Landfill gas
The oxygen-free environment of landfills allows anaerobic bacteria to thrive.
These bacteria cause the significant portion of organic materials in the landfill to decompose and produce carbon dioxide and methane along with other trace gases. These gases are known as landfill gas emissions.
Problems with landfill gas emissions
There are several issues associated with uncontrolled landfill gas emissions from landfill sites, including:
- Methane is a 22 times more potent greenhouse gas than carbon dioxide
- Migrating methane (sub-surface or atmospheric) can cause explosion risks in confined spaces
- Trace gases can be toxic in high concentrations and can result in objectionable odours
- Landfill gas emissions can harm vegetation around the site.
Benefits of landfill gas emissions
The large methane component of landfill gas emissions means that landfill gas emissions is a valuable fuel source. This fuel can be collected and burnt to produce electricity, or alternatively used as a direct fuel for gaspowered facilities.
Landfill gas emissions management
Landfill gas emissions are managed at the Summerhill Waste Management Centre by:
- Installing liner systems under all waste which minimises sub-surface migration
- Compacting waste and applying daily cover
- Installing final capping progressively over completed sections of the landfill
- Monitoring landfill gas emissions from the site.
Landfill gas emissions management fact sheet (20 kb pdf)
Newcastle Renewable Energy fact sheet (2.5 mb)
Contact
Manager - Summerhill Waste Management Centre 02 4985 6600.
Contact us
City Administration Centre
282 King Street
Newcastle NSW 2300
Tel: 02 4974 2000