Beijing, China – The Shijingshan District, located on the west side of Beijing City, has retained Tsinghua Unisplendour Taihetong EnviroTech Ltd. (THUNIST), an adjunct of Tsinghua University, as the general engineering contractor to design and construct the first aerobic bioreactor landfill remediation system in China. This project is located at the closed 40-acre (16.5 ha) Heishitou Landfill (HLF). Under a 3-year contract with THUNIST, SCS Engineers (SCS) has been retained to provide engineering support and technical assistance for various phases of this project, including support in the procurement and installation of US-sourced equipment, installation of an aerobic bioreactor remediation system, system construction/operation oversight, and interpretation of monitoring data. SCS also supported the team during the commissioning and startup of the system, which took place in mid October to early November, 2009. SCS is currently collaborating with THUNIST during the initial operation and monitoring phases of this pioneering facility.
One impetus to accelerate waste decomposition as part of the closure project is to facilitate construction of an 18-hole golf course and hotel development adjacent to the landfill. Construction of the golf course’s first 9-holes is underway and the other 9-holes will be constructed atop and adjacent to the closed landfill, after significant waste stabilization has occurred in about two years.
The key to the remediation system’s effectiveness is the control of basic environmental parameters in the landfill’s waste mass to maintain favorable conditions for aerobic decomposition. Aerobic conditions are balanced by adjusting the flow of introduced and/or recycled liquids and air that are injected into the waste mass in order to keep the waste moisturized and aerated, and to keep landfill gases (CO2, CH4, and O2) and waste mass temperatures within desired ranges. The goal of this project is to operate the remediation system to reduce the production of methane, a greenhouse gas (GHG), degrade much of the waste’s organic matter faster than can be achieved via anaerobic decomposition (common to most landfills), and stabilize the landfill to the point whereby redevelopment can occur on a more stable foundation. Earlier aerobic remediation systems in the US, Asia, and Europe have effectively reduced risks posed by traditional landfills, decreased GHG emissions, and added a sustainable waste management element to a municipality’s environmental protection program.
For more information on this aerobic landfill remediation project, please call James Law at (919) 662-3015 or Mark Hudgins at (803) 439-4106.
