Question

How is waste disposed of in a sanitary landfill?

Answer 1

In a sanitary landfill, a biological method of disposing of waste is used.
The waste undergoes the following five phases:

1. In the first phase of operation, aerobic bacteria depletes the available oxygen and causes the temperature to increase.
2. In the second phase, anaerobic conditions get established and lead to the evolution of hydrogen and carbon dioxide.
3. Phase three establishes the population of bacteria and the beginning of methanogenic activity, i.e., the production of methane from the decomposition of organic matter.
4. In the fourth phase, the methanogenic activity becomes stabilised.
5. The fifth phase depletes the organic matter, and the system returns to an aerobic state.