Aerobic and anaerobic biodegradation potential of leachate from old active landfill

A common problem of biological treatment of landfill leachates is high toxicity and low biodegradability. Leachates from old landfills do not exhibit high toxicity and if the landfill is still filled by waste, they may contain sufficient amounts of biodegradable organic matter. With the aim of evaluating biotreatability of leachates from old, but active landfill, aerobic and anaerobic degradation assessment procedures were carried out. Investigated leachates showed low toxicity to aerobic and anaerobic micro-organisms. During biodegradability tests, anaerobic biological treatment did not lead to measurable production of biogas. Leachates were well degraded under aerobic condition in ready (66%) and inherent (78%) biodegradability tests, while simulation test in pilot sequencing batch reactor showed that leachates can be successfully treated, mixed with sewage up to 10% v/v.