanks also to Prof. K. Moder, Ph.D., and B. Spangl, Ph.D., from the Institute of Applied Statistics and Applied Computing.
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Information
Published In
Journal of Environmental Engineering
Volume 137 • Issue 5 • May 2011
Pages: 340 - 346
Copyright
© 2011 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Apr 2, 2010
Accepted: Nov 16, 2010
Published online: Nov 18, 2010
Published in print: May 1, 2011
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