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Tribute to Chairman Chow
Methane Recovery and Utilization in Landfill
Waste rotting in landfill
produces a mixture of up to 50% methane as landfill gas (LFG), and
35% carbon dioxide; while open burning produces 5 - 10%. Controlled
combustion in a power plant converts virtually all
of the carbon in the biomass to carbon dioxide. Because methane
is a much potent greenhouse gas, shifting its emissions to
carbon dioxide emissions during flaring significantly reduces the greenhouse warming potential.
Ideally, methane gas should be utilized
for heating or running a power generator at the site to increase
project viability and reduce energy wastage.
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Landfills are different from traditional dump sites. They
are carefully constructed areas with special lining and covering
systems to contain the waste. This significantly reduces the
visual, respiratory and health hazards from its environmental impacts.
In a landfill, anaerobic digestion have enabled the methane gas in to be recovered and utilized for electricity and heating.
LFG is a renewable energy, it
can be burned either directly for heat or to generate electricity
for public consumption.
Waste management thus transforms an environmental
liability into a lucrative opportunity.
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Landfill gas projects account for over 14% of Clean
Development Mechanism projects. By
far the best in reducing greenhouse gas emissions are projects that
address methane emissions from landfills, achieving up to 160% more
reduction than promised!
(Summary
Statement and Conclusions of the International Conference on
Evaluating Climate Change and Development, May 12, 2008)
The plus factors of a landfill set up to collect
municipal waste
from public:
Substituting LFG
for fossil fuel reduces wastage of energy.
Environmental pollution can be minimized by
eliminating the generation of nitrogen oxide and voc (volatile
organic compound) from the landfill site.
Project can help reduce the emission of substantial carbon dioxide every
year.
The use of underground space
for waste treatment in landfill sites definitely provides
environmental benefits superior to surface option. It reduces sound
pollution, air and odor pollution besides eliminates undesirable
visual impacts. It transforms neglected, degraded or contaminated
land into sustainable, beautiful and manageable fields for a better
and safer living environment. It also minimizes health hazards
arising from air exposure of wastes.
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Anaerobic digester (UK Groundwater
Forum)
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In most developing
countries, due to lack of compelling legislations,
public awareness and commitments to minimize waste
generation, most wastes end up in unsanitary landfills.
In Malaysia in 2009 alone, there were about
20,000 tones of waste generated.
Solving the
rising numbers of landfills has become an urgent
challenge. The tenth Malaysia Plan aims to close or
upgrade existing 112 unsanitary landfills. This has
created business opportunities for authorities in
landfills. |
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(As a reference case, pictures
show complete landscape transformation before and after
landfill management through Cypark's landfill
restoration project)
Cypark Resources Bhd is the only certified integrated
environmental and landscape company in Malaysia.
The Company specializes in
environmental solutions in transforming unhealthy
landfills into more sustainable, pleasant, healthier
living condition for a better future. |
The STW Recreation Ground in Hong Kong Was Formerly a Landfill
(As a reference case)
During its operation, the landfill contained approximately
1.6 million tonnes of domestic and commercial wastes, stacked to 65
m high. After its closure, it was sealed with soil. The
landfill underwent a series of restoration works and was finally turned into a recreation ground.
The restoration included construction of a capping layer for prevention of leakage, a landfill gas
control system for utilization of
methane gas generated from the decomposed rubbish, and a
leachate management system.
The recreation ground has a multi-purpose sand-based, grass pitch which can be
used for
baseball and
football activities, two baseball batting cages, a
playground, a jogging track, two changing rooms and a
management office. Unlike most urban areas which relies mainly on
electric supply, the Ground is powered by
wind turbines,
solar cells and LFG combustion.
Landfill or gold mine?
In Japan's
landfills, there is enough gold, silver and platinum to propel the
country into the top tier of resource-producing countries - along
with Australia, Brazil and Canada. The millions of electronics that
are discarded each year, including televisions, mobile phones, MP3
players and computers, have created so-called “urban mines.” These
mines have untapped resources which if tapped could supply three
times as much gold, silver and indium of global demand. The amount
of platinum from landfills is six times that of global consumption.
(ecogeek.org/content/view/Sep 15, 2008)
Energy Companies Explores Waste To Create
Cleaner Fuels: (Redorbit.com - Jan 31, 2009)
Experts are optimistic that if projects
to produce ethanol from commercial waste are increased, what we
throw away could soon be used to power our cars. The environmental
and financial benefits of putting waste to good use are currently
being explored in order to develop technology to produce bioethanol.
Companies involved believe industrial and household wastes could
also be
utilized to produce a cleaner type of fuel that could aid the EU's
target of having 10 percent of the "bloc' transport fuel coming from
renewable sources by 2020."
According to the Chinese Academy of
Sciences Geography and Resources China Natural Resources and
Environment Data Bank, the total annual production of manure and
night soil could theoretically generate about 130 billion m3
of methane, equivalent to 93 million tonnes of coal. While only
50% of the theoretical production can be realized in rural
areas, 80% of the industrial wastewater can also be used to
produce methane as energy source.
References and related news:
A heap of landfill woes - thestar /2010/11/1
Landfills pose environmental hazard : thestar
/2010/11/1/
EPA Gives Vic Landfills the All Clear
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Feb 09, 2009
STW Recreation Ground: Epd.gov.hk
Landfill Gas Project Approved
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Feb 05, 2009
Plan Would Turn Marin's Food Waste into Energy
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Feb 10, 2009
Schematic Diagram for LFG Electricity
Generation
Electricity from
Landfill Gas
GM Partners With Biofuel Company:
Autos.canada.com - 2008
Energy Companies Explores Waste To Create
Cleaner Fuels: Redorbit.com - Jan 31, 2009
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