Landfill　settlement　is　a　topic　of　concern　in　geoenvironmental　research;　Three　important　mechanisms　that　contribute　to　the　compression　of　landfill　are　instantaneous　compression　in　response　to　applied　load,　secondary　mechanical　creep　and　time-dependent　biological　decomposition.　In　this　study,　we　investigated　several　approaches　for　calculating　the　compression　of　the　municipal　solid　waste,　and　then　discussed　their　validity　in　the　South　China.