MONITORING OF ANAEROBIC DIGESTION IN MSW LANDFILLS IN TUNISIA

The monitoring of two controlled landfills in Tunisia was carried out for about 10 years by CITET and CWBI. Both landfills were managed by classical methodology i.e. disposal, compaction and, if any, biogas and leachate extraction and treatment. One of them is located near Tunis and the other near Sousse with a warmer climate. They received more than 6,000 and 350 thousand cubic metre of MSW respectively from the two cities. Solid samples were collected by boring at different depths up to 18 m. They were analysed for dry weight and for total organic carbon, nitrogen and (hemi-) cellulose. The boreholes were equipped with 200 mm perforated PEHD tubes for further biogas and leachate sampling and analyses (COD, VFA, CH4 content, …) at different seasons. The results indicate an efficient mesophilic anaerobic digestion in both landfills. The high dry weight content (70 – 92%) of 13 solid samples collected in Sousse landfill contrasts however with the high leachate production in the Tunis landfill, filling about completely the majority of boreholes. The results of this monitoring confirm the trends formerly described about biological activity and environmental impact of landfills in Tunisia. Moreover a 200 L pilot-scale anaerobic digester was operated for about 3 years with solid wastes from Tunis landfill to assess the evolution of moisture content and organic matter.