Trash decomposes in the wet-tomb bioreactor - a miniature version of a landfill - at Ohio State. The bioreactor uses water to decompose waste in a fraction of the time it would take to decompose in a dry landfill.

Ann Christy, an assistant professor of food, agricultural and biological engineering, kneels in front of the wet-tomb bioreactors.

The wet-tomb bioreactors are miniature version of landfills. Both house decomposing trash; the researchers added a layer of sludge in addition to the water to the bioreactor on the right. Sludge may help trash decompose even faster.

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