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Controlling Methane Emissions from Landfills in the Developing Countries. Seminar on Climate Change Impacts on Bangladesh: Global Responsibilities Vancouver, BC December 9, 2009 Dr. Tony Sperling, P.Eng. Sperling Hansen Associates. The Sperling Family.
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Controlling Methane Emissions from Landfills in the Developing Countries Seminar on Climate Change Impacts on Bangladesh: Global Responsibilities Vancouver, BC December 9, 2009 Dr. Tony Sperling, P.Eng. Sperling Hansen Associates
As in Bangladesh, we are very concerned about global warming and sea level rise
Bangladesh, 150 million peopleMost densely populated country in world • Sea Level Rise • Flooding • Droughts • Food Production
The Carbon Bathtub • Current CO2 concentration is 385 ppm • Equivalent to 745 billion tonnes of Carbon • 450 ppm will be reached by 2050 • Bathtub is filling fast • We must shut off the carbon tap • Must read: National Geographic December, 2009
GHGs of Concern The current concentrations of key greenhouse gases, and their rates of change, are unprecedented. Nitrous Oxide Carbon dioxide Methane Source: Assessing the Physical Science of Climate Change: IPCC Working Group 1 (2007), Presented by Susan Solomon
CO2 Concentrations and Temperature • 380 ppm It is CO2 that really matters, Nature does not differentiate between Biogenic and Non-Biogenic carbon.
Methane, CH4 Atomic Mass 16 50% of LFG by volume 27% of LFG by Mass 25 x more potent GHG than CO2* Carbon Dioxide, CO2 Atomic Mass 44 50% of LFG by volume 73% of LFG by mass Most common GHG Chemistry 101 H C H H H H H C C C C C H O O H H H H *Source: http://www.ipcc.ch/pdf/assessment-report/ar4/wg1/ar4-wg1-chapter2.pdf
Mission Flats Landfill Generates more than 1,000 Tonnes of CH4 Methane production will peak at 4,000 tonnes at year of landfill closure
Modelling Methane GWP • Wikepedia says: • Methane has average GWP of 72 over 20 years • Methane has average GWP of 25 over 100 years • Half life of 7 years
Actual GHG Emissions from Prince RupertUsing actual GWP and tracking decay of CH4
Methane control is way more important than we are told • Actual GWP of a typical landfill. In first 10 years it is above 150. • Steps we take now have profound impact • PCT should encourage methane capture
Average Composition of Urban Solid Waste in Bangladesh http://www.wasteconcern.org/
MSW Disposal Methods Practiced in Asia Source:http://www.swlf.ait.ac.th/data/Kasetsart%20University%20National%20Seminar%20on%20Solid%20Waste%20Landfill%20Ma/MSWM%20in%20Asia-final.pdf
Waste Disposal in Bangladesh http://www.wasteconcern.org/ Chittagong, Bangladesh Chennai, India
Projection of Future Landfill Requirement in Bangladesh Experts warn that dumps like Matuail account for up to 30 percent of a country's emissions of methane, a greenhouse gas 21 times more harmful than carbon dioxide.”
GHG Reduction Opportunities in Solid Waste • Organics Diversion • Enhanced LFG Collection • Biocover • Carbon Sequestration of Plastics • Flaring • Utilization (energy, pipeline quality gas, truck fuel)
1. Organics Diversion and Composting • Organic diversion can limit methane production • Composed material can be used to create biocover to treat fugitive emissions
LFG that is not collected has potential to create significant GHG emissions Elements of system include: Gas collection laterals Vertical extraction wells Control works Cleanouts/blown downs Condensate handling system 2A. LFG Collection Systems
Thermal destruction of methane through flaring converts methane into CO2 GHG emissions drop from 1.72 tonnes GHG per tonne of MSW landfilled to 0.37 tonnes at 80% thermal destruction efficiency 2B. Thermal Destruction
Ideal for both small and large landfills where Economically feasible Combined with active collection at large scale landfills to treat fugitive emissions Fugitive methane oxidized by methanotrophic bacteria living in biocover Biocover 0.3 m thick can oxidize 80%+ of fugitive methane emissions given the right conditions Used in place of or added to intermediate cover Used in final closure systems 3. Biocover
Biocover Trial – Nanaimo Landfill • Methane emissions were monitored before construction and about 30 days after with Flux Chamber from U. of C. Second round of monitoring completed on May 2nd, 2008. • Application of biocover was successful in reducing GHG emissions by 90%.
4. Carbon Sequestration into Plants and Soils • Promoting fast growing vegetation on landfill surface can sequester carbon from atmosphere. • Final cover has to be designed to accommodate trees.
Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) Opportunities in Bangladesh
CDM Opportunities in BangladeshWaste Handling represents 18.16% of GHG emissions Source: http://cdm.unfccc.int/Statistics/Registration/RegisteredProjByScopePieChart.html
Conclusions • Climate change is impacting the lives of people around the world • We need to be aggressive on reducing carbon emissions • Methane is a potent GHG, with an initial GWP of 200 times that of CO2 • Landfills without LFG control produce upwards of 1.8 tonnes of GHG per tonne of MSW landfilled • With huge organics content, Bangladesh needs to compost organic waste, avoid landfilling • LFG controls including thermal destruction, energy recovery, biocover and sequestration can reduce GHG emissions to less than 200 Kg per tonne • Bangladesh provides tremendous opportunities for CDM projects, especially for organics diversion and methane emission control from existing landfills and dump sites
