A Bioreactor Landfill is a landfill that is used for the production of biogas at a faster rate. In this system, the refuse in the landfill has leachate, water that has been in contact with waste, to speed up the decomposition process into years rather than decades.

These types are often confused with anaerobic digesters because of how both serve to produce biogas. The significant difference between these two is that unlike anaerobic digesters, a bioreactor landfill cannot be reused. As the landfill is used, the amount of leachate is expected to be decreased. At the same time, the process is also meant to reduce the volume of long-term maintenance once the landfill has served its purpose.

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Other Sources

O’Leary, Phil and Patrick Walsh. “Bioreactor Landfill Design and Operation.” Waste 360. http://beta.waste360.com/mag/waste_bioreactor_landfill_design?utm_test=redirect&utm_referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.ca%2F. Accessed July 25, 2016.

US Environmental Protection Agency. “Bioreactor Landfill.” EPA. https://www.epa.gov/landfills/bioreactor-landfills. Accessed July 12, 2016.