, P. Mallard

Landfilling of biodegradable waste must decrease to fulfil the Council Directive 99/31/EC on landfills, in order to reduce the emission of gaseous and liquid pollutants during the landfill lifetime. Therefore, pre-treatment of the organic fraction of municipal waste prior to landfilling is being developed in several countries. In France, the organic fraction is either separated and treated through selective collection of biowaste, or through mechanical sorting in the plant followed by biological treatments (anaerobic or aerobic), the refuses only being landfilled. Or the mixed waste is stabilized by an aerobic process before landfilling. These different processes emit gases which may be harmful for health or the environment (toxic, explosive, odorants, greenhouse gases...). Some of the emissions can be collected and treated through biofilters, while other gases are emitted by surfaces (typically, compost windrows) and cannot be collected unless they are enclosed. Also, the efficiency of the biofilters must be assessed. IRSTEA and INERIS have been working together for several years on the use, comparison and improvement of surface emission measurement methods, applied to biological treatment plants of solid waste. Gaseous emissions were studied on: composting process of pre-sorted organic matter from mixed waste, with a small or larger mesh and porosity, in either turned or aerated windrows, on biofilters, and on landfills which are located beside the composting plants. Depending on the ventilation air flux, different measurement methods were used: static (accumulation), dynamic or chimney type chambers, and a total cover of a biofilter with a plastic tarb. Several of thes