In this work, anammox-denitrification process was verified by N-15 stable isotopic tracing methods and variations and effects of microbial community structures were studied using Illumina MiSeq sequencing and Quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction (qPCR). The results showed that higher nitrogen removal efficiency and richer microbial consortia was observed at hydraulic loading rate (HLR) of 15 L/m(3).d, BOD5/TN ratio of 0.4:1, respectively. Proteobacteria, Chloroflexi, Acidobacteria and Firmicutes were the dominant phyla in the anamox-denitrification biomass. The number of amx gene changed significantly during the HLR downshift and BOD5/TN ratio upshift period. The obtained results enhance understanding regarding the microbial community structures of anammox-denitrification bacteria in aged refuse, leading to a more effective controlling of anammox-denitrification process. (C) 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.