Abstract: In order to study the effect of external temperature on the biodegradation properties of municipal solid waste (MSW) at both aerobic and anaerobic phases, two kinds of controlled temperature fields are applied during the biodegradation tests in the laboratory, and the dissolved organic carbon is monitored and recorded using the reconstructed fresh shredded MSW with different organic contents, collected from landfills located in Chongqing. During the experimental process of 0~360 days, the biodegradation tests result show: (1) When the external temperature field is less than 22℃ or more than 45℃, the effect of temperature on the biodegradation is proved to be limited and the degradation conforms to the natural process. (2) According to the monitored data of biogas, leahcate production and losses of quality of MSW when the external temperature varies from 22℃ to 45℃, the effect of temperature on the biodegradation of MSW is gradually obvious. Moreover, the degradation speed of MSW reaches the maximum value when the temperature reaches 41℃. (3) Based on the experimental results of leachate production and settlement, a divided new mode of degradation rate for MSW is proposed which can better consider the temperature effect. From 0~180 days, the biodegradation rate of the model is time-depended, and the rules of biodegradation are fitting to the natural decomposition of 0~180 days. However, the biodegradation of MSW in later biodegradation tests must consider the temperature effect and the degradation is the function of time and temperature from 180~360 days. In the end, the comparison between the model calculations and test data proves that the proposed divided model can fit the experimental data very well.