Estimation and modeling of gas emissions in municipal landfill (Case study: Landfill of Jiroft City)

Abstract

One of the major factors, contributing to the emission of greenhouse gases in the environment is generation of pollutant gases in municipal landfills. As for the design and building of a gas collecting system, it is necessary to properly estimate the amount and type of the landfill emissions. By means of LandGEM model, this study predicts the amount and type of the landfill gases, produced for 30 years (from 2016 to 2045) in Jiroft. Results show that in 2045, 3, 324, 274 tons of waste will be disposed in municipal landfills of Jiroft and the total amount of produced gas, methane, carbon dioxide, and non-methane organic compounds will be 32, 994, 8813, 24,181, and 378.8 tons/year, respectively. Furthermore, the rate of landfill gas emissions from 2016 to 2045 has been achieved. Maximum concentrations of methane, carbon dioxide and non-methane organic compounds in 2045, in 700 meters from landfill, will be 40, 590, 112, 700, and 1765 tons/m³ respectively. Based on the results, obtained from this article, landfill pollutants such as CH₄, CO₂, and NMOC's can reach up to 15 kilometers from landfill, thus social places should be located farther than 15 kilometers from the landfill site of Jiroft. The results, obtained in this paper, can be used to identify the effect of Jiroft landfill in global emission of greenhouse gases and proper management of the landfill gas not only reduces greenhouse gas emissions, diminishing their effects on public health, but can be also used as a sustainable energy source.