The aim of this thesis is to evaluate of the potential biogas generation formed in the anaerobic phase from the degradation of urban solid waste with variables ages of deposition in a sanitary landfill. The materials were obtained from borehole profiles, being composed of materials disposed at different times and with variables ages in relation to their state of deposition. The knowledge of the physic-chemical characteristics is essential for assessing the biochemical potential of gases. Thus, it was developed: (i) a protocol for determination of properties, such as temperature, pH, gravimetric composition, particle size distribution, moisture content, organic matter content, volatile solids content, lignin content; (ii) one eudiometer device was constructed, with volume variation measurements for determining the biochemical methane potential; (iii) methodology to identify the ages of waste disposal by topography; and (iv) a methodology for predicting methane generation by well-known first order models (LandGEM and IPCC). Due to the high heterogeneity of the material, the experimental data indicated that few properties showed a trend in their behavior with respect to the profile and the age of MSW. Although the potential for biogas generation and the age of MSW showed no correlation, the newer material (almost one year old) showed higher biogas production. Gas production related to the 3 year old material was 78 percent lower compared to the newer one. Even with limited data, there is a relationship between the content of organic matter and/or volatile solid matter with the production of biogas for materials with more than 4 years. The prediction of biogas generation by applying experimental data was lower compared to the results applying EPA and IPCC models. The backcalculation analysis with the experimental data determined of IPCC indicated much lower DOC values than those used with the default, resulting in lower emission of biogas.