Landfill modelling challenge: HBM model predictions

Abstract

Two laboratory-scale consolidating anaerobic reactors were commissioned, constructed and monitored by Southampton University's waste research group to investigate the long-term behaviour of decomposing waste. The reactor tests were run for 919 days while leachate quality, gas production and surface settlement were monitored. After releasing information on initial conditions and some early data on volatile fatty acid, a challenge was issued to landfill modellers to predict the behaviour of the waste over the remaining period. This paper describes the use of the HBM model in response to the challenge.