Methane Balance of a Bioreactor Landfill in Latin America

Abstract

This paper presents results from a methane (CH₄) gas emission characterization survey conducted at the Loma Los Colorados landfill located 60 km from Santiago, Chile. The landfill receives approximately 1 million metric tons (t) of waste annually, and is equipped with leachate control systems and landfill gas collection systems. The collected leachate is recirculated to enable operation of the landfill as a bioreactor. For this study, conducted between April and July 2000, a total of 232 surface emission measurements were made over the 23-ha surface area of the landfill. The average surface flux rate of CH₄ emissions over the landfill surface was 167 g · m^-2 · day^-1, and the total quantity of surface emissions was 13,320 t/yr. These values do not include the contribution made by “hot spots,” originating from leachate pools caused by “daylighting” of leachate, that were identified on the landfill surface and had very high CH₄ emission rates. Other point sources of CH₄ emissions at this landfill include 20 disconnected gas wells that vent directly to the atmosphere. Additionally, there are 13 gas wells connected to an incinerator responsible for destroying 84 t/yr of CH₄. The balance also includes CH₄ that is being oxidized on the surface of the landfill by methanotrophic bacteria. Including all sources, except leachate pool emissions, the emissions were estimated to be 14,584 t/yr CH₄. It was estimated that less than 1% of the gas produced by the decomposition of waste was captured by the gas collection system and 38% of CH₄ generated was emitted to the atmosphere through the soil cover.