Estimation of methane and landfill gas emission from an open dump site

摘要

Globally, an inventory of methane (CH_(4)) emissions from human related activity is needed by United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). Waste discarded, herein referred to as municipal solid waste (MSW), is a major source of anthropogenic emissions. In Kenya, MSW generation in major cities is ever increasing due to rapid urbanisation. The MSW mostly disposed in open dumpsites decomposes (aerobically and anaerobically) releasing greenhouse gas (GHGs) emissions into the atmosphere. The open dumpsites are normally shallow and unmanaged, thus posing direct and indirect environmental hazards to surrounding populace. Kisumu city, the third largest city in Kenya, was used as a case study in determining the total methane and landfill gas emission in Kachok open dumpsite from 1998 to 2018. LandGEM model version 3.02 was used to estimate the gas emission with volumetric methane percent of 50%, production potential of 19.099 m~(3)/mg and methane generation rate of 0.05 year~(−1). Results show that in the year 2018, 1.164 * 10~(6)m~(3)and 2.329 * 10~(6)m~(3)of methane and landfill gas, respectively, were produced. These values are very significant in planning to upgrade the open dumpsite into a landfill for energy production and other related landfill gas applications.