“ESTIMATING METHANE GAS GENERATION FROM LANDFILL SITE – A CASE STUDY OF SISDOL LANDFILL SITE, NUWAKOT NEPAL ‟‟

Abstract

Climate change and solid waste management are the two interrelated burning issues globally. Methane gas is one of the most powerful greenhouse gases with a global warming potential having GWP 28 times that of carbon dioxide (CO2). Landfills are a major source of anthropogenic methane (CH4) emissions since they are a prevalent method of municipal waste disposal. Because of its exceptional abilities for energy production, CH4 is not just a source of GHG but also a great source of alternative energy. With the right technology, considerable amounts of energy may be extracted from it. The aim is to determine the total methane emission from the Sisdol landfill under various scenarios and reduction in each scenario. One of the common mathematical models used for estimating the quantity of methane potential and generation is LandGEM software due to its simplicity and precise, site-based estimation of generation of methane. The software was applied in this study to estimate the CH4 emitted to date and emission in the upcoming years from Sisdol landfill site for six different predictive scenarios: S0, S1, S2, S3, S4 and S5. The Scenarios were developed based on people‘s perception, feasibility and applicability of each scenario in the future. After calculation, CH4 was estimated to be 2283.93 Mg/year for 2021 with 25, 02,999.78 Mg waste in place and 3678.43 Mg/year in 2030 under Business As Usual (BAU). Based on comparative study of each scenario, maximum reduction in methane generation was found under integrated scenario (S5) and minimal was for recycling scenario (S4). Without a doubt, the worst-case scenario resulted in a rise in emissions. As a result, the integrated scenario was determined to be the best option for managing municipal garbage in Kathmandu.

This information will indeed be utilized to determine the optimum solution for municipal waste management for the long-term management of municipal solid waste in Kathmandu. It could be used in the design and planning of waste management solutions, as well as determining the viability of a landfill gas collection system.