Assessment of refuse-derived fuel production from a thin-layer landfill

This study evaluates the refuse-derived fuel (RDF) production potential from a thin-layer landfill in Thailand. Unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) photogrammetry was used to estimate the waste volume. Electrical resistivity tomography (ERT) measurements were performed to estimate the proportion of RDF in the waste pile using the relationship between resistivity and waste composition. Then, an economic cost–benefit analysis was performed. Disposal zones C and D at Chanthaburi landfill were used as the study site.
The results showed that zones C and D's total waste volume and weight were 219,163 m³ and 170,947 tons, respectively. ERT results
imply that the potential of RDF production from plastic waste in zone C was between 27.01% and 35.57%, and between 29.96% and 55.64% in zone D. Thus, the spatial average of RDF production potential from both zones was approximately 30.97%. As a result, the RDF produced during this study was approximately 55,666 tons. The economic cost–benefit analysis observed that the total financial cost of construction and operation was 97,642,554 THB, while the benefits from selling RDF, soil-like material for waste covering, and regaining the landfill volume was a totally 131,734,704 THB. The net present value was 50,754,800 THB, indicating that the project was worthwhile.