Gas-geochemical survey of landfill gas emissions in the upper layers of the MSW landfill

Abstract

The results of the gas-geochemical study of the upper layers of the
disposed municipal solid waste landfill (MSW) at a stage close to the post operational stage are considered. MSW landfills are unorganized sources of landfill
gas, whose emissions are accounted for depending on the mass of disposed waste,
with the exception of the last two years of disposal, based on a known calculation
method. Traditionally, landfill gas emissions are controlled by concentrations in the
surface layer of the atmospheric layer above the landfill. However, the studies
performed have shown that landfill sites located over the past one or two years may
have the ability to produce and accumulate landfill gas containing the main
greenhouse gases: methane and carbon dioxide. The results of measurements of
volume shares of methane and carbon dioxide, as well as determination of
correlation between them are given. With systematic gas-geochemical studies and
an increasing data set it is possible to build more accurate statistical models and
obtain predictive estimates depending on the period of waste disposal.
It is concluded that it is necessary to conduct an annual gas-geochemical
survey of MSW landfills with an emission capacity of more than 50 thousand tons
of CO2-eq. to clarify calculations of greenhouse gas emissions.