What is a common method for managing municipal landfill leachate?

Bioreactor treatment is commonly used for managing municipal landfill leachate because it utilizes biological processes to enhance the degradation of organic materials found in the leachate. This method creates an environment, often through controlled anaerobic or aerobic processes, that allows microorganisms to thrive and effectively break down pollutants.

Leachate is a liquid that forms when water filters through waste in landfills, carrying with it various contaminants that can pose environmental hazards. Bioreactor treatment not only reduces the pollutant load by utilizing microbial activity but also helps in mitigating the production of leachate over time by promoting stabilization of the waste.

In contrast, composting primarily deals with organic waste degradation and is not suitable for treating the complex mixtures found in leachate. Incineration, while a method for disposal, is not preferred for leachate due to its environmental impact and the potential for generating harmful emissions. Surface runoff management addresses water that flows over land surfaces and does not directly manage leachate itself, which requires targeted treatment processes.