CHARACTERISTICS OF SOLID WASTEAFTER MECHANICAL BIOLOGICALTREATMENT (MBT) PROCESS FOR 5 AND9 MONTHS: A CASE STUDY OFPHITSANULOK, THAILAND

Mechanical Biological Treatment (MBT) of Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) has been operated at Phitsanulok landfill, Thailand since 2001. The solid waste after the MBT has been placed properly in the sanitary landfill. This is not the best solution for disposal of the solid waste containing many beneficial materials such as Refuse Derived Fuel (RDF) and compost. This study was to investigate physical and chemical characteristics and heat values of the solid waste after the MBT process for 5 and 9 months. The results show that the solid wastes after the MBT process with a diameter lower than 10 mm have the potential for development to be compost. Arsenic concentration was greater than the standard limits and should be reduced before using as compost. The solid wastes with a diameter greater than 40 mm have outstanding heat values (38230 J/g, moisture free). The potential for developing that as Refuse Derived Fuel (RDF) appears to be quite high.