The estimation of greenhouse gas emission in leachate treatment plant and its carbon credit revenue

Abstract

Landfilling disposal method has led to the more concern environmental issue around the world, which are greenhouse gas emissions. According to IPCC (2006), the waste sector is a major contributor to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, which accounts for about 5% of the global greenhouse budget. This 5% is methane (CH4) emissions from the anaerobic decomposition of solid waste and carbon dioxide (CO2) from the decomposition of wastewater. Methane is one of the most important greenhouse gas (GHG) due to it has about 21-23 times global warming potential than CO2. The CH4 and N2O emissions released in leachate treatment systems are the second-largest sources of greenhouse gases. The study is aimed to estimate methane emissions in leachate treatment plant in Landfill Rimba Mas Perlis, Malaysia, and its carbon credit revenue. The CH4 emission from the leachate treatment plant was estimated by using the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) methodology AM0013 and its economic benefit was determined based on the Clean Development Mechanism. From the study, the greenhouse gas emission in a leachate treatment plant has contributes to a reduction in carbon emissions by 233.21 tonnes/yr which could attract the carbon credit of RM 8,162.35 based on RM35/tonnes of CO2. The results indicate the anthropogenic emission in the leachate treatment plant can bring direct economic benefits to the local.