Microbiology of municipal solid waste and its relation to the vertical deflection of the mass grounded

In municipal solid waste landfills, the settlements – or reduction of height and volume of the solid waste mass – occur especially due to organic matter degradation by microorganisms. The purpose of this paper is to analyze the settlements according to the microbiological aspect in an experimental cell of municipal solid waste located in the Federal University of Campina Grande, Paraíba, Brazil. This study involved several stages as construction, collection, sampling and filling the experimental cell with the solid waste originated from three districts of Campina Grande city based on the criterion of social condition and in this way getting a representative solid waste sample. The experimental cell was instrumented with superficial and in depth settlements plates for the reading of vertical displacement landfilled mass. Cycles of settlements followed by zero settlements – periods of intense microbial activities and with an increase of progressive empty spaces – were observed. According to the studies developed in this paper, the settlements in the interior of the waste mass must be understood as the result of microbial activity and mechanical behavior, since the periods of zero settlements are a consequence of the microbial activity as well as the settlements periods.

municipal solid waste; experimental cell; settlements; microbiology