Ch2m Hill, Inc.

Charles Kemper

Jan Allen

Tom Kraemer

A method of biodegrading municipal solid waste includes providing a quantity of municipal solid waste and promoting anaerobic digestion in the quantity of municipal solid waste by methanogenic organisms to produce methane. The methane production is monitored and when it is determined that production of methane from the quantity of municipal solid waste has subsided, aerobic digestion of the quantity of municipal solid waste is promoted. A gas collection system in operative association with the quantity of organic waste collects biogas and the biogas is monitored and the rate of gas collection is adjusted as necessary to maximize methane collection. A leachate collection system collects leachate from the quantity of municipal solid waste and circulates the leachate back to the quantity of organic waste during the anaerobic digestion and aerobic digestion steps. The leachate is preferably supplemented with liquid as necessary to maintain the moisture content of the quantity of municipal solid waste at at least the field capacity of the municipal solid waste. The leachate collection and distribution system may further be used for balancing pH or varying the nitrogen, phosphorous, potassium, calcium, magnesium, chlorine, sulfur, iron, copper, manganese, zinc, molybdenum, nickel or vanadium content of the municipal solid waste during biodegradation. A porous pavement layer may be constructed over the leachate collection system to protect the leachate collection system and bottom lining during operation and excavation of the wastes.

Growing community of inventors

Wilsonville, OR, United States of America

Charles Kemper