controlling methane emissions from landfills in the developing countries

Controlling Methane Emissions from Controlling Methane Emissions from Landfills in the Developing Countries Landfills in the Developing Countries

Seminar on Climate Change Impacts on Bangladesh: Global ResponsibilitiesSeminar on Climate Change Impacts on Bangladesh: Global Responsibilities

Vancouver, BCVancouver, BC

December 9, 2009December 9, 2009

Dr. Tony Sperling, P.Eng. Dr. Tony Sperling, P.Eng.

Sperling Hansen AssociatesSperling Hansen Associates

The Sperling FamilyThe Sperling Family

As in Bangladesh, we are very concerned about global As in Bangladesh, we are very concerned about global warming and sea level risewarming and sea level rise

Bangladesh, 150 million peopleBangladesh, 150 million peopleMost densely populated country in worldMost densely populated country in world

• Sea Level Rise

• Flooding

• Droughts

• Food Production

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The Carbon BathtubThe 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 ConcernGHGs of Concern

The current concentrations of key greenhouse gases, and their rates of change, are unprecedented.

Carbon dioxide Methane Nitrous Oxide

Source: Assessing the Physical Science of Climate Change: IPCC Working Group 1 (2007), Presented by Susan Solomon

COCO22 Concentrations and Temperature Concentrations and Temperature

•380 ppm

It is CO2 that really matters, Nature does not differentiate between Biogenic and Non-Biogenic carbon.

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Chemistry 101Chemistry 101

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

CC HH

HH

HH

HH CC HH

HH

CC HH

HH

CC HH

HH

CC HH OOCC

OO

*Source: http://www.ipcc.ch/pdf/assessment-report/ar4/wg1/ar4-wg1-chapter2.pdf

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Mission Flats LandfillMission Flats Landfill

•Generates more Generates more

than than

1,000 Tonnes of CH41,000 Tonnes of CH4

•Methane production Methane production

will peak at 4,000 will peak at 4,000

tonnes at year of tonnes at year of

landfill closurelandfill closure

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Modelling Methane GWPModelling 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 yearsGlobal Warming Potential

0

50

100

150

200

250

1 6 11 16 21 26 31 36 41 46 51 56 61 66 71 76 81 86 91 96 101

Year

Cu

mm

ula

tiv

e T

on

ne

s C

O2

E

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Actual GHG Emissions from Prince Actual GHG Emissions from Prince RupertRupert

Using actual GWP and tracking decay Using actual GWP and tracking decay of CH4of CH4

0

500,000

1,000,000

1,500,000

2,000,000

2,500,000

3,000,000

3,500,000

2011

2016

2021

2026

2031

2036

2041

2046

2051

2056

2061

2066

2071

2076

2081

2086

2091

2096

2101

2106

Year

Cu

mm

ula

tiv

e T

on

ne

s C

O2

E

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Methane control is way more important than we Methane control is way more important than we are toldare 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

0

50

100

150

200

250

1 6 11 16 21 26 31 36 41 46 51 56 61 66 71 76 81 86 91 96

Year

Ac

tua

l GW

P o

f A

ll M

eth

an

e R

ele

as

ed

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BC’s GHG Emissions – 67 Million BC’s GHG Emissions – 67 Million Tonnes/YrTonnes/Yr

5% 4%

34%

39%9%

9%

TRANSPORTATIONENERGY - STATIONARY COMBUSTION SOURCESWASTEFUGITIVE SOURCESINDUSTRIAL PROCESSES3AGRICULTURAL

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Metro Vancouver Waste Composition Metro Vancouver Waste Composition Study 2004Study 2004

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Average Composition of Urban Solid Waste Average Composition of Urban Solid Waste in Bangladeshin Bangladesh

http://www.wasteconcern.org/http://www.wasteconcern.org/

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MSW Disposal Methods Practiced in AsiaMSW 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.pdfSource:http://www.swlf.ait.ac.th/data/Kasetsart%20University%20National%20Seminar%20on%20Solid%20Waste%20Landfill%20Ma/MSWM%20in%20Asia-final.pdf

Waste Disposal in BangladeshWaste Disposal in Bangladesh

http://www.wasteconcern.org/http://www.wasteconcern.org/

Chittagong, BangladeshChittagong, Bangladesh Chennai, IndiaChennai, India

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Projection of Future Landfill Requirement Projection of Future Landfill Requirement in Bangladeshin 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.”

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GHG Reduction Opportunities in Solid GHG Reduction Opportunities in Solid WasteWaste

• Organics Diversion

• Enhanced LFG Collection

• Biocover

• Carbon Sequestration of Plastics

• Flaring

• Utilization (energy, pipeline quality gas,

truck fuel)

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11. Organics Diversion and . Organics Diversion and CompostingComposting

• 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 Systems2A. LFG Collection Systems

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• 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 Destruction2B. Thermal Destruction

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• 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. Biocover3. Biocover

Biocover Trial – Nanaimo LandfillBiocover 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%.

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4. Carbon Sequestration into Plants 4. Carbon Sequestration into Plants and Soilsand Soils

• Promoting fast growing vegetation on landfill surface can sequester carbon from atmosphere.

• Final cover has to be designed to accommodate trees.

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Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) Opportunities in BangladeshOpportunities in Bangladesh

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CDM Opportunities in BangladeshCDM Opportunities in Bangladesh

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CDM Opportunities in BangladeshCDM Opportunities in BangladeshWaste Handling represents 18.16% of GHG Waste Handling represents 18.16% of GHG

emissionsemissions

Source: http://cdm.unfccc.int/Statistics/Registration/RegisteredProjByScopePieChart.htmlSource: http://cdm.unfccc.int/Statistics/Registration/RegisteredProjByScopePieChart.html

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CDM Opportunities in BangladeshCDM Opportunities in Bangladesh

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ConclusionsConclusions

• 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

controlling methane emissions from landfills in the developing countries

Documents

methane emissions

countrys emissions of

fugitive emissions lfg

yearsactual ghg emissions

flaring converts methane

carbon tapmust

average gwp

nonbiogenic carbon