China had a large number of solid waste landfills, low operation level, fast aging of facilities, short life expectancy and serious aging after life expiration. In contrast, there were some problems in the research on the life of solid waste landfill, such as less attention, unclear research direction, unsystematic research content and so on. In this regard, according to the idea from general to special, this paper first summarized the basic concepts and development process of life prediction in general engineering field, and sorted out the main research objects and research methods of engineering life prediction; On this basis, combined with the engineering and practical characteristics of solid waste landfill, this paper systematically describe the main mechanism and prediction method of material performance degradation of solid waste landfill, the evaluation method of overall landfill performance, and put forward the shortcomings of current research and further work. The main conclusions were as follows: the research on general engineering life covers all fielded of national production and life. The research objects include mechanical equipment, construction engineering, and various general materials and parts. Three engineering life prediction methods based on Systematics and decision theory, simulation model and empirical method were formed; At present, in the field of solid waste landfill, the aging mechanism and aging prediction method of HDPE membrane impervious materials and guide and discharge medium materials were basically clarified, the overall performance prediction method of landfill was formed, and the long-term performance evolution prediction research of solid waste landfill was carried out by coupling the overall performance prediction model and material aging prediction model. Finally, the paper pointed out that the life prediction research of solid waste landfill engineering should be strengthened and improved, including improving the basic theory and framework system of life prediction theory system, deeply carrying out the research on the aging mechanism and prediction method of core materials under extreme service conditions, carrying out the research on the prediction technology of middle and late life (residual life), and strengthening the application research of life prediction. © 2022, Editorial Board of China Environmental Science. All right reserved.