MICROBIAL ACTIVITY AND THE TURNOVER OF ORGANIC-MATTER IN A MUNICIPAL REFUSE DISPOSED OF IN A LANDFILL

The development of different cultural groups of microorganisms, respiratory activity of the complex microflora, change in the contents of organic mass and, furthermore, the production and optical properties of humic substances were investigated in municipal refuse which had been disposed of for 20 months in a model landfill of about 40 m3. Among various microorganisms, the proteolytic bacteria were the prevalent group, although the relative participation of actinomycetes in the microflora raised in the later stages of the disposal. The microbial counts were almost stable after 8 to 12 months. Respiratory activity decreased up to the twentieth month, due to the lack in utilizable organic substances as a carbon source. Humic substances were extracted from municipal refuse and after the twelfth month of refuse disposal they were similar to soil humic acid with respect to their spectral properties in the visible, UV and IR wave range. © 1979 Springer-Verlag.