Presented by Deborah L. Cool, MSMD and PhD Candidate

8165-1 Environmental Health, Walden UniversityDr. Howard Rubin

Summer 2010

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Deborah in front of Conaree Sanitary Landfill

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Prolonged exposure to methane leads to disease

Danger: Gas explosion possible How landfill methane is produced Generates electricity for 2,000-3,000 homes per landfill

Make ca$h from tra$h International assistance available

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Bladder cancer Leukemia COPD

5Bednar, J. (2003).Trash Power: Westfield (MA) Will Convert Landfill Methane to Energy. BusinessWest. October 1 2003. http://www.allbusiness.com/specialty-businesses/916582-1.html

Chemical structure of methane (CH4)

6Reference: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Natural_gas

Anaerobic decomposition of trash piled like a layer cake of trash and dirt

The dirt helps control the smell and keeps animals at bay

Rainfall helps encourage natural decomposition

Methane rises, either escaping into the atmosphere OR trapped within

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8Reference: Hafez, H. et al. (2010). An integrated system for hydrogen and methane production during landfill leachate treatment. International Journal of Hydrogen Energy; May2010, Vol. 35 Issue 10, p5010-5014, 5p.

Non-CO2 greenhouse gases:

Methane contributes14.3% globally

Reference: IPCC 4th Assessment Report: Climate Change 2007:  Synthesis Report9

Chemical Energy Mechanical Energy Electrical Energy

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Collect methane from 15-20 wells

Clean before use

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Electricity GenerationDirect UseCogenerationAlternate Fuels

12Reference: Learn about Landfills and Methane Gas. http://www.recyclingsuperguide.com/learn-about-landfills-and-methane-gas-2

Converts methane, a potent heat-trapping gas

Generates renewable energy and offsets the use of non-renewable resources such as coal, natural gas, and oil

Cost–effective options for reducing methane emissions while generating energy

Reduces local air pollution Creates jobs, revenues, and cost savings

13Reference: http://www.epa.gov/lmop/documents/pdfs/lfg_modeling.pdf

A Vancouver, Canada landfill generates a revenue stream of $400,000 US per year for the next 20 years

14Learn about Landfills and Methane Gas. http://www.recyclingsuperguide.com/learn-about landfills-and-methane-gas-2

International Activities:o LMOP promoting Landfill Gas Recovery

and Useo Outreacho Educationo Technical Assistanceo Economic Feasibility

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About the partnership Purpose:o Stimulates local economic growtho Creates new sources of affordable alternative energy

o Improves local air and water qualityo Increases industrial worker safety

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Prolonged exposure to methane leads to disease

Potential hazardous gas explosion without proper collection

How landfill methane is produced Generate electricity for 4,000-6,000 homes

(2,000-3,000 homes per island) Make ca$h from tra$h Contact LMOP and Methane to Markets

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Donovan, S. et al. (2010). Modelling the Behaviour of Mechanical Biological Treatment Outputs in Landfills using the GasSim model. Science of the Total Environment; Mar2010, Vol. 408 Issue 8, p1979-1984, 6p.

EPA. (2003). International Analysis of Methane and Nitrous Oxide Abatement Opportunities: Report to Energy Modeling Forum, Working Group 21. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. June, 2003. http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/economics/pdfs/methodologych4.pdf 

EPA. (2006). Global Anthropogenic Non-CO2 Greenhouse Gas Emissions: 1990-2020, revised. http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/economics/downloads/GlobalAnthroEmissionsReport.pdf

Tolaymat, T. et al. (2010). Evaluation of landfill gas decay constant for municipal solid waste landfills operated as bioreactors. Journal of the Air & Waste Management Association. Jan 2010. Vol. 60(1), pp. 91-7. 

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Agriculture, (2010). Personal Interview by staff in Ministry of Agriculture, Basseterre, St. Kitts, on July 17, 2010.

Bednar, J. (2003).Trash Power: Westfield (MA) Will Convert Landfill Methane to Energy. BusinessWest. October 1 2003. http://www.allbusiness.com/specialty-businesses/916582-1.html

Energy from Urban Waste. (2009). http://www.seco.cpa.state.tx.us/re_biomass-urban.htm http://www.epa.gov/lmop/documents/pdfs/lfg_modeling.pdf Ewail, M. (2007). Primer on Landfill Gas as "Green" Energy. http://www.energyjustice.net/lfg/ Hafez, H. et al. (2010). An integrated system for hydrogen and methane production during landfill leachate

treatment. International Journal of Hydrogen Energy; May2010, Vol. 35 Issue 10, p5010-5014, 5p. How to Produce Electricity from a Biogas Digester.

http://www.anaerobic-digestion.com/html/electricity_from_methane_diges.php Figueroa, V. et al. (2009). A Robust Method for Estimating Landfill Methane Emissions. Journal Of The Air &

Waste Management Association (1995) [J Air Waste Management Assoc] 2009 Aug; Vol. 59 (8), pp. 925-35. Learn about Landfills and Methane Gas. http://www.recyclingsuperguide.com/learn-about-landfills-and-

methane-gas-2 Ryu, C. (2010). Potential of municipal solid waste for renewable energy production and reduction of

greenhouse gas emissions in South Korea. Journal of The Air & Waste Management Association. Feb 2010. Vol. 60 (2), pp. 176-83.

Sri Shalini, S. et al. (2010). Biological stability of municipal solid waste from simulated landfills under tropical environment. Bioresource Technology; Feb2010, Vol. 101 Issue 3, p845-852, 8p

http://www.uspowerpartners.org/Topics/SECTION6Topic-LandfillMethane.htm http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Natural_gas

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