Reduction of CO2 Emission Using Bioreactor Technology for Waste Management in China

Landfill gas emission associated with waste management is becoming significant environmental and energy issues in China. Currently, China is the world's largest municipal solid waste generator and approximate 80% of the generated waste is disposed in landfills. Landfill gas is a byproduct of anaerobic decomposition of organic waste and is typically comprised of methane and carbon dioxide. Due to the high heat value of methane, landfill gas has emerged as an easily available energy source. However, landfill gas collection is not common in most conventional landfills in China. Bioreactor technology provides an environmentally friendly way to increase landfill gas generation in a shorter period of time, which makes landfill gas collection more efficiently and economically. Model simulations were conducted to compare landfill gas generation in both conventional and bioreactor landfills and to estimate CO2 emission reduction under various conditions in this study. The results indicate that bioreactor technology can provide a promising approach for waste management in China.