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[greenyes] Estimates of half-lives for organics in landfills
- Subject: [greenyes] Estimates of half-lives for organics in landfills
- From: "Reindl, John" <Reindl@no.address>
- Date: Fri, 24 Oct 2003 10:57:59 -0500
Does anyone have any data or referenced estimates on the half lives the
decomposition of waste in a "typical" landfill? We are looking for data to
estimate the impact of recycling various items on the gas and leachate
generation of landfills, using data for specific materials, rather than
assuming that everything decomposes at the same rate.
For example, at a 1988 solid waste conference at the University of
Wisconsin, for example, Professor Bob Ham estimated that the decomposition
half-life of food in a landfill is between ½ to 1½ years, while for paper,
it is between 5 and 25 years.
And in a report for the Norwegian government, a study in 2000 put the half
lives at the following:
Wet organics 2.8 years
Paper 8.4 years
Textiles 10.5 years
Wood 10.5 years
Plastic 50 years
Thanks much,
John Reindl, Recycling Manager
Dane County, WI
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