From Unwanted to Powerful Journey of Trash to Cash/Electricity

Asif Ahmed, Arindam Dhar, Naima Rahman and Ishtiaque Hossain

TRASH NEEDS NO INTRODUCTION!!
Waste (or Trash) is omnipresent. IT IS SOMETHING EVERYONE HAS, BUT

NO ONE WANTS!

BIOREACTOR LANDFILL

SCENARIO OF TEXAS

Accelerated decomposition, hence more available space.

Leachate recirculation leading to improved leachate quality.

We are only concerned about trash until it disappears from our doorstep. But we do not realize that

Significantly increased LFG generation and reduced post-closure monitoring cost.

SHOW YOU HOW.

An average US household produces about 4.38 lb/

150

Landfills collecting LFG

15%

LFG Generated
(by contributing landfills)

15.2 billion cubic

feet

Power Generated

723.9 GWh

Approximate Texas Household sustaining capacity

48,000

person/day of trash (US EPA) and an average Texas

Household

produces

6.5

lb/person/day

(TCEQ report, 2013).

WHY BIOREACTOR?
Decomposition

and

biological

stabilization

in

YEARS

contamination and disease transmission by vectors.

vs.

DECADES

in

CONVENTIONAL DRY TOMB OPERATION.

About one-third of the oil used is imported ($192 billion annually).

About 73% of total oil reserve are controlled by Organization of the Petroleum Ex-

porting Countries (OPEC) members. Price manipulation by OPECloss of about

Reduced leachate disposal costs

$2 trillion from 2004 to 2008. WE CAN CHANGE IT!

Significant increased LFG gener-

used for energy use onsite or sold.

Reduced post-closure care.

most of us are not familiar with the end destination

(Ref. US EPA)

of our daily waste, which is mostly the local landfill.

an

organized

waste

disposal facility designed to accommo-

723.9
800
700
600
500
400
300
200
100
0

425.972

183.16
25
Power from Barrels of Oil Monetary CO2 Emission
LFG (GWh)
Saved
Benefits ($ in saved (metric
(thousands)
millions)
tons)

CONVENTIONAL LANDFILL OPERATION

is

LFG Economics

mass.

ble lifestyle as we experience it everyday. However,

Landfill

MSW landfills
without gas
collection
85%

Lower waste toxicity and mobility due to both aerobic and anaerobic conditions.

ation that, when captured, can be

Efficient collection of waste leads to a more sustaina-

Bioreactor
(ELR) Landfills
1%

TRASH MEANS CASH!!

A 15 to 30 percent gain in landfill space due to an increase in density of waste

Uncollected wastes leads to air pollution, water

MSW Landfills
collecting gas
(Conventional)
14%

Total MSW landfills

it has the POWER TO BOOST THE ECONOMY! LET US

WASTE GENERATION

Landfills in Texas

Quick Facts

HOW BIOREACTOR HELPS

ITS NO MORE DIRTY BUSINESS!!

Energy Generation from produced

Methane.

date compacted waste with appropriate

cover.

LFG is a substitute of CNG and is

used to fuel utility trucks.

However, the conventional landfilling
practice has some limitations:
Slow biodegradation, hence more space

requirement (DRY TOMB)

Leachate generation, treatment and risk

of infiltration into ground water.

Greenhouse gas (LFG) emission.

CONTACT INFORMATION
Dr. Sahadat Hossain, P.E.
Professor
Department of Civil Engineering
UT Arlington.
Phone: 817-272-3577
Email: hossain@uta.edu

Dr. Mohammad Sadik Khan, P.E.

Post-Doctoral Research Associate
Department of Civil Engineering
UT Arlington.
Phone: 817-319-0079
Email: mdskhan@uta.edu