Abstract
Atmospheric methane, a more effective heat-trapping gas than CO2 that may affect climate change, has its greatest man-made source in the US from municipal solid waste (MSW) landfills. Consequently, the wise management of landfills can reduce these greenhouse gas emissions to the atmosphere. Methane from modern MSW landfills built with composite covers is frequently vented directly to the atmosphere. Biofiltration of landfill gas could oxidize CH4 to CO2 and water. Methane oxidation in old landfills with conventional soil covers can be effective in reducing the amount of CH4 emitted. In this study, comparison of methane emissions from three different landfill covers was conducted. Methane emissions from old landfills constructed with conventional soil covers, modern MSW landfills constructed with composite covers, and modern MSW landfills constructed with composite covers plus biofilters were calculated using the calculated CH4 oxidation rates. The results showed that an average of only 14% of the generated CH4 was emitted from landfills with modern composite covers plus biofilters, and an average of 85% of the generated CH4 was emitted from landfills with conventional covers when 100% of the generated CH4 emissions to the atmosphere from landfills with modern composite covers was assumed. By comparing the CH4 emission rates from three different landfill types, the use of a properly sized biofilter should be an effective technique to reduce CH4 emissions from landfills across the USA and potentially in many other areas of the world.
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Park, S., Brown, K.W., Thomas, J.C. et al. Comparison study of methane emissions from landfills with different landfill covers. Environ Earth Sci 60, 933–941 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-009-0229-8
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-009-0229-8